7+ Taskbar Tweaker for Windows 10 Creators Update
Microsoft’s Windows 10 Creators Update is ready, and is rolling out to users since yesterday. Unfortunately, as many of you have noticed, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker doesn’t work with the new update. Upon launching the tweaker, the following error message shows up: “7+ Taskbar Tweaker: Could not load library (104)”.
This breakage is expected, unfortunately. Like with the release of Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Update 1, Windows 10, Windows 10 November Update and Windows 10 Anniversary Update, this update requires some changes for 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to work correctly.
I plan to work on an updated, compatible version of 7+ Taskbar Tweaker in the near future. You can help me allocate time for the porting effort by donating here:
Include the word w10u3p (Windows 10 Update 3 Porting) in the donation comments to specify that your donation is targeted for the porting.
Below is a progress bar of the donations, with the goal set as the estimated time the porting is going to take, with an average wage.
$1292 out of $1000
Like with previous updates, all donors will get access to early alpha versions during the porting process.
Also, the top three donors will get mentioned in the changelog.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Update (April 16): The first alpha version is available! More details here.
Update (May 4): The first public beta version is available! More details here.
Update (May 20): Windows 10 Creators Update is fully supported by 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
Tags: 7+ taskbar tweaker
You know, I’m going to pass this time. I’ll just live with it. I’ve uninstalled 7+ Tweaker. If you get it figured out, I’ll be happy to reinstall it and recommend it again, but for now, not so much.
I understand that your time costs money, and I am glad to pay (I have donated in the past). However this “pay up or it will remain broken” leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
I will be happy to pay but not for a something that maybe will be fixed at an unclear date. Have you considered just releasing a paid version and making a commitment to keep it up to date with Windows versions?
I would not have said better.
A paid version at 1 ou 2$, and you would have earn more, with respect.
All work deserves salary, but not the taking of hostage
Thank you for your feedback Alex.
That’s not at all what I’m trying to convey. It’s more like “you can donate any amount if you find my work valuable”.
7+ Taskbar Tweaker is freeware/donationware. That means that you don’t have to pay for it, but you can donate (donation=gift) if you want to thank the author and to help with the development. The access to alpha versions is just a small bonus for those who decided to support the project.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the program, work has to be done every time a new Windows version is released. Making it a paid product won’t change this fact. It’s a side project of mine, and making a commitment about keeping it updated is not something that I’m willing to do, even though I do update it when I have some spare time.
Dear RaMMicHaeL,
First of all, I deeply thank you for making my (and many others’) use of Windows much easier and more enjoyable !
I’ve used your wonderful app since Windows 8, and with every following release. I know how much trouble MS is giving with each update and I perfectly understand that 7+TaskbarTweaker is not your priority and became a PITA to maintain.
Given that you are not after money but knowing this project is so time consuming and, finally, boring because of all the hassle related to MS changes, may I suggest that you license it as free software and upload the source so that everyone interested and motivated can continue your great work ?
Hi Franck,
I thought about open-sourcing it, but the thing is, I’m not sure that it’s even legal. The tweaker relies directly on disassembled code of Explorer, and I’m pretty sure that Microsoft’s EULA forbids to disassemble Windows components.
Hi RaMMicHaeL,
Too bad but I understand …
Good luck and thanks again for all your effort
Since you dissasembled explorer cant you help us to make a classic themeless taskbar for windows and put back the classic rightclick menus? http://winclassic.boards.net/ we have an opensource project using reactos taskbar http://winclassic.boards.net/thread/177/reactos-taskbar-win10-desktop-classic maybe you can help us classic theme enthusiasts using classic them fully? please man help us.
This kind of project requires a lot of dedication, something I don’t have time for these days, sorry. Also, the fact that I disassembled explorer and familiar with some of its code doesn’t mean that I know it all fluently. Themes, for example, is something which I have never looked at in explorer.
As long as you are not using their code directly it is not a problem. Using magic offsets and your own struct/COM interface declarations (if any) that you figure out is perfectly OK.
I agree with you in here.
7+ tweaker is awesome and i’ts ok to donate for me. But, if you set the target of the donation ($1000) I think it will better if you release the paid version too. Because it’s not clear when will you release the update version to fix (104) error message.
Good Luck RaMMicHaeL
Thanks a lot for 7+TT
“Like with previous updates, all donors will get access to early alpha versions during the porting process.”
You mean all donors, past and present, right? I always recommend this program to all my friends, and donated just because I love it, but I don’t have money to keep up whenever microsoft breaks it (I understand that’s not your fault, of course, but it’s not a donation if I have to repeat it every time you need to update it, that’s more like a subscription).
That’s right. And thank you for your donation!
I can not pay from Paypal from Japan
What should I do?
You can also use Bitcoin. You can find the address here. Thanks!
Hey all you 2-bit complainers! If you don’t think that updating RaMMicHaeL’s brilliant, unique and (I think) essential 7+ Taskbar Tweaker for Windows 10 Creators Update is worth a few bucks, then you don’t deserve his time and effort. And if you don’t stop complaining, then I will shame you by donating for that update — even though I don’t use Windows 10 and don’t need the update.
There was nowhere to enter donation comments, but I donated $10 to the effort to get a Creators version. This is an absolutely indispensable tool for me! I look forward to the alpha releases.
Hi, guys!
Let’s speak about alternative programs. Who knows about alternatives?
I’d have donated if you asked for a donation after the update.
I’d have donated if you asked before the update but don’t make the update depend on a filled donation bar.
I’d have donated if you said “I don’t want to give away my software for free, please donate”.
I’d have donated if you gave away the software with a “pay what you want” approach.
I’d have paid for your software if you sold it for $5 or less.
But now, I’m just going to wait for the bar to get full so you release the update you already made ready.
Although I like this “free” (?) software very much, this “pay upfront so I release an update” attitude is disturbing to say the least.
I hope you think about all the comments people submitted to this post, and don’t do this again.
I’m not sure I get your point Rachel.
That’s perfectly fine. If you’re not willing to, or cannot contribute, you don’t have to. That’s the idea of donationware.
That’s not the case. I’ve started working on it, but I don’t have an operational version for the updated Windows 10 yet.
Rachel, your “I’m entitled to free updates and developers should live from bread and water” attitude is disturbing to say the least. Remember, basically every bakery, every shop, every service you go to requires you to pay upfront…
RaMMicHaeL, I don’t think there is anything wrong with your post or your attitude maintaining this project!
Also, no field for comment, so please include my recent donation in the pool (same email).
Added, thanks for the donation! The comment field is on this page. You need to check the “Put my Donation on the Recognition Wall” checkbox to make it visible.
Thanks, noted 😉
Emmm… I don’t want to sound like a hater, but… srsly? 1000$ to fix at least one major problem in simple program?!
The program is not at all simple. I’ve spent many many hours on it. Many features that the tweaker provides, even those that look simple, took days to implement. Remember, I don’t have the source code of Windows/Explorer, and the tweaker has to find creative ways around it to do what it does.
Now, for the updated Windows 10, lots of work has to be done, too. Some options just work, but many options have to be re-worked. Two major under the hood changes of the new Windows 10 version are:
GetWindowLong. This made the tweaker’s IAT hooking technique useless, and now I need to find an alternative solution for this.I know the effort required in (reverse) engineering software and I appreciate the work you put into it.
I already donated, but this technical explanation is highly appreciated!
Kind regards,
Thijs Tijsma
I thing you should put this explanation top into the article. Now it sounds reasonable. I also donated.
Setting a donation goal of 1000$ makes me think an update won’t be released soon, which is a big deal for people who depend on TT and don’t like using windows without it.
Instead of asking for donations, why not just release a paid version for $10/$20 and then charge an additional reduced fee for updates for existing users whenever TT breaks?
You would probably make a lot more money this way. I don’t mind buying something when i want to use it, but i am put off from donating for a possible fix “sometime” in the future. That isn’t very helpful for me right now.
I have never donated in the past for this software, but I do think that I should at least make a donation at least one time for it. So I will be giving at least $10 to help out for my first donation to 7++ taskbar tweaker update.
Thinking about it, I would be more happy to pay for a new version each time it’s released if that means having it working when updates break it. Fair enough to support the developer, and it doesn’t break that often anyway. $20 for each new version released wouldn’t be too bad.
Just donated via PayPal but found no place to enter w10u3p comment. Been using Tweaker for years and LOVE IT! Does exactly what I need with absolutely no fuss or bother. THANKS! and keep up the great work!
I agree that TT is an amazing software and now that it is not working, I keep slowing down to switch windows. It will take me a while to get used to not having TT and then, when it is updated, I will take time to get used to it again.
I agree with the folks who think that it would be better to pay a fee to purchase the software and perhaps a smaller upgrade fee when needed but to have the software working on new versions of Windows.
On the other hand, I can see that it may not be possible since this is not the major source of income for the developer.
Whatever, I just ask the update to happen as fast as possible.
Thanks for the amazing software
Alex
“You mean all donors, past and present, right?”
“That’s right.”
What does that mean exactly? I’ve donated twice and found the two mails with dropbox-links to early alpha versions. Will they be useable once the new version is ready?
Thanks
Stefan
Thank you for the great software RaMMicHaeL. I have this Win 10 update yesterday and already frustrated with the breakage of custom settings that I had made in the first place.
IMHO your software makes Win 10 more bearable. I am looking forward to get the new version of 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
Thank you again and please keep up the good work.
I use 7+TT only for the w10_large_icons feature. Would it be possible to have that fixed sooner?
Thank you, and in any case, donation sent.
Oh, me too.
Please try the alpha version, I believe that it should work.
Hey rammichael
does the new update break all features of 7 taskbar tweaker? i just wish there was a way to select wanted features before trying to load the application. just a suggestion. thank you.
I agree with this. I actually only use a few of the options in Taskbar Tweaker (mainly middle-click in the taskbar to close windows and mouse wheel for volume) so as a user, it wouldn’t matter to me if some of the other options were broken.
Hi Alex,
Unfortunately, most options rely on some basic initialization operations, which in turn rely on fixed offsets inside explorer, which change with every major Windows update.
Sorry guys, but do you actually know what a full-time programmer would charge to make such a tool? The work Rammichael has put into it and provided it for FCKIN FREE was really nice, and I am glad that he finally accepts some money for all that what he had done for YOU in the past.
You don’t have to pay if you don’t feel like it – no one is forcing you (which would be the case if TT was a paid app).
i agree with you shark5060 ! this tool is really useful to fix some imperfections of this damn taskbar, this is a big work to fix the problems each time there is a new version of windows that modifies the code as if it was really useful to do it ! keep on the good work rammichael ! i just have to wait for the final release
I couldn’t find any field to put in ‘w10u3p’ as a comment, but donated anyway.
Same for me. Or let’s say, I simply forgot. 🙂
Ditto, I also made a small donation but forgot to put the ‘code’ in hope that won’t stop getting the alpha when it is released 🙂
Can’t donate from Japan (and I’m not using bitcoin) but thanks and god bless you we’re always on your side.
I’m donate…
And i can not use it.
Why do I’m asked to donate on every Windows update to get a proper 7+ Taskbar Tweaker update if I have done it many times before already?
If you have donated before, you can get the alpha version, no need to donate again. And of course, once it’s ready, the update will be published for everybody to download.
Hi Michael,
I have donated in the past. I saved the email i got before which provided a link where the alpha version can be found but the link no longer works. Is there an updated link you can provide? Thanks
ok, i found the page for entering my email
http://rammichael.com/misc/_w10_creators_alpha_versions.php
but get the following message:
Could not send the email because of a server error. Please try again later.
The following error has occurred:
mail() [function.mail]: Sorry, the server has not relayed this email, more emails were sent today than allowed.
I just want to add one thing for those who can’t pay. I am not rich so I couldn’t donate previous times. But everytime I just send him an email requesting for alpha release and telling him I cannot donate. He was always very kind to email me back the link to alpha release everytime.
This is precisely why I won’t donate. 7TT is a good product but I don’t like that the developer waits until a new Windows 10 update comes out which is guaranteed to break the product, then uses that opportunity to force people to donate money for a fix.
We went through this last year when the Anniversary Update was released. This year Microsoft plans to release 2 updates for Windows 10 so are users going to go through this again later this year?
Most developers will test their products against the Windows Insider builds in an effort to get them ready ahead of the release of an update. If you care about your product and its users, you would be more proactive in keeping it up to date. I would gladly donate for that kind of effort on the part of the developer.
“I don’t like that the developer waits until a new Windows 10 update comes out”
Yeah, smarter to spend time targeting a pre-release builds where anything can change at any time, thus wasting your development time…
“uses that opportunity to force people to donate money for a fix”
Forcing donations… ok, sure… just like he forced you to update to the CU in the first week of after its release.
“Most developers will test their products against the Windows Insider builds in an effort to get them ready ahead of the release of an update.”
This is one person, volunteering his time on a side-project. Not a company, and not a paid product.
You need to re-evaluate your level of self-entitlement.
“Yeah, smarter to spend time targeting a pre-release builds where anything can change at any time, thus wasting your development time…”
I’m not advocating testing against every Insider build. You can test against a late Release Candidate which would likely minimize the breaking changes. You would still have some time before the RTM hits. Since the Insider program kicked off, more info about the release schedule has been getting out to the public, so you can decide when its in your best interests to start testing.
It’s interesting when Google and Apple release new major versions of their mobile OS’s that I see a sudden flood of new versions of the various apps either just before or shortly after the OS releases. Obviously a lot of developers are already doing exactly what I said.
“This is one person, volunteering his time on a side-project. Not a company, and not a paid product.”
Ok, but if you choose to support your product, that implies a commitment on your part. The FAQ, video, and this forum all seem to imply he is supporting the product.
If this is going to occur every time Windows update, then perhaps he should consider a subscription plan to fund it.
Yes, as well as I, as the developer, am going through the update process, which is quite tedious.
I tried that, you can see the result here. See the changelog, it’s full of notes with “updated for build xyz”. Every such update is time consuming, time which I cannot and not willing to invest.
Michael, I think the majority of TT users have no problem paying for the software. Personally, I think you should let people buy TT and pay for new releases if they want to keep using it should a future update break functionality. It’s great software, one of a kind, and deserves to be supported.
“Yes, as well as I, as the developer, am going through the update process, which is quite tedious.”
I never said it would be easy.
“I tried that, you can see the result here. See the changelog, it’s full of notes with “updated for build xyz”. Every such update is time consuming, time which I cannot and not willing to invest.”
Kudos to you for already being proactive. However the changelog shows you were engaging in this part way too early. I would hold off until a very late Release Candidate. I’m guessing that you are hooking into some DLL address/offset that keeps changing with every build or something along those lines. I’d wait until about 2 weeks before the RTM (a date which usually gets announced if not leaked) before beginning that part of the development. Some blog sites might even point out which build they believe will be the last before an RTM.
You assume that my schedule is flexible enough to be adjusted to the Windows release schedule. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
I really liked “Don’t group by app ID” feature Only 7+TT could do that.
Are you aware of new tools and methods that may help if you incorporate them into your workflow?
While this in particular may not be applicable:
ApiScout: Painless Windows API information recovery
https://byte-atlas.blogspot.com/2017/04/apiscout.html
Some of the described methods might be, or just following the links or asking other researchers might offer some insight on what tools are new on the scene that could speed things up.
The link seems to be more about handling malware than about reverse engineering a legit application. I don’t need to do things like unpacking, restoring IAT, and similar stuff, explorer is not protected in any way. The problem is that it changes with every Windows release.
I had no comment field to enter the w10u3p for the donation.
Too bad, I’ll just live with it if you dont update
Just a random person that enjoy this softwares here.
I see some people almost demanding that the program’s author fix immediately this bug, and I see some people almost outraged by the fact that he’s asking for contribution to fix this bug sooner..
I don’t think that what those persons are doing is nice.
He doesn’t have any obligation to fix this whatsoever. We don’t have any right over his time. And it’s totally understandable that he ask for contributions to solve this problem sooner.
Let’s not be an asswhole with the person that create the software that we all are using for FREE for years and years.
–
If you some day fix this bug I’ll be very happy, but if not I would like to thank you for have developed this amazing peace of software that I used for all this years.
🙂
I’ve been waiting for this – the ability to re-order thumbnails in Aero Peek is something I’ve grown very used to, and I was mortified when updating to insider builds a while back for WSL updates broke 7TT. But I fully understand not trying to keep up with insider builds, and 7TT is valuable enough that I hopped off the Insider train at Creators Update solely to have it functional again. And having a functional alpha version thanks to a past donation has already made my day. Thank you for your time and effort in keeping 7TT functional! It is a wonderful tool.
Just an FYI, I just donated (because I greatly appreciate your time and the software!) and attempted to download the alpha version, but received the following error message from your server:
The following error has occurred:
mail() [function.mail]: Sorry, the server has not relayed this email, more emails were sent today than allowed.
Which sounds like a good thing and a bad thing. The good being that it looks like your getting a lot of support/attention, the bad being that no one else will be getting those emails today either I would think…
Thanks for your work on 7TT!
Mark
Thanks so much for your work on 7TT! I’ve been using this awesome tool for years (at work and at home), so it’s well worth the donation I just sent. (Didn’t check the recognition wall box, so I didn’t leave a “w10u3p” comment.)
I like intelligent and kind people like RaMMicHaeL. He deserves all applause for whatever he does. Love you, your hardwork, your generosity and your application(s).
RaMMicHaeL –
Hi! I’m a designer, and I will be glad to collaborate with the development of 7TT.
If you agree, I can develop a new UX for 7TT, giving it a “modern” look.
Just write me an email so we can start working on it.
Best!
D.
Please no. Keep it simple, lightweight and functional like it is.
@Dan: ths, I think so! Simple and lightweight is the best!
Please keep the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker user interface simple, lightweight and functional — as it now is.
Please no. Keep it simple, lightweight and functional like it is.
Please no! Not allow designers to corrupt a lightweight and nicely working utility!
Hi David!
Thank you for your offer. Giving 7TT a refreshing look might be a nice idea, but that would not be a simple task, especially considering the numerous languages that are supported. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time to invest into it nowadays, so I’ll leave it as is for now. That is unless you, or somebody else, is willing to contribute the code in addition to the design (which should be native and lightweight as it is now in 7TT).
I forgot to include the w10u3 word in my comments before donating.
Looking forward into your great software.
Now, it’s the time…
RaMMichael,
thanx for the swift update,
7+ TT alpha works fine with Windows Home CU.
It’s seem he’s not finished 7TT for w10u3. Maybe he’s too busy in work but it’s OK. 🙂
I don’t think that donations are bad by itself, but why new 7tt version is always not ready yet when new windows 10 update is already released?
He need feedback from user, maybe.
He answered that already.
It seems to be harder than Windows 10 Anniversary Update?
It seems to be harder than Windows 10 Anniversary Update?
If you only used it to show the seconds at the clock, you can get it with a little change in the registry: https://www.deskmodder.de/wiki/index.php?title=Uhr_mit_Sekundenanzeige_in_der_Taskleiste_Windows_10
it´s in german but I think their are instructions in other languages as well.
support alipay？
in china we cant use paypal
Okay I’m gonna go on a mild rant.
Honestly, a program like this should be freeware. There are a handful of other programs, that are free, that accomplish the same thing, and they do not have to update code and ridiculous sounding complications however this dude tries to rationalize it. In my opinion this is just greed.
I myself am no cheap skate. I have donated in the past, JUST TO BE NICE. Even though I feel it was not necessary. But okay, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt. It takes time, a lot of “recoding” bla bla bla. Again, most good chaps, would offer a fix like this for free. It’s the community that helps each other to work together to make their lives easier. Quality of life. Can you say Linux? Sure they have their source of funding but they offer their hard work and end result of a product to the public for free and ask for donations if one should so choose, but they do not thus, refrain from offering until they receive the donations. That’s just ridiculous.
I mean really. Is this program and the “so called donations from it” your entire life income and you’re surviving solely off what you earn from it? When in all reality it’s not legal to begin with?
Piss poor excuse to suck money out of the consumer for something that’s not even supposed to technically be allowed to mess with a multi-billion dollar companies software.
Finally, a lot of these functions and or “tweaks” are completely inconsistent and useless. The options to say, group, not group open windows on the taskbar for example, is already a setting in windows. Why duplicate it?
I think if anything, this particular program could be consolidated into what is useful. I cannot speak for everyone other than myself, but what I find or I should say, found useful from this when I needed it, was the volume adjustment with the mousewheel over the taskbar (best tweak ever) and hiding that stupid show desktop button.
Since this guy got all anal about it, I have since found 2 individual programs that are FREE and do these things just the same and have been around for a few years that have not been updated but they just work.
Volumouse and hideshowdesktop button. Simple enough.
So you can be a dick and pretend that your life and your struggles revolve around this measly program and the income you gain from it or you can be a saint and let people choose to donate because they love the program so much and the developer is so nice to allow the users to continue using it even though “cry me a river” “woe is me” it takes so much rework and coding bla bla bla to do, because he could just be a nice guy.
But whatever helps you sleep at night.
/end rant
Sorry, Nutrynion, I find your rant neither mild nor fair. Some peaople already wrote that you don’t have to donate – just wait till the free version is available.
Me, I’m especially interested in the feature “Taskbar Topmost Disabled”, because I want any window over the taskbar. There is none existing freeware that can do that. I even wrote Rammichael some time ago and he made this special feature available.
Really, there is no “suck money out of consumers”.
@Nutrynion: volume adjustment with the mousewheel over the taskbar? Please try my skin, you even can change volume level if you want by edit it? 🙂
http://chumeodihia.deviantart.com/art/Compact-Volume-4-0-669655500
If you want a program like this to be freeware please create one yourself if you think it’s so easy to keep it fully functional during major windows updates. Microsoft has said there will be 2 major updates each year, so this shouldn’t be a problem for you.
TT offers a lot more tweaks than those you mentioned, the big one being to preserve taskbar order when changing between virtual desktops. Have you checked the advanced functions by right clicking on the TT icon?
Michael has done really well with TT and we are all eagerly awaiting for it to become fully functional again.
Nutrynion, you are an ignorant troll. Take your 2 free programs and crawl back under your bridge.
Haha, I think there’s some new option in this update.
All seems fully functional with latest alpha update, good work Michael!
Omg folks.
He makes a tool on his own time and “lets us also use it”
You get hooked on its efficiency and think it is your rite to have it instead of a privilege to be given access to it.
Grow up and stop the millennial self entitled whining.
Donation/freeware, he could if he wanted out-rite keep it to himself at anytime if he wants.
Be positive and supportive, just as he maintains in his replys to those of us that have commented.
Donate/don’t donate…you wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t a great product.
Hope you know how awesome you are, Peter.