Taskbar Tweaks: Can you get toolbars setup in win10?

I am running windows 7 and I am considering trying win10. My problem is I need to have an easy and convenient to use taskbar or else 'upgrading' is not a viable option.

What I need:
- I need to be able to setup toolbars within the taskbar with small icons and no text (like you could do in winxp and win7).
- Be able to have open apps never be 'pinned', never be shrunk into small icons, and never grouped together.

Can this be done in win10? I figure I can probably get the second point using something like "7+ taskbar tweaker", but what about getting toolbars back in win10? I need this feature, it makes launching apps very easy as they are always just a single click away and taking up minimal space.

Welcome to the Ten forum Chris,
Our favorite mentor have written almost everything. See in Tutorials if it fit your needs.
Windows 10 Tutorials

I'm not sure what you are asking but is the pic below what you mean ? You can click on it to make it bigger to view . Also, if you could add a pic as to what you want could help out ...

That is not what I want. Not only are there icons too big, but were would your active task go? There is no room for them (unless its pinned, and I really hate that design choice its too confusing). On top of that, there are no sections. I added a picture of my setup in win7 (and this works in winxp the even win98 had the toolbar feature).

Few important notes:
- The bottom part of the task bar contains only my current open/active programs/task
- The top section is divided into section using toolbars (S for systems, V for video, M for medica, etc).
- The icons are small, so they take up minimun space + I can fit a lot of them.
- The icons in my system tray are also small, allowing two per 'row', which saves some horizontal space.

And of course, this setup allows me to access any of those apps/games/folders with a single click anytime (as long as im not in a full screen app).

edit: I downloaded win10 today, so ill give it a quick go in vmware later when my NAS comes back up after some scheduled scans.

I already tried it when it was in early alpha (I got an MSDN subscription), I did not like it.

Only reason why I am thinking of about it now is because I got a new SSD and need to re-install my OS. I figure now is the best time, but im stuck on step 1: Having a usual taskbar.

It sometimes feels like MS goal is to make things difficult on the users and force the users to conform to inferior design.

Chris2340673 said:

I already tried it when it was in early alpha (I got an MSDN subscription), I did not like it.

Only reason why I am thinking of about it now is because I got a new SSD and need to re-install my OS. I figure now is the best time, but im stuck on step 1: Having a usual taskbar.

It sometimes feels like MS goal is to make things difficult on the users and force the users to conform to inferior design.

I think you can accomplish most of what you're after.
The only thing you may not like is the black fonts on the open thumbnails.

Mine is set to small (in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties) and it looks like the size of your taskbar. It can be set smaller in advanced sizing of text and other items. Having a perfect vision, I would take it smaller but it seems to be made that way.

Give it a try in VM Ware and you'll see. Feel free to show us the result.

All the best,