When multiple instances of a program are running (but windows are closed) in Windows 7, is there a way to have the program open by clicking the taskbar button (without having to take the extra step of clicking a thumbnail)?
Right click on the taskbar. Click properties, you should see something that says “Taskbar buttons”. You can choose to have it “Never combine” or to only combine when full. This would make it handle windows the same way vista did.