i use vista but try right clicking on the start button then click toolbar and see if you can find and check the box in there.

Try this.

 

Right-click on the start button>properties>customize button>advanced tab>start menu items section under control panel>"display as a menu"

Thanks for the tip but as far as I can tell XP doesn't have this feature.  I think I got a message when I tried to access the Control Panel that "access had been removed by an administrator" or something similar.  But I am not on a network and don't have an administrator...

I followed your instructions but there is no "start menu items section under control panel>"display as a menu".  What is going on?

I have seen this a few times recently.  It is  malware which disables Control Panel in the registry.

 

Go to the HijackThis forum here

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack 

 

Read the red link at the top and then post your log on the forum with a description of your problem, plus the Model of Dell you have and the OS Version.

Thanks for the advice, have just posted the Hijack This log to the forum you mentioned, hopefully someone can help me fix it soon!

 

Cheers Chris.

You are very welcome.:smileyhappy:

 

 I see a few nasties in the log so I hope you get it cleaned up soon