windows taskbar problem

Question

hi, i hope someone out there can help me because this is driving me insane... for some reason (it happened after msn made me update messenger) open windows and programs no longer appear on the taskbar when open or minimized, which as you can imagine makes navigating through windows an absolute nightmare... any ideas what i have to do to get the programs appearing on the taskbar again...? the quick launch stuff is there, and the language bar if i select to have it there, but no programs or windows/internet explorer stuff to switch between...if i minimize any program it just dissapears off the desktop and i have to bring it back using the task manager program...grrrrrr please help!

JarmoD · Answer

So the taskbar is actually visible and Alt-Tab cycles through the progams, but none of the programs appear on the taskbar, right?

I've never seen this happen but have a look at this article.

I'd also consider installing MS AntiSpyware, if you haven't already.

RoHe · Answer

Can you do System Restore to date before you updated MSN? Or maybe use Last Known Good configuration which you can read up on here: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmb_tol_ustn.asp

Ron

adammoogle · Answer

hi, thanks for the help! that website seems like a big help! i did the system restore (something i hate doing cos it almost never works right) and low and behold the programs appeared again! yay! unfortunately everytime i restart the computer they dissappear again (to the far right hand corner next to the right icon bar) i can set the task bar back to normal by unlocking it and rearranging what goes where but its still pretty annoying... i definately think i'll give that windows taskbar tweaker program a go, it sounds great! and whats the ms spyware prgram about? i've got the adaware and spybot programs installed, u think another one will make a difference? also, do u think updating my graphics cards drivers will have any effect?   good advice though guys, thanks! these forums are good for something! :smileyhappy:

Justequestya · Answer

Maybe a longshot but: Start>control panel>taskbar/startmenu Is 'hide inactive icons' checked? If so, uncheck, reboot & see if prblm is bye-bye

adammoogle · Answer

thanks for the advice but theres no problem with the hiding inactive icons section to the far right of the taskbar.

the problem is definately that for some reason, when i reboot the taskbar loses the section where it puts minimized programs...

i think this has something to do with a conflict between the language bar and the new msn messenger and updates windows made me install...this is because when i check out the taskbar properties it reads 3 language bars as been present and active...

weird.

Windows General

windows taskbar problem

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