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xp blue column

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by loluluke, 2003/08/17.

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  1. 2003/08/17
    loluluke

    loluluke Inactive Thread Starter

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    It's not a tramatic problem, just annoying. A blue column appeared on the left side of my desktop. I swear I did not put it there. I tried right clicking on it, nothing happens. Changing desktop settings doesn't get rid of it. It has 3 items listed- desktop, other places and folder tasks. All are empty. I tried system restore but that didn't make it disappear either. Please help me get my desktop back.

    Thanks
    Lori
     
    loluluke,
    #1
  2. 2003/08/18
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi loluluke - and Welcome to the Board :)

    Not come across this one before - could be that you have inadvertently switched on a toolbar.

    Right click on a blank area of the Task Bar > Toolbars and see if any toolbars are ticked. If you have the Quick Launch icons at the left end of the Task Bar then Quick Launch toolbar will be ticked. Anything else?
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2003/08/18
    loluluke

    loluluke Inactive Thread Starter

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    Pete

    No nothing is ticked. Thanks though, a moment of hope. Also I want to add to this blue blob issue. I can't open my task bar from the control panel or right clicking. This has just started to happen when this thing took over my desktop. This blue column is about 2.5" wide and is just in the way. It has no purpose as far as I can tell.

    Lori
     
    loluluke,
    #3
  5. 2003/08/18
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Lori

    A few things to try - it is feasible that this blue bar has appeared because you have picked up some spyware on your PC.

    Download Spybot and AdAware .
    Run Spybot first and then AdAware and delete all they find.
    Won't do any harm - only good and may solve the problem.

    If not try changing your desktop theme - you can always revert back at a later stage.

    The task bar problem is a bit different I feel - have you a System Restore point prior to the problem of the blue band arising?

    Worth running a virus check on the system, but make sure that you update your virus definitions before you run it. Alternatively run an on-line virus check from Housecall - recommended.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2003/08/18
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    This is a registry error.

    Run: regedt32

    Navigate to:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\shellex\ExtShellFolderViews\{5984FFE0-28D4-11CF-AE66-08002B2E1262}

    Put this value in PersistMoniker:

    file://%userappdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop.htt

    Reboot.

    If you are not comfortable editing the registry, I have an executable in a zip that will do the job for you:

    http://users.adelphia.net/~abraxas/pub/XP_BlueBar.zip

    Reboot.
     
    Last edited: 2003/08/18
    Abraxas,
    #5
  7. 2003/08/18
    loluluke

    loluluke Inactive Thread Starter

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    Abraxas

    Thank you, it worked. I'm so happy I have my desktop back. I used the zip and I'm saving it for later, just in case.

    Pete C

    I didn't know you could use both spybot and adaware ( thought they didn't get along). I'm going to download Spybot and do as you said also. Clean out whatever else is lurking about.

    Thanks again
    Lori :)
     
    loluluke,
    #6
  8. 2003/08/18
    Abraxas

    Abraxas Inactive

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    If you ever get any clues what causes this thing, please let us know. Glad you got rid of it and thanls for posting back ;)
     
    Abraxas,
    #7
  9. 2003/08/18
    Miz

    Miz Inactive Alumni

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    Don't forget to update both Spybot and AdAware before running them.

    Spyware writers are like virus writers - they're constantly re-writing, adding to and deleting from their nasty little programs in attempts to evade detection. You need to keep both anti-spyware and anti-virus programs up to date.
     
    Miz,
    #8
  10. 2003/08/19
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Check ad-aware and if your build version is not 6.181, download an updated version. It runs lots faster than the previous release.
     
    Newt,
    #9
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