lost tool bars and start button

Hey,

I tried to reinstall Access yesterday and since then when I turn on the computer the tool bars and start button have disappeared. I have tried restarting an earlier date but the problem remains. Any ideas???????? Thanks

 

A quick way might be to do a "Restore" from a time earlier than the day problems started. That should clear up the problem.

 

Dear Mudd,

Thanks for the reply but that was what I tried first. Still have the same problem with toolbars and Start button having disappeared.

 

Does it just keep 'hiding' or is it missing?

 

Noahdfear,

Thanx for the reply. The toolbars including the start button disappeared altogether and a sys restore did not bring them back. (If they are just hiding how do I get them back?)

davidwfoss

 

You may have to modify the directions below. They are win98's (my Xp machine is not available at the moment) I don't think (or hope) Xp's should differ to much from this.....

Hit your winkey on the keyboard (the key with a windows flying icon that looks like a flag)

Scroll to "settings "

scroll to "Taskbar and start menu "

Uncheck autohide.

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Just in case: the control panel has an icon for the Taskbar and Start Menu.

Let's hope it's this easy

 

Ann - XP with the classic start menu looks just like the 98 systems. Using the fancy new start menu and 'settings' is no where to be found (that I can find) and you gotta go to control panel.

I really DO NOT like the fancy new start meny thingy on XP. Sticking with Classic.

 

If the Win key brings up the task bar, right click on start button and select properties>taskbar tab, uncheck autohide. Usually if this is checked, just moving your cursor to the bottom of the page will bring up the taskbar.

 

Wasn't there a post recently, with the same problem, that running adaware and /or spybot cleared up?

In any case this registry fix could also help fix it:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/277/

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I found a link to, what looks to be a software based, "Repair" tool for the taskbar. It looks very promising:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Amazing! Where and how does Kelly keep coming up with this stuff?????

 

Thanks for all the tips but I don't have enough functions left to access any of them. The only screen I can access before windows boots is the f8 setup screen and none of those options seem to work at all. No matter what I select the bootup is still this crippled version that boots up. The suggested links all have instructions which the current version will not perform as the buttons are all missing. I can't even reinstall from the disk. I'm beginning to think this computer would make a good boat anchor.

 

I assume you're referring to reinstalling windows. Why can't you reinstall?

 

I don't know. I don't have a start menu or any way of accessing "my computer" and F8 doesn't have any options that work. It just keeps booting up this corrupted version. The only choices that remain on the tool bar on top are back, search, favorites, and media. The bottom tool bar is completely gone. I do still have the yahoo toolbar.

 

Before we get carried away doing a reinstall of windows, try RAV online scanner. Check the box to autoclean. And I don't normally recommend doing this, and you can wait to see if anyone else has concerns about doing it, but click the Spybot link in my signature and when prompted to open or save , click the open and when it's done it should open up. Click the update and when finished check for and fix problems. Then do the same for Ad-aware and CWShredder (look for the .exe direct download of CWS). Reboot and see what happens.

EDIT- CWShredder site seems to be down again at the moment. Keep trying! Will update link as soon as available.

 

noahdfear,

Thanks, will try a little later when I have a little more time.
Dave

 

Hi David,

First off.. Is this your computer? Are you the sole owner and logged in as a user with admin privilages? Is your user profile controlled by policy restrictions that would be affecting what you are able to do and have the ability to do?

===That being said======
I need to catch you when your online and can spare a wee bit of time to walk through this fixup.

There are many alternative ways or different ways of acomplishing a task or doing something, we'll have to explore some of these options.

For example:

While nothing is opened or all is collapsed click on the desktop, hit you keyboard F3 key, this should open the search dialogue box. You want to do an advanced seach for *.cpl.

When found, these may be helpful:
appwiz.cpl (uninstall Access

desk.cpl (Walk thru options and settings that may be disabled now

sysdm.cpl (lots of goodies here, Sytem Restore points being the one of particular interest

==========
Want access to your "My Computer" from that same search box you can click on the "Look In" type-in" field and use the DropDown arrow. There will be an option entitled "Browse ". Click on it.

==========
Cntrl/alt/del and bring up taskmanager. From the toolbar hit the FILE button and click on "run ". From the popup type in control.exe. This will open the Control Panel

From your control panel run the Taskbar Startmenu icon. Check the options this guy is set for. Autohide will be found here.

[Taskmanagers run line is sure a handy dandy thing. It will get you access to all your need.]

=======
I don't think you ever confirmed whether the keyboard winkey worked? Or the keyboard combination of cntrl/escape, or the winkey plus E, Tried clicking (with all collapsed or closed so desktop has focus) on the desktop and hitting the F1 keyboard key?

==On to the========
Toolbar problem....have I suggested pressing the F11 keyboard key while looking at an opened window such as IE or what ever?]
Can you right click an area of "what you can see on this toolar" and when done what options do you have from the popup?

===And did you try these=======
Did you try just entering windows in safemode?

Tried an adminstrator or different user login?

Just wondering if a different user account would have full Taskbar Toolbar functions that would make working in windows a bit less challenging.

============
Did you at least give this Kellys link a shot:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/xp_taskbar_desktop_fixall.vbs

You click on the link, download the script click on it and let it run.
Alternative is rightclicking on it and selecting open, a popup will showup and from that select "open" once again. This will open and run the script.
BUT DON'T EVER DO THIS AGAIN
Scripts can be dangerous and are a security risk.

Even though I trust this site, "Extreme Caution" is needed when running *.vbs scripts. I have downloaded it, scanned it, opened it in notepad to see whats in it and ran the thing on my own Computer before suggesting you do this. Running uninvestigated scripts is a dangerous business and not recommended for beginners. Do not adopt this habit.

Lots of possibles in the link I suggested in one of the upper threads.