Toolbar problems

I am running Windows XPPro with SP2. I have suddenly developed a very frustrating problem: when I minimize running programs they do not show up on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. The "animation" shows them shrinking down to the toolbar, but there is no icon. alt-tab works OK and shows all running programs, and I can maximize a running program that way.

I have tried all sorts of tweaking with toolbar settings no to avail. It just looks like the running programs icons are "hiding" somewhere and I cannot see them.

If I log in using another account the problem goes away and I can see minimized items as normal. So it seems to be a personal settings problem. Is there some way of "resetting" personal settings? Any suggestions? All help gratefully received...it's driving me mad.

Adrian

 

Hi Adrian and welcome,

Take a look here for some possible work arounds for what is one of XP's phantom bugs.

I'm assuming you haven't inadvertantly reduced the size of the Taskbar by some accidental dragging move. Try dragging it upward just for a test - make it double high for a time, then go back to normal height.

 

If suferdude2's suggestion doesn't work you give this a shot:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
You can either download the whole applet or click on the appropriate fix file
and just download that particular one.

Darn it!!! I know this subject has come up on the board more than a time or two. I'm having a bit of trouble locating it in the "past posts ". While the fix may work (or not) I'd sure like to why it happens in the first place. I'll be back in a bit....

Can't shake the feeling that it's a minor bug involving an option/setting. I know I have seen references to user goofs such as using the "grouping" option without realizing it or what it was and failing to notice the arrow in a minmized program button. Taskbar filled (again, the arrows overlooked) and when pulled up to double size the buttons that couldn't be seen are now seen (or using the arrows that allow switching from the first row to the alternate row of buttons.) I think there was even a case of a theme so sized out bounds using to large a font size causing whacky problems such as you described.

 

I pasted the wrong link earlier and have since corrected it. Sorry for any confusion that must have caused.

 

Getting better...

I tried Kelly's Corner Taskbar repair tool and it seems to have worked.

Now I must try and figure out why, when I have minimized an open MSWord window, clicking on the taskbar icon causes Word to crash totally (just GONE) with no file-save.


Thanks...

Adrian

 

Your most welcome and I'm glad the "Fix Toolbar" goodie worked for you but it appears your trouble is not yet over. This topic has now spilled over into a Software/Application problem with Word and should propbably have it's own post in the appropriate forum. May I suggest that you call this posted topic done and start a new post in the Software Forum. You might include a little history of this particlar problem in that post. I don't think they're related but we do like to keep tabs on any recent or past problems. Sometimes this helps to get the bigger picture on what may be going on. In other words you may be fighting secondary syptoms of a larger problem.

On second thought while your here let's try something just for "Grins and Giggles ".

----Ignore these questions--------
These questions should be addressed in the software forum:
What version is Word?
Are we talking MSword or WordPerfect?
Up to date on Office patches?
Any error details?
Is an error or patern of such caught in "administartors tools ">event viewer?:
Type eventvwr.msc in the startmenu>runline hit enter and have a looksee.
---------------------------------

But try this if your game

May I suggest you try something such as reducing your visual bells and whistles. To do so
*Right click on the "My Computer" icon and select properties.
*Click on the "advanced tab "
*Click on the "Performance Button "
*Put a tick in the custom circle
*uncheck everything with the exceptions of the last two in the list ot the last three if you are using the custom view preference of showing the commontasks panel (the panel of lists that show what you can do or goto while in any given folder):
*Apply your and okay your way out of there.

See if that helps.

---All so------------------
Do you have a sound associated with your minimize and maximize actions?