Can't shrink taskbar!

I'm using XP home with service pack 2.

A few hours ago I accidentally hit the right mouse key while I was moving the pointer onto the task bar. The taskbar doubled in height. The quickstar section is on the left end on the upper line and takes up about 1/3 of the screen. Programs that I start appear on the line below the task bar. The clock and tsr programs running appear in the separate area at the right end, but that too is two lines high.

I can't reduce the height of the task bar to one line by left clicking on the top edge and dragging it. I can increase the height to two or more lines by dragging it upward, but I can't decrease it to one line.

I can move the task bar to the other edges of the screen, but it is still two lines high or wide.

Windows is weird. Naturally there is nothing that I can find in the Dell windows help about taskbar height.

Paul

 

Steve,

I did right click, it is unlocked, and I can move it to the right, left, and top edge of the screen.

But it's still two lines high or wide. It stays two lines high even if I turn off the quickstart bar. Then I have a blank line on top and the running programs appear on the second line.

I can drag it to 3 or 4 lines high and back to 2 lines, but I can't decrease it to 1 line.

Like I said, windows is weird.

Paul

 

paul1940: I've had the same thing happen, once was just the other day. Each time it happens I have to seemingly re-invent the wheel, but try this: Right-click on the Taskbar and then hover over Toolbars. When the little window opens, uncheck Quick Launch. Now try to drag the top of the Taskbar down. If that gets it back to a single row, then to get your Quick Launch bar back, right click on the Taskbar, hover over Toolbars, then check Quick Launch. Hopefully that will get everything back the way you want it. If it doesn't, your gremlins are as perverse (that's worse than "weird') as mine.

Aargh! I just read your last post while composing this one. It looks like you already tried what I've recommended and it didn't work. When you do find the solution, be sure you share it with us. I'm sure others have been in the same predicament.

 

Look on the lower Taskbar and see if there is a divider bar. Drag it to the upper level. That should set you straight again.

 

Eureka!!! That did it. I must have clicked the mouse while it was moving over the divider bar.

Thanks.