Bottom Task Bar Not Visible

Equipment is HP laptop running XP Home. The Task Bar is not visible along the bottom of the monitor - nor is it visible when we drag it to the top. Shortcut icons are visible on Desktop. We can see the edge of the Task Bar and if we hover the mouse, we get the pop up identifying open applications.

Dragging it up using the double ended arrow doesn't work. We can left click and hold and drag it to either side where it is visible. It's just when it's at the bottom or top that it's not visible. One thought was to adjust the monitor like one would on a desktop but I can't find any controls on the laptop to do that.

Any suggestions?

 

Steve,

The monitor had 4 different settings and I tried them all - but no go. Still can barely see the task bar at the bottom of the screen. We can also get the double ended arrow, but it does nothing when I drag it up. We are able to use the computer with the task bar along the left side of the screen but we would like to get it back to the bottom. Any other thoughts?

 

This problem is on a friend's computer. I won't be able to try either of your suggestions for a day or so. Pete - I have Kelly's Taskbar Tool on a flash drive to run. Steve - I think I checked the Lock option earleir but I will try it for sure before I run the Taskbar Tool. Will report back.

 

If you're able to drag the task bar to the side then it isn't locked.

 

Good point.

 

Problem fixed. Thanks to all. The Kelly's Toolbar Repair did the trick. I'm happy and my friend's happy. The friend is a four star general so if any of you ever need to get out of KP or latrine duty, let me know.