folder on desktop question

Hi all, have a little problem. nothing serious its just driving me potty...I have windows XP home edition. and for the past few days i have a quarter of my screen on the left.taken up with a folder file i nformation..when i open a file on desk top it explains whats in folder ect..also my desk icons are locked in one position..I have tried right clicking on desktop and taking lock icons tick away but still locked.. think its something to do with the info screen on my desk top.. tried everything i can think of. to remove screen. even tried system restore, but still the same after reverting back.. hope some one can help...thanks... rodger.

 

What you describe sounds like a misplaced "Common Tasks toolbar," the toolbar that appears in the pane to the left of folder windows when "Show common tasks in folders" is enabled in Folder Options.

If that's the case, XP_Commontasks.exe from the Doug Knox site should fix it, or download the .vbs file linked to on that page you can use the information on that page to make the registry edit manually.