Lost forward and back arrows in windows xp.

The Forward and back arrows on a standard windows page have disappeared.
I have tried rebooting and customizing to no avail. I searched the Internet fior an answer but most replys refer to Internet Explorer not a standard windows page. Does anyone know of a way to restore these buttons without reinstalling windows xp. In "View ", "Toolbars ", Standard Buttons is selected. Thanks in advance.

 

Hi gimpy,

Try unchecking it, close out of Explorer, re-open Explorer and recheck it. Or, goto the "customize" link and see if the arrows are on the right-side of the pane.

 

While I don't think this is your problem, it's worth a mentioning, so, perhaps you've used the F11 key, try pressing this.

In the mean time, while we are trying to sort this out, see if shortcut of Alt + left or Alt + right arrow keys move you backward and forward.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962963

 

Thank you Chris: I did as you stated; I went to View and unchecked Toolbars..Standard buttons. I closed Explorer.exe using task manager and renewed new task explorer.exe, went back to View selected Toolbars, use standard buttons and it didn't work. Forward and Back are in the right hand pane in customize. I even put them back to the left side, reselected them and reset the customize box...and still it didn't work. Thanks for the effort. Still trying to sort it out. I didn't hit the F11 key as some else suggested I might have done. Thanks Gimpy

 

Thank you for your reply. F11 was not the probalem..although I learned something new.. MS would not allow installing "FIx It "..something missing on my computer that disallows installing the Fix it program. I searched the forums and couldn't find any help so I posted the problem in the forums and now waiting for an answer from MS. In the meantime the Backspace key works from the keyboard. Alt + right arrow doesn't work in my Windows Explorer, but does work in Internet Explorer. Thanks for your post. Gimpy

 

Ann did you see my reply to your post? Gimpy

 

Probably won't help, but, try doing a system file check.

Also, is the address bar or back-forward there? Or do you just have the standard File, Edit, View, etc., toolbar?

 

The address bar is present. The Forward and back buttons are greyed out but visible. Everything else works fine. Wondering if there is a registry entry that can be modified??? hkey Current User/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/policies/explorer

Thanks again

 

I ran SFC (System file check) and the problem is still there.

 

OK, if the buttons are there, do they stay grayed out when you click on a folder in the left pane, then click on a folder in the right pane?

 

Hi Gimpy,

Are we talking about the "standard buttons" or the "address toolbar "?

Is this what your seeing, see this for a pic of standard toolbar:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/personalize/toolbars.mspx

Not having laid eyes on xp for a long while now I forget if any changes where made to this via service packs. I will have to do a study-up.

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Please note that any toolbar is drag and dropable, can you unlock and drag this someplace other than where you have it?

Can you resize it, make it longer, to see if problem clears up?

See the section picture named "Customize the buttons on your toolbars "? Can you reset these? remove them from one side to the other, via add remove button? Change position, move them up and down? Change text options size options, anything to shake this toolbar up and see what falls out.......

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Worth a look see. Use extreme caution and "reg backup " or "restore point" precautions.

I am only passing this link along as a possible place for a setting that may hold a value that could be problematic. If you do find something seek boards members advice or pay attention to the red text above.
Hide Standard toolbar

Disable navigation buttons in Internet Explorer toolbar

 

Hi goddez1,

Gimpy is referring to Windows Explorer; not Internet Explorer.