Toolbar misbehavior at start-ups.

Ever-so-often, after SP2 went into my XP Pro 2002, my toolbar "quick launch" icons, AND the separators get misplaced at many reboots/start-ups. The Toolbar's "locked "; However, the icons and separators often change their positions when the Windows re-open, usually, icons all spread-wide; CHKDSK-r did not solve the problem; Sometime ago when I saw a post about re-configuring the DEP to fight misplaced icons on Desktop, I tried the "boot.ini" file re-write which was mentioned at a forum; That did not work; How do I solve this problem?

Kid
(P.S. I'm the sole administrator in this unit; Virii/trojans/spywares/adwares checks came out clean many times.)

 

what toolsbars do you have displayed besides the 'built in' ones?

Its probable that its just a timing issue, and some of these third party toolbars are slow to initialize, or throwing an error, causing them to come up out of order.

 

While I have no answer for you, I thought I'd just let you know this also happens to my quick launch icons. The occasions are so rare and infrequent that I have not bothered exploring why. I just adjust the icons back into my preference. In other words it doesnt even register on my nusiance scale.

However, I didn't want you to think this only happens to you, I personally have chalked it up to one of those things that should be expected to happen once in awhile. (Since I know this has a history of doing so on open/show and closing/hide and can be caused by having an icon misbehave in general perhaps due to corruption or losing track of the file or folder the icon is associated with or just plain having a shortcut remain in the quicklaunch even though I have uninstalled the program it pointed, coupled with my an ocassional preference and move from taskbar to autohide on the side of screen, I figure it's a glitch I can put up with.)

If this is bothers you enough perhaps you'd be interested in a little handy dandy tool. If not for this problem it is still a neat little thing to have just in case an ocassion arises for it's use. While I have not had such an occasion, I have suggested it to friends who have had problems with the taskbar. It worked for their particular problems. It does have quick launch tweaks, the sort order being one of those. You may wish to give this a go:
Quick Launch - Doesn't Function Properly

Quick Launch Repair Tool and More:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Can't Create Toolbar Error Message
Restore Show Desktop Icon
Remove the Quick Launch Area *
Save Quick Launch Sort Order
Auto Add Specific Links to Quick Launch *
Set Quick Launch as Default for any new user added *

 

Thanks, folks! (Plus, an MBR question.)

(Sorry I couldn't come back here earlier... I'd had terrible flu.)

The "Toolbar" I mentioned, is at the bottom of my desktop, not on the pages, such as browsers'. I did go to the "taskbarplus" page after I read Ann's post. The app appeared "attractive" to me, but I couldn't decide to jump onto it, since I hate to add so many gizmo-s in order not to slow my unit's process-speed down.
I, too, am at times, just rearranging the icon positions manually; I, now have a bit more serious prob: An MBR-Error3, that FIXMBR in MS Recovery Console, has not repaired. I'll try to manage to get it done soon, before I loose boot-ability. Any suggestions?

Kid
(BTW, Mrs. "goddez1," I'm one of your fans for sometime now; I thank you.)

 

Check out some of these hits for a lead:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=lang_en&q=MBR-Error+3&spell=1

Do you now or have you ever used a boot manager for dual booting? If not and you can't get it repaired, I'd strongly suggest you keep your backups up to date just in case.

 

Kid - I sorta agree with Dude. You may have a system going sour on you.

Have you checked your event logs for additional information? Maybe clear them completely to get a fresh start and then right after it happens again, start => run => eventvwr.msc and take a look. If you see any that might be related and that don't make sense to you, open the event, click on the icon below the up/down arrows to send a text copy to your clipboard, and paste the contents here so we can have a look.