Windows XP Buttons Missing on Bottom Task Bar

[Guest]

Windows XP Media Centre 2002 service pack 2





Today I switched on my PC and the buttons usually shown on the bottom of the
task bar when windows are open are not shown any more.



Secondly in spite of setting the sound scheme to "no sounds" the computer
makes a beep when windows notification messages pop up.



I notice that the task bar is slightly different from usual:

1. there is a light blue line about 10 pixels high running directly above
the task bar, and the width of the screen.

2. the quick launch tool bar on the task bar has two tiny vertical lines of
dots staggered.



All these changes are very annoying and I have run both my virus checker and
windows defender to see if I have a virus. They cannot detect anything.



Is it possible a window update has caused this?

 

[Bob I]

System restore to yesterday.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The vertical dots appear to the right of the Quick Launch toolbar when the
taskbar is unlocked. You can adjust the length of the QL bar with it.
Locking the taskbar will hide these vertical dotted lines.

The blue area above the task bar sounds like a gap between the bottom of
your desktop wallpaper and the bottom of the screen. The area behind the
taskbar is probably blue also if this is the case (move the taskbar up and
down to see).

Try logging out and in again and see if this effect remains.