Desktop / Windows Explorer

[Guest]

I an unable to view full desktop at present: My PC starts
with Common Tasks View at left of screen while desktop
and icons are shown to the right. I am unable to move or
add new icons to this desktop. When I right click screen
and select 'Show Windows' I am presented with full
(though blank) page attached to Common Tasks view. When
I reselect 'show desktop' I am returned to view of
desktop and fixed icons with Common Tasks menu again to
left, (on top of desktop). I can't start Windows
Explorer from main icon, though I can access this from
the likes of 'My Documents' by selecting 'Folder'. Could
anyone advise why I can't shift the common tasks side
menu from my desktop? Thanks.

 

[dev]

(e-mail address removed) said:

I an unable to view full desktop at present: My PC starts with Common
Tasks View at left of screen while desktop and icons are shown to the
right. I am unable to move or add new icons to this desktop. When I
right click screen and select 'Show Windows' I am presented with full
(though blank) page attached to Common Tasks view. When I reselect
'show desktop' I am returned to view of desktop and fixed icons with
Common Tasks menu again to left, (on top of desktop). I can't start
Windows Explorer from main icon, though I can access this from the
likes of 'My Documents' by selecting 'Folder'. Could anyone advise why
I can't shift the common tasks side menu from my desktop? Thanks.

Visit Doug's link, below, and click on XP-FIXES, then on "remove common
tasks from desktop", and see if that does what you want.