Icons on taskbar stop working

[NHAnimator]

A co-worker of mine has XP SP3 and is having an issue with the
taskbar's icons. They all work fine until you right-click on one.
Doing so brings up the right-click menu correctly, including
additional options for things like sending to files to WinRAR. These
options are the same for icons on the desktop. However, even if you
didn't actually select one of these options and just canceled it by
clicking elsewhere, the very next time you right-click on a taskbar
icon, you get a generic right-click menu (similar to right-clicking on
an empty area of the taskbar).

More importantly, normal left clicking on any taskbar icon then does
nothing. Neither does clicking on any program "bars" that are open to
the right of the icons.

We have done all the basics such as scanning for viruses, making sure
windows and display drivers are up-to-date. But this problem is even
occurring in Safe Mode.

Any ideas where to turn next?

Thanks in advance,
NHAnimator

 

[Jose]

A co-worker of mine has XP SP3 and is having an issue with the
taskbar's icons. They all work fine until you right-click on one.
Doing so brings up the right-click menu correctly, including
additional options for things like sending to files to WinRAR. These
options are the same for icons on the desktop. However, even if you
didn't actually select one of these options and just canceled it by
clicking elsewhere, the very next time you right-click on a taskbar
icon, you get a generic right-click menu (similar to right-clicking on
an empty area of the taskbar).

More importantly, normal left clicking on any taskbar icon then does
nothing. Neither does clicking on any program "bars" that are open to
the right of the icons.

We have done all the basics such as scanning for viruses, making sure
windows and display drivers are up-to-date. But this problem is even
occurring in Safe Mode.

Any ideas where to turn next?

Thanks in advance,
NHAnimator

The Taskbar has several places where icons can appear, so tell us what
area. Not every system will be the same though, but I have no idea
what icon you are describing.

From left to right, I usually see the Start button, a collection of
icons in the Quick Launch area, minimized running programs, the
Notification Area and finally the System Time.

When you right click an icon (say on the desktop), the menu offered
depends on what is behind the icon - a program, a shortcut, a text
file, an image file, etc.

 

[NHAnimator]

Sorry about that. The icons in the Quick Launch area are the ones.
Right-clicking on the icons on the desktop does bring up a context-
sensitive menu which depends on what the icon represents - I agree.
This is true with the icons in the QL area as well.

So if you can imagine, I get a correct context-sensitive menu the
first right-click, then subsequent right-clicks give a generic,
stripped-down, non-working menu. And again, left-clicking on them does
nothing. It's like the a large part of the taskbar crashes as even the
minimized running program buttons no longer work. The Start Menu
button and menus from it DO work, though, as this is how a program
(like Firefox) would then need to be started. Odd.

 

[Elmo]

Sorry about that. The icons in the Quick Launch area are the ones.
Right-clicking on the icons on the desktop does bring up a context-
sensitive menu which depends on what the icon represents - I agree.
This is true with the icons in the QL area as well.

So if you can imagine, I get a correct context-sensitive menu the
first right-click, then subsequent right-clicks give a generic,
stripped-down, non-working menu. And again, left-clicking on them does
nothing. It's like the a large part of the taskbar crashes as even the
minimized running program buttons no longer work. The Start Menu
button and menus from it DO work, though, as this is how a program
(like Firefox) would then need to be started. Odd.

Try these Taskbar repairs:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 164. Restore Taskbar to Default Functionality
Line 298. Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

 

[The Real Truth MVP]

Try my Explorer Shell Fix tool. Download it here http://www.ms-mvp.org/


--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/
*WARNING* Do NOT follow any advice given by the people listed below.
They do NOT have the expertise or knowledge to fix your issue. Do not waste
your time.
David H Lipman, Malke, PA Bear, Beauregard T. Shagnasty, Leythos.




Sorry about that. The icons in the Quick Launch area are the ones.
Right-clicking on the icons on the desktop does bring up a context-
sensitive menu which depends on what the icon represents - I agree.
This is true with the icons in the QL area as well.

So if you can imagine, I get a correct context-sensitive menu the
first right-click, then subsequent right-clicks give a generic,
stripped-down, non-working menu. And again, left-clicking on them does
nothing. It's like the a large part of the taskbar crashes as even the
minimized running program buttons no longer work. The Start Menu
button and menus from it DO work, though, as this is how a program
(like Firefox) would then need to be started. Odd.

 

[Leythos]

Try my Explorer Shell Fix tool. Download it here [REMOVED]

WARNING: Do not follow any advice from PCBUTTS/TRT


Do you really want to trust someone that was banned from posting
directly to Microsoft Usenet servers, someone that has posted links to
pornographic materials on HIS WEBSITE, who's website is in the MVP HOST
Block list, and who provides a tool for your use that will block access
to reputable anti-malware sites without telling you he's doing it?

Do you really want to trust someone that has had to change their posting
identity after being busted by MS as a fake MVP?

 

[NHAnimator]

I tried the scripts at Kelly's Korner, and while they did reset the
taskbar (had to unlock it and turn on the Quick Launch toolbar), the
behavior returned immediately. First right-click worked fine, then
second right-click was dead and incorrect, as was QL bar. Not happy.

 

[Barry Schwarz]

Try my Explorer Shell Fix tool. Download it here http://www.ms-mvp.org/

This is not the MVP site despite its fake logos.

The correct MVP site is http://www.mvps.org/.