menu bar/start button bar

[Guest]

I have a problem from time to time with the bar at the bottom of the screen.
That has the start button on it. I don't know it's proper term, but it is the
bar on the desktop that houses the start button. I have windows XP and the
bar just dissappears or goes vertical to the left of the screen. Right now
it's gone and I don't know how to get it back. It also displays the time and
minimized programs.
Could someone please help.
Thanks so much
Amanda

 

[Rock]

I have a problem from time to time with the bar at the bottom of the
screen.
That has the start button on it. I don't know it's proper term, but it is
the
bar on the desktop that houses the start button. I have windows XP and the
bar just dissappears or goes vertical to the left of the screen. Right now
it's gone and I don't know how to get it back. It also displays the time
and
minimized programs.
Could someone please help.

It's called the Taskbar. What happens if you bring the mouse pointer to the
bottom, top or one of the sides? Does it appear? It could be that it's set
to auto hide. If you find at at one side or the top, drag it to the bottom.
Then right click on a blank area of the desktop, choose properties, uncheck
Auto-hide the taskbar, and put a check mark in Lock the Taskbar.

 

[witan]

I have a problem from time to time with the bar at the bottom of the screen.
That has the start button on it. I don't know it's proper term, but it is the
bar on the desktop that houses the start button. I have windows XP and the
bar just dissappears or goes vertical to the left of the screen. Right now
it's gone and I don't know how to get it back. It also displays the time and
minimized programs.
Could someone please help.
Thanks so much
Amanda

If moving the mouse cursor to the edge of the screen fails (as it had
happened sometimes on my computer) pressing one of the two "windows"
keys (the ones in line with the space bar, with the Windows logo on
them), or pressing Ctrl and Esc keys together, usually opens the
taskbar. After you manage to open it, follow the instructions given by
Rock.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 20:10:00 -0700, Amanda lost <Amanda

I have a problem from time to time with the bar at the bottom of the screen.
That has the start button on it. I don't know it's proper term, but it is the
bar on the desktop that houses the start button. I have windows XP and the
bar just dissappears or goes vertical to the left of the screen. Right now
it's gone and I don't know how to get it back. It also displays the time and
minimized programs.
Could someone please help.

It's called the task bar.

1. If it moves to the side of the screen:

Although by default the task bar appears on the bottom of the screen,
it can be on any of the sides you prefer it on. To move it from any
side to another, simply click on an unused part of it and drag it
where you want it. Be sure to click *within* it, not on the edge;
clicking on the edge and dragging will resize it.

If it won't move, it may be locked. In that case, right click on it
and uncheck "Lock the taskbar," then try again.

2. If it disappears:

The task bar is resizable, like a window. You may have accidentally
resized it to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the bottom of the
screen and move it up and down slightly until it turns into a
double-headed arrow. Then click and drag it to the size you want.

If that doesn't work, it may be zero lines high on another side of the
screen, so try on all four sides.