Strange Item on Windows XP Desktop

[Guest]

I have a strange Item on my desktop...not even sure if i can explain it
properly. It is a verticle folder bar on the left side of the desktop...it
takes up a little less then a quarter of the screen. It looks like the
folder view when you are exploring a folder. When you have an open folder
the left side has a verticle bar that says "Folder Tasks", "Other Places",
and "Details". The problem is that this area is on my desktop on the left
side from top to bottom. It doesn't "right click" and there doesn't appear
to be anyway to exit out of it. I can still see my desktop icons, but they
are pushed over by this folder task bar. I've tried system restore to an
earlier time, but it says it can't do it. I've a fairly competent windows
guy, but have never come across this before and I have no idea how it
happened. Any help would be appreciated...this is driving me crazy.

 

[Malke]

I have a strange Item on my desktop...not even sure if i can explain
it properly. It is a verticle folder bar on the left side of the
desktop...it
takes up a little less then a quarter of the screen. It looks like
the
folder view when you are exploring a folder. When you have an open
folder the left side has a verticle bar that says "Folder Tasks",
"Other Places",
and "Details". The problem is that this area is on my desktop on the
left
side from top to bottom. It doesn't "right click" and there doesn't
appear
to be anyway to exit out of it. I can still see my desktop icons, but
they
are pushed over by this folder task bar. I've tried system restore to
an
earlier time, but it says it can't do it. I've a fairly competent
windows guy, but have never come across this before and I have no idea
how it
happened. Any help would be appreciated...this is driving me crazy.

Remove Common Tasks from the Desktop -
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Malke

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi Tim,

D/load and run this fix, provided courtesy of Doug Knox MS-MVP, according
to the directions:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_commtask_desktop.htm



Regards,

 

[Guest]

Thanks to both of you....your solution worked...the common task pane is
gone!...but another minor problem started when I rebooted. Now, all of the
icons are highlited..or shadowed. The icon descriptions...the writing just
below the icons are now in small rectangular boxes with dark blue
backgrounds...any suggestions?

Tim

 

[Malke]

Thanks to both of you....your solution worked...the common task pane
is
gone!...but another minor problem started when I rebooted. Now, all
of the
icons are highlited..or shadowed. The icon descriptions...the writing
just below the icons are now in small rectangular boxes with dark blue
backgrounds...any suggestions?

Open the System applet in Control Panel, choose the Advanced tab, and
click Settings in the Performance section. Turn on the "Use drop
shadows for icon labels on the desktop option", and click Ok.

Four things are required for transparent icon backgrounds:

1) System Properties>Advanced>Performance Settings>VisualEffects - check
"use drop shadows for icon labels".

2) Right-click on Desktop ->Arrange Icons by>Lock Web items must be
cleared.

3) If you have any web content on your desktop, transparency won't work.
To check for web content: Display Properties>Desktop>Customize
Desktop>Web - make sure all checkboxes are clear.

4) Wallpaper must be an image file, not html.

Malke