switching windows a problem

[pdsterling]

Please bear with me, I am an old person who may not have all the lingo
correct:

All of a sudden, I cannot run my mouse to the edge of the window and
get a bar with icons of all the open programs. I believe I changed some
preference somewhere, but cannot figure out what it is. I can switch
windows by ALT TABbing, but wonder why the other facility has been
turned off.

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

P D Sterling
Dallas TX

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Please bear with me, I am an old person who may not have all the
lingo
correct:

All of a sudden, I cannot run my mouse to the edge of the window and
get a bar with icons of all the open programs. I believe I changed
some
preference somewhere, but cannot figure out what it is. I can switch
windows by ALT TABbing, but wonder why the other facility has been
turned off.

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

P D Sterling
Dallas TX

I suspect the bar you are referring to is the Start bar. It usually
has the Start button on it (green) and a system tray with the time in
it at the other end and icon for all open applications between the
two.
If this is correct and it used to be at one side of your screen but is
no longer there, what is likely is that you have accidentally made it
too thin to see normally.
So
try and move the mouse to the edge of the screen where it used to be,
try an not have any programs open running full screen, then as you
reach the edge of the screen there may be a very think line that when
you put your mouse on it, it turns into an arrow head shaped pointer.
when this happens hold down the right mouse button and drag the bar
back out to appear on screen.

 

[NewScience]

Try all edges of the screen ... in case it was moved.

Also, use your Start button on the keyboard (second button to the left of
the space bar). Once the button is pressed, the taskbar ... wherever it is
pops forward.

 

[pdsterling]

Ah, progress. My Star Bar - happens to be at the top, because I do
things different from other people. I am now typing you a message in
Firefox. If I run the cursor up to the top of the screen, nothing
happens. When I was at Desktop, I could run it up and see that I have
dBASE, Firefox, Thunderbird, and Excel open, and could select one, but
having once selected, like I am now in Firefox, when I go to the top
again, nothing happens. Sorry to report, my keyboard does not have
Windows Start keys on it. I told you I was old.

 

[Elmo]

Ah, progress. My Star Bar - happens to be at the top, because I do
things different from other people. I am now typing you a message in
Firefox. If I run the cursor up to the top of the screen, nothing
happens. When I was at Desktop, I could run it up and see that I have
dBASE, Firefox, Thunderbird, and Excel open, and could select one, but
having once selected, like I am now in Firefox, when I go to the top
again, nothing happens. Sorry to report, my keyboard does not have
Windows Start keys on it. I told you I was old.

Press Ctrl/Esc and you might get the Start menu and Taskbar..

 

[pdsterling]

and that would be true. thanks for the tip. however, that does not make
the Start Bar display.

 

[Elmo]

and that would be true. thanks for the tip. however, that does not make
the Start Bar display.

The intent was to help you locate which side of the screen the taskbar
was positioned. Now you will know where to point looking for the small
line you want to attempt to stretch. I realized it wouldn't make it
stay visible.