Task bar: Active-programs buttons missing

[Hans]

After installing XP SP2 my taskbar no longer displays the
buttons showing the active programs. I have tried turning
all toolbars on and off (strangely, but perhaps quite
relevant, when all toolbars are off the taskbar goes down
to only take up a few pixels at the bottom of the screen,
kind of like whey you use auto-hide, except it does not
come up again unless I activate a toolbar again), also,
I've tried unchecking and checking "group related
buttons" option, all to no avail. Restarted too, of
course. At the moment I can only switch between programs
using the Task Manager or Alt-Tab. Everything else
seems okay. Any ideas how to get my "active programs"
buttons back?

 

[Guest]

I have that problem as well, it seems that nobody knows how to fix it as I
have been trying to get help on this for about a week now..

 

[Rock]

After installing XP SP2 my taskbar no longer displays the
buttons showing the active programs. I have tried turning
all toolbars on and off (strangely, but perhaps quite
relevant, when all toolbars are off the taskbar goes down
to only take up a few pixels at the bottom of the screen,
kind of like whey you use auto-hide, except it does not
come up again unless I activate a toolbar again), also,
I've tried unchecking and checking "group related
buttons" option, all to no avail. Restarted too, of
course. At the moment I can only switch between programs
using the Task Manager or Alt-Tab. Everything else
seems okay. Any ideas how to get my "active programs"
buttons back?

See this tool:

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm