task bar freezes on startup

[Guest]

Having problems with task bar/start bar. Upon startup and user login on
Windows XP, desktop comes up but as the start bar/taskbar is doing its thing
at the bottom of the screen, it freezes. Mouse pointer still moves around
screen, but cannot access any programs or documents and when the mouse goes
anywhere on the taskbar/ startbar, it gives me the hourglass symbol and will
not stop doing so. I cannot access the start "run" box or anything in the
startbar/taskbar menu. This also occurs in Safe Mode. The only thing that
does seem to work is the task manager. It shows numersous processes, but I'm
afraid of accidentally ending the wrong one and causing serious damage. I
would like some help on this problem. I wouldn't mind reformatting, as long
as I could find a way to get past the freeze and save all my documents first.

 

[Nigel D]

Having problems with task bar/start bar. Upon startup and user login on
Windows XP, desktop comes up but as the start bar/taskbar is doing its
thing
at the bottom of the screen, it freezes. Mouse pointer still moves around
screen, but cannot access any programs or documents and when the mouse
goes
anywhere on the taskbar/ startbar, it gives me the hourglass symbol and
will
not stop doing so. I cannot access the start "run" box or anything in the
startbar/taskbar menu. This also occurs in Safe Mode. The only thing that
does seem to work is the task manager. It shows numersous processes, but
I'm
afraid of accidentally ending the wrong one and causing serious damage. I
would like some help on this problem. I wouldn't mind reformatting, as
long
as I could find a way to get past the freeze and save all my documents
first.

Do you use the Trend Micro virus scanner? There was a problem with a recent
update that gave symptoms similar to these.

http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/enterprise/support/knowledge_base_detail.php?solutionId=24264

gives more details

Nigel D.