taskbar locked out and inaccessible for second user

[don]

I run Windows XP Home on a shared desktop - always kept up to date with the
latest Microsoft updates. Each of the four family members has their own
user account/logon and this has worked fine (more or less) for about five
years until last week when we hit the following problem. The first user to
log on to the system can still work normally; when a second user logs on
(through the logon screen) this second user will see their usual desktop
(and be able to use any icons on the main desktop area) - but will have no
access to any part of their taskbar. The taskbar will appear as usual at
the bottom of the desktop but any attempt to click on the taskbar does
nothing - it is completely locked out - from the start command to the
system tray -everything is locked out. Any window opened from an icon that
happens to be on the main desktop cannot be restored via the task bar if it
is minimised. The situation is the same whichever family member is the
first user (who will experience normal use) while any subsequent user will
encounter the problem. We are working around this by restarting the
computer every time a family member wants to use the computer. However this
is very inconvenient and not they way that it has been working - or is
supposed to work. I have tried restoring the system to a previous time when
I believe the it was OK - but to no avail. Any helpful guidance would be
much appreciated.

Don

 

[Kelly]

Hi Don,

How interesting.....

See if this helps:

Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

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

 

[don]

Kelly - thank you very much indeed for your interest and response.
Unfortunately, however, while the utility executed OK - the problem is
unchanged.

A little elaboration on the problem:

1 When attempting to switch to a new user the problem is as previously
described. However if the current user logs off then the next user is able
to log on and work normally. I.e. the problem only occurs when more than
one user is logged on.

2. When the second user first hovers the curser over the task bar it
appears to be functioning normally - i.e. the short message appears which
describes the start menu and the icons in the system tray. But the first
attempt to click on any item in the task bar locks it up and the short
messages stop appearing

3. The second user can open/run any icon on the desktop (as mentioned
previously) but the window/programme identifier does not appear on the task
bar

Any further ideas would be gratefully received

Best regards

Don

 

[M8RIX]

Out of curiosity, did you, or do you use CCleaner?
I had similar experiences after using this program.

 

[don]

No I didn't - I have generally shied away from this and other such utilities
because of comments in news groups about potential consequences - and my own
lack of confidence/knowledge about being able to handle the possible
consequences. I am at a loss to pinpoint any activity on the computer that
could have caused the change to occur - especially as restoring doesn't
solve it. We can still use the computer - it's just a significant
inconvenience - and a worry as to why the computer's behavior changed in
this way.
Rgds

 

[don]

By the way - how did you fix your problem (may be useful for me, even if the
cause may have been different)?

 

[Bob I]

There isn't some 3rd party "Taskbar" Icon arranger utility installed?

 

[don]

Not that I'm aware of - I'm not sure what one of those might be but I tend
not to tinker with my system and install anything other than mainstream
applications/utilities - to avoid getting into trouble and not having the
knowledge to resolve problems. However I do have a fair number of
applications installed + NAV + Zone Alarm (free) etc.

 

[M8RIX]

I doubt that it would apply to your situation but it may help others with
the same problem as mine.
I unchecked the option to "Clean" "Tray Notifications Cache" in the
advanced options. The fix didn't stick until I rebooted.