Tasks GONE from Task Bar!!

[Jameson]

I'm running windows vista home edition, if that makes a difference.

This started probably two or three days ago for no particular reason (that I
know of). Two problems:

1)When I open internet explorer, for example, it doesn't show up on my task
bar. Nothing does when I open it. The only way to see what is open is to
use the task manager or Alt+Tab. Doesn't matter what the program is that I
want to use, it will not show up on the task bar.
2) All the icons for the "quick launch" thing on the task bar are spread out
(no double arrow to click for expansion). I've tried everything there is to
try in the settings, tried dragging things, and nothing fixes it.

I've tried doing system restore a few times to a date about 2 or 3 weeks ago
and still nothing works! Please help! I'd rather not format ! This is a
very.. VERY annoying problem!

Thanks in advance!

 

[anandk]

try this:
rt click on task bar. unlock it. drag the vertical divider to the left side,
where the quick launch buttons appear. club them together. now lock the task
bar, and see if it has helped. maybe, since your quick-launch icons were so
spread out, the minimized windows did not have space to appear.

 

[Jameson]

The problem is, there is only one vertical divider and it's on the left side
of the quick launch icons, so it can't be dragged. The other one has
completely disappeared.

 

[Carol in GA]

Look over by the systray and see if the other bar is way over there, if it
is, drag it back over.