Unusual Taskbar problem

[Ron Hirsch]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3, fully patchecd.

Suddenly this am, my taskbar jumped to 2 rows, on its own. I checked to see
if it was locked, and that item "lock the taskbar" was not checked. So I
tried the usual method of changing its size. I moved the cursor over the top
border of the taskbar, and it changed to a double headed arrow. But it would
not change anything. The taskbar cannot be changed, moved, or anything else.

I know it can be difficult to work with the taskbar settings, but I've done
so for years, and this taskbar is definitely locked tight.

I went into the registry and went to the key "taskbarsizemove" and its value
is "1" indicating that the taskbar is unlocked. But it is not.

the taksbar is not greyed out, and I can add a checkmark to the "lock the
taskbar" option. but checked and unchecked, things are teh same. It's hard
locked

Anyone have any ideas here?

Also, along the way I passed through one window which allows one to set the
taskbar icons to large, and I figured I'd try that - and they increased in
size. But I cannot find that window, and I'd like to return them to the
smaller size. This setting applied only to the taskbar, not the desktop
icons.

I am an advanced user, but I am totally puzzled at what's going on here. Are
there any 3rd party utilities or the like that could be of help here? or is
there a Regostry entry somewhere that is messed up?

Ron Hirsch

 

[Lem]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3, fully patchecd.

Suddenly this am, my taskbar jumped to 2 rows, on its own. I checked to see
if it was locked, and that item "lock the taskbar" was not checked. So I
tried the usual method of changing its size. I moved the cursor over the top
border of the taskbar, and it changed to a double headed arrow. But it would
not change anything. The taskbar cannot be changed, moved, or anything else.

I know it can be difficult to work with the taskbar settings, but I've done
so for years, and this taskbar is definitely locked tight.

I went into the registry and went to the key "taskbarsizemove" and its value
is "1" indicating that the taskbar is unlocked. But it is not.

the taksbar is not greyed out, and I can add a checkmark to the "lock the
taskbar" option. but checked and unchecked, things are teh same. It's hard
locked

Anyone have any ideas here?

Also, along the way I passed through one window which allows one to set the
taskbar icons to large, and I figured I'd try that - and they increased in
size. But I cannot find that window, and I'd like to return them to the
smaller size. This setting applied only to the taskbar, not the desktop
icons.

I am an advanced user, but I am totally puzzled at what's going on here. Are
there any 3rd party utilities or the like that could be of help here? or is
there a Regostry entry somewhere that is messed up?

Ron Hirsch

I think you mean that the icons on the Quick Launch tool bar are large.
This has the effect of making the rest of the Task Bar double height
in order to match.

Right-click on the Task Bar and unlock it. Expand the Quick Launch tool
bar so that there is some blank space at the end. Right-click on the
blank space of the QL tool bar, select View, and then Small Icons. Lock
the Task Bar when you're done.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Ron Hirsch]

Hi Lem,

I guess I was not too clear.

I only played with the icon size when I was unable to change the height back
to single, after it had doubled.

And, when I right click on the quick launch area there is no "view" item
listed there. I believe there was before, but it is no longer displayed.

And as I explained, the "Lock the Taskbar" item is not checked, nor has it
ever been checked.

If I can manage to get things back to where they were, I will check the
"lock the taskbar".

And, as I noted, the Registry entry for locking is "1" stating that it is
unlocked.

But everything I see tells me it is locked. It can't be resized. It can't be
moved, etc..

This tells me that somewhere, something is either corrupted, possibly a
Registry entry.

Ron
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3, fully patchecd.

Suddenly this am, my taskbar jumped to 2 rows, on its own. I checked to
see
if it was locked, and that item "lock the taskbar" was not checked. So I
tried the usual method of changing its size. I moved the cursor over the
top
border of the taskbar, and it changed to a double headed arrow. But it
would
not change anything. The taskbar cannot be changed, moved, or anything
else.

I know it can be difficult to work with the taskbar settings, but I've
done
so for years, and this taskbar is definitely locked tight.

I went into the registry and went to the key "taskbarsizemove" and its
value
is "1" indicating that the taskbar is unlocked. But it is not.

the taksbar is not greyed out, and I can add a checkmark to the "lock the
taskbar" option. but checked and unchecked, things are teh same. It's hard
locked

Anyone have any ideas here?

Also, along the way I passed through one window which allows one to set
the
taskbar icons to large, and I figured I'd try that - and they increased in
size. But I cannot find that window, and I'd like to return them to the
smaller size. This setting applied only to the taskbar, not the desktop
icons.

I am an advanced user, but I am totally puzzled at what's going on here.
Are
there any 3rd party utilities or the like that could be of help here? or
is
there a Regostry entry somewhere that is messed up?

Ron Hirsch

I think you mean that the icons on the Quick Launch tool bar are large.
This has the effect of making the rest of the Task Bar double height
in order to match.

Right-click on the Task Bar and unlock it. Expand the Quick Launch tool
bar so that there is some blank space at the end. Right-click on the
blank space of the QL tool bar, select View, and then Small Icons. Lock
the Task Bar when you're done.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Ron Hirsch]

I decided to check the available System Restore points for today. I had done
some major program installs today, and I was hoping that I would not have to
lose that.

I did find one which was just after that, so I did a system restore, and the
taskbar is now back in proper size et al, and I now have locked it.

Ron Hirsch

 

[Elmo]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3, fully patched.

Suddenly this am, my taskbar jumped to 2 rows, on its own. I checked to see
if it was locked, and that item "lock the taskbar" was not checked. So I
tried the usual method of changing its size. I moved the cursor over the top
border of the taskbar, and it changed to a double headed arrow. But it would
not change anything. The taskbar cannot be changed, moved, or anything else.

I know it can be difficult to work with the taskbar settings, but I've done
so for years, and this taskbar is definitely locked tight.

I went into the registry and went to the key "taskbarsizemove" and its value
is "1" indicating that the taskbar is unlocked. But it is not.

The taskbar is not greyed out, and I can add a checkmark to the "Lock the
taskbar" option., but checked and unchecked, things are the same. It's hard-
locked

Anyone have any ideas here?

Also, along the way I passed through one window which allows one to set the
taskbar icons to large, and I figured I'd try that - and they increased in
size. But I cannot find that window, and I'd like to return them to the
smaller size. This setting applied only to the taskbar, not the desktop
icons.

I am an advanced user, but I am totally puzzled at what's going on here. Are
there any 3rd party utilities or the like that could be of help here?, or is
there a Registry entry somewhere that is messed up?

Ron Hirsch

Drag the divider on the bottom line, just to the right of the "Start"
button, up and to the right of the QL bar on the top line. When you
release, you should be able to resize the height of the Taskbar.

- One way to resize the icons, open Display Properties, Appearance tab,
click Effects button, deselect "Use large icons".

- Another way, open Display Properties, Appearance tab, click Advanced
button, select Icon, and change the size; 32 is the default size here.

- http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 228. Use Small Icons for Start Menu Programs

hth,

 

[Badger]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3, fully patchecd.

Suddenly this am, my taskbar jumped to 2 rows, on its own. I checked to see
if it was locked, and that item "lock the taskbar" was not checked. So I
tried the usual method of changing its size. I moved the cursor over the top
border of the taskbar, and it changed to a double headed arrow. But it would
not change anything. The taskbar cannot be changed, moved, or anything else.

I know it can be difficult to work with the taskbar settings, but I've done
so for years, and this taskbar is definitely locked tight.

I went into the registry and went to the key "taskbarsizemove" and its value
is "1" indicating that the taskbar is unlocked. But it is not.

the taksbar is not greyed out, and I can add a checkmark to the "lock the
taskbar" option. but checked and unchecked, things are teh same. It's hard
locked

Anyone have any ideas here?

Also, along the way I passed through one window which allows one to set the
taskbar icons to large, and I figured I'd try that - and they increased in
size. But I cannot find that window, and I'd like to return them to the
smaller size. This setting applied only to the taskbar, not the desktop
icons.

I am an advanced user, but I am totally puzzled at what's going on here. Are
there any 3rd party utilities or the like that could be of help here? or is
there a Regostry entry somewhere that is messed up?

Ron Hirsch

You say you are an advanced user and I certainly don't want to "teach my
grandmother to suck eggs" but have you tried a System Restore?
Badger