Windows XP taskbar autohide bug?

[Guest]

I think I have discovered a bug in the xo taskbar autohide feature. This is a
really useful feature for those of us with not so much desktop space, so it
is quite an annoying bug.

BUG SYMPTOM/DESCRIPTION: I have my taskbar property "Auto-hide the taskbar"
switched on, and at some point EVERY DAY the taskbar starts behaving like
this is switched off. i.e. It does not autohide anymore, and the windows I
have already maximised are hidden underneath, even when I click with my
mouse and restore focus to those windows!

I have not been able to establish a pattern as to what might be causing the
taskbar to do this, I'm guessing (and it's really a WILD guess) it has
something to do with windows handling of which window currently has focus and
therefore should be on top of other windows?

FYI: I am running Windows XP Home Edition, on an Acer aspire laptop (AMD
Sempron / 1gb mem )

 

[Guest]

You probably have a corrupt copy of your desktop theme. Running a Repair
setup of XP would probably fix that.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

Mark, have you run this repair program yourself successfully.

Also can anyone else verify that this is the cause of my issue. no offence
but I would be wary of running 3rd party software (it is 3rd party right?) to
fix this unless I can get someone else to verify.

I will maybe wait to see if someone (who knows maybe MS will actually help)
comes back with a more specific answer to this. I know I'm not the only
person to suffer from it - I've been around numerous forums etc and noone has
come up with a specific reason/solution yet...

 

[Guest]

humble apologies Mark - I didn't actually travel to your link initially. I
see it's instructions for repairing not some software to download as I'd
feared - hence my trepidation

still, I am fearful - seems like a risky step when it may not fix my problem
at all

I know I am such a coward - or perhaps i have lived too long under the cosh
of windows - the blue screen of uncertainty beckons

 

[Guest]

You should do what you feel is best. A Repair install will change very
little, perhaps a few easy to reset settings, but it would repair any damaged
files. All of the other ways to repair your Theme files would certainly be
More risky.

Creating and Installing Theme Files:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/hh/msi/samp_0uec.asp

 

[Elmo]

I think I have discovered a bug in the XP taskbar auto-hide feature. This is a
really useful feature for those of us with not so much desktop space, so it
is quite an annoying bug.

BUG SYMPTOM/DESCRIPTION: I have my taskbar property "Auto-hide the taskbar"
switched on, and at some point EVERY DAY the taskbar starts behaving like
this is switched off. i.e. It does not auto-hide anymore, and the windows I
have already maximized are hidden underneath, even when I click with my
mouse and restore focus to those windows!

I have not been able to establish a pattern as to what might be causing the
taskbar to do this, I'm guessing (and it's really a WILD guess) it has
something to do with Windows handling of which window currently has focus and
therefore should be on top of other windows?

FYI: I am running Windows XP Home Edition, on an Acer aspire laptop (AMD
Sempron / 1gb mem )

A few things to try:

Line 117. Restore Taskbar and Start Menu
Line 164. Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality
Line 66. (r-h column) Prevent Programs from Stealing Focus - Undo
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

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

 

[Guest]

thanks Elmo/Joe

a couple of qs regarding yor suggestion if you don't mind:

Line 66: RHS seems to have 2 downloads - which are you referring to?

also will this remove everything from my taskbar (I have a lot of customised
quick launch folders - I can restore but I would like some advance warning!)

I can't see where in this list of scripts it describes in more detail what
each script does...can you point me to some helpful info regarding that

many thanks

Hellster

 

[Elmo]

thanks Elmo/Joe

A couple of qs regarding your suggestion if you don't mind:

Line 66: RHS seems to have 2 downloads - which are you referring to?

The first one sets a delay so while you're pausing another window can't
take focus. The second script turns the new feature off.

Also will this remove everything from my taskbar (I have a lot of customized
quick launch folders - I can restore but I would like some advance warning!)

It should only create a delay, not remove anything. After looking at it
a little closer, I wonder why I thought it might help.

I can't see where in this list of scripts it describes in more detail what
each script does.. can you point me to some helpful info regarding that?

You can edit any script or .reg file and see its function. The
vbscripts are a little harder to decipher.

 

[hellster]

I think I have discovered a bug in the xo taskbar autohide feature. This is a
really useful feature for those of us with not so much desktop space, so it
is quite an annoying bug.

BUG SYMPTOM/DESCRIPTION: I have my taskbar property "Auto-hide the taskbar"
switched on, and at some point EVERY DAY the taskbar starts behaving like
this is switched off. i.e. It does not autohide anymore, and the windows I
have already maximised are hidden underneath, even when I click with my
mouse and restore focus to those windows!

I have not been able to establish a pattern as to what might be causing the
taskbar to do this, I'm guessing (and it's really a WILD guess) it has
something to do with windows handling of which window currently has focus and
therefore should be on top of other windows?

FYI: I am running Windows XP Home Edition, on an Acer aspire laptop (AMD
Sempron / 1gb mem )

+++++++++

in case ut helps other people with the same prob. here was my solution in
the end:

I used a combination of

1) a top-tip I found (can't remember where now) - to use the windows command
button whenever the taskbar disappears abd refuses to reappear. a bit obvious
i suppose, when you think about it...

2) a little tool called taskbaractivate : find it here :
http://home.nordnet.fr/pmdevigne/TaskbarActivate.html
this ensures the taskbar remains hidden when it should be (if auto-hide
switched on)
I have been using this for about 2 weeks now without any problems

==== hope this helps those other people suffering in the same way