XP taskbar problem?

[GrtArtiste]

Dell XPS400 running Win XP SP3. I noted after doing the upgrade that
the taskbar behaves differently. It used to always display a button to
expand/hide inactive icons--not any more. In fact, I have used Control
Panel/Taskbar & Start Menu/Customize to select 2 icons to "always
show" (Volume and Safely Remove Hardware)...but when and if the system
will do it seems to be largely a matter of luck. It's especially
irritating when I can't adjust volume as desired. Even when a USB
flash drive is recognized, the Hardware button does not appear.

Is there a fix for this? Thanks for any assistance.

GrtArtiste

 

[smlunatick]

Dell XPS400 running Win XP SP3. I noted after doing the upgrade that
the taskbar behaves differently. It used to always display a button to
expand/hide inactive icons--not any more. In fact, I have used Control
Panel/Taskbar & Start Menu/Customize to select 2 icons to "always
show" (Volume and Safely Remove Hardware)...but when and if the system
will do it seems to be largely a matter of luck. It's especially
irritating when I can't adjust volume as desired. Even when a USB
flash drive is recognized, the Hardware button does not appear.

Is there a fix for this? Thanks for any assistance.

GrtArtiste

Check with this: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Michael T.]

Dell XPS400 running Win XP SP3. I noted after doing the upgrade that
the taskbar behaves differently. It used to always display a button to
expand/hide inactive icons--not any more.

I've also noticed two other anomalies that I have never been able to fix.

1) Occasionally the Taskbar volume icon disappears.
2) Sometimes when I place my cursor over the Taskbar date-time icon the date
(infotip)does not display.

I've tried TweakUI and the Taskbar Repair Tool to no avail.

I had hoped these would be fixed in SP3.

 

[Michael T.]

2) Sometimes when I place my cursor over the Taskbar date-time icon the
date (infotip)does not display.

I should have mentioned that if I click the Start button and then return to
the date-time icon the infotip returns.

 

[smlunatick]

I should have mentioned that if I click the Start button and then return to
the date-time icon the infotip returns.

All infotips (aka ToolTips) still are a problem. There is a "thrid-
party" service that would fix this:

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=10

 

[Michael T.]

All infotips (aka ToolTips) still are a problem. There is a "thrid-
party" service that would fix this:

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=10

----------------------------------------
Thank you.

I am going to try your suggestion, even though someone said, "It has its own
set of problems", without citing the specifics.

There is apparently an alternative based on a post by "DavidSain" on May
6th.
http://tinyurl.com/52fyls


***
I found another way also. I downloaded nircmd.zip at
http://www.download3k.com/Install-NirCmd.html
It allows a lot of things to be done from the command prompt. This I
unzipped into a common directory. Then I created a file called
tooltipfix.cmd and it's contents are
nircmd win settopmost class "tooltips_class32" 1


Or just type the above line at a command prompt with nircmd in your path.


I also created an entry in my registry
(HKLM-Software-microsoft-windows-currentbersion-run) so the cmd file is
processed with each reboot so the z-order is corrected each time. One never
knows when an update from usoft will break something like this. And now
when I reboot it really does get fixed. Just like usoft says.

I looked at ToolTipFixer some more, and it's great for those folks who
aren't savvy with computers. It uses .net and is a tsr (it's always running
in background). I suppose it checks every so often to see where the tool
tips are or checks a value when they are used and resets it if it's
incorrect. I try to eliminate as much as possible from running, so I'll do
it the manual way w/nircmd.

***

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

This has been a Windows bug since God was a freshman. It finally been fixed
in Vista but it took the beta testers insisting on it to get MS to look at
it. There are some third party solutions but there is nothing in XP itself.

 

[Michael T.]

I am going to try your suggestion, even though someone said, "It has its
own set of problems", without citing the specifics.

I noticed than when I opened several webpages the bottom of the page
overlapped the Taskbar.

 

[Michael T.]

I noticed than when I opened several webpages the bottom of the page
overlapped the Taskbar.

Also, ToolTipFixer did not fix my problem with the "date infotip" not always
showing when I place the cursor over Taskbar "time" icon.

I am considering uninstalling it.

 

[Bob I]

Also, ToolTipFixer did not fix my problem with the "date infotip" not always
showing when I place the cursor over Taskbar "time" icon.

I am considering uninstalling it.

The "known" issues are listed at the website for the software. Only
mentioned that there were problems because it was being billed as being
the "magic bullet" when in fact, it isn't.