Desktops - Missing Toolbar

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.
--

Dystopia

If it's just a Toolbar the right click on the Taskbar
and Properties settings. If it's the entire Taskbar
that missing see below:

Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318027

From Kelly's Korner: Taskbar Repair Tools Plus:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Also from Kelly's Korner - Line 164:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

And:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


"Dystopia" wrote in message
...
I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.
--

Dystopia

Dystopia

toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared.

On how many machines did it disappear on. Are you on a Network.
--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Dystopia" wrote in message
...
I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.
--

Dystopia

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:23 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.


The "toolbar"? Do you mean the *Task Bar*--the one begriming with
"Start" and ending with the clock?

If so, the Task Bar is resizable, like a window, and it has very
likely been resized to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the edge of
the screen and make it turn into a double-headed arrow. Then click and
drag it to the size you want.

The Task Bar can also be moved to any of the four sides of the screen,
so if that doesn't work on the bottom, try the same thing on all the
other three sides.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:55:21 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:23 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.


The "toolbar"? Do you mean the *Task Bar*--the one begriming with
"Start" and ending with the clock?

If so, the Task Bar is resizable, like a window, and it has very
likely been resized to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the edge of
the screen and make it turn into a double-headed arrow. Then click and
drag it to the size you want.

The Task Bar can also be moved to any of the four sides of the screen,
so if that doesn't work on the bottom, try the same thing on all the
other three sides.
When I take the cursor to any edge of the screen it does not change
shape, just stays as it is.
I was just mulling over the problem and realised that I had not given
the full information and told you that the icons do not appear either.
I am sorry about that - just the wallpaper/screen- saver (whatever it
is) shows up on the screen after the password and this applies to all
desk-tops. It's a stand alone machine not part of any network other
that a connection to the Internet of course.
--

Dystopia

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:28:46 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:55:21 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:23 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.


The "toolbar"? Do you mean the *Task Bar*--the one begriming with
"Start" and ending with the clock?

If so, the Task Bar is resizable, like a window, and it has very
likely been resized to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the edge of
the screen and make it turn into a double-headed arrow. Then click and
drag it to the size you want.

The Task Bar can also be moved to any of the four sides of the screen,
so if that doesn't work on the bottom, try the same thing on all the
other three sides.
When I take the cursor to any edge of the screen it does not change
shape, just stays as it is.


If you're sure of that, OK. But be aware that getting it to change to
a double-headed arrow can require very small and precise movements. It
sometimes takes a lot of playing around with it before it happens.


I was just mulling over the problem and realised that I had not given
the full information and told you that the icons do not appear either.
I am sorry about that - just the wallpaper/screen- saver (whatever it
is) shows up on the screen after the password and this applies to all
desk-tops. It's a stand alone machine not part of any network other
that a connection to the Internet of course.
--

Dystopia

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Try TAPPING F8 right at Startup to get a list of startup options.
Select Safe Mode by using UP Arrow, and hit enter.
Once there do a System Restore.

StartProgramsAccessoriesSystem ToolsSystem RestoreBefore the problem.
--
Mad Mike


"Dystopia" wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:55:21 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:23 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.


The "toolbar"? Do you mean the *Task Bar*--the one begriming with
"Start" and ending with the clock?

If so, the Task Bar is resizable, like a window, and it has very
likely been resized to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the edge of
the screen and make it turn into a double-headed arrow. Then click and
drag it to the size you want.

The Task Bar can also be moved to any of the four sides of the screen,
so if that doesn't work on the bottom, try the same thing on all the
other three sides.
When I take the cursor to any edge of the screen it does not change
shape, just stays as it is.
I was just mulling over the problem and realised that I had not given
the full information and told you that the icons do not appear either.
I am sorry about that - just the wallpaper/screen- saver (whatever it
is) shows up on the screen after the password and this applies to all
desk-tops. It's a stand alone machine not part of any network other
that a connection to the Internet of course.
--

Dystopia

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:02:05 -0800, Mick Murphy
wrote:

Try TAPPING F8 right at Startup to get a list of startup options.
Select Safe Mode by using UP Arrow, and hit enter.
Once there do a System Restore.

StartProgramsAccessoriesSystem ToolsSystem RestoreBefore the problem.
Its a real stinker - I tried System Restore and it wouldn't.
--

Dystopia

Dystopia

Again I am lost with your post answering Ken Blake. You again said the following as
per below

and this applies to all desk-tops.

All Desk-tops. What does that imply.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Dystopia" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:55:21 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
wrote:

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:23 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

I have been using XP since its birth without any problem, however, the
toolbar on all the desktops has suddenly disappeared. I cannot
locate it on any margin and have no idea how to recover it. I have
not made any changes but it may be relevant that my grand-children use
the machine.


The "toolbar"? Do you mean the *Task Bar*--the one begriming with
"Start" and ending with the clock?

If so, the Task Bar is resizable, like a window, and it has very
likely been resized to zero lines high. Put the cursor on the edge of
the screen and make it turn into a double-headed arrow. Then click and
drag it to the size you want.

The Task Bar can also be moved to any of the four sides of the screen,
so if that doesn't work on the bottom, try the same thing on all the
other three sides.
When I take the cursor to any edge of the screen it does not change
shape, just stays as it is.
I was just mulling over the problem and realised that I had not given
the full information and told you that the icons do not appear either.
I am sorry about that - just the wallpaper/screen- saver (whatever it
is) shows up on the screen after the password and this applies to all
desk-tops. It's a stand alone machine not part of any network other
that a connection to the Internet of course.
--

Dystopia

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:43:43 -0500, "Peter Foldes"
wrote:

Dystopia

Again I am lost with your post answering Ken Blake. You again said the following as
per below

and this applies to all desk-tops.

All Desk-tops. What does that imply.
There are 4 users me my partner and my grand children. We all have
our own desktop after we have logged on - hence 'desktops.' Whichever
of us logs on we only see the wallpaper, no icons or task bar.
--

Dystopia

Log on to your account, then create a new account that
has Administrator privileges.

Shut down the PC and then restart the PC but this time
log on using the new account name you created.

What do see, is the toolbar and at least a few icons
displayed on the desktop?

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


"Dystopia" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:43:43 -0500, "Peter Foldes"
wrote:

Dystopia

Again I am lost with your post answering Ken Blake. You again said the
following as
per below

and this applies to all desk-tops.

All Desk-tops. What does that imply.
There are 4 users me my partner and my grand children. We all have
our own desktop after we have logged on - hence 'desktops.' Whichever
of us logs on we only see the wallpaper, no icons or task bar.
--

Dystopia

On Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:23:21 -0500, "JS" @ wrote:

Log on to your account, then create a new account that
has Administrator privileges.

Shut down the PC and then restart the PC but this time
log on using the new account name you created.

What do see, is the toolbar and at least a few icons
displayed on the desktop?
I don't have access to any commands. There is no start menu or
anything else so I am unable to create another user.
--

Dystopia

Do a Repair install at this point or reformat the computer

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Dystopia" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:23:21 -0500, "JS" @ wrote:

Log on to your account, then create a new account that
has Administrator privileges.

Shut down the PC and then restart the PC but this time
log on using the new account name you created.

What do see, is the toolbar and at least a few icons
displayed on the desktop?
I don't have access to any commands. There is no start menu or
anything else so I am unable to create another user.
--

Dystopia

There is a hidden 'Administrator' account (the account name is:
Administrator) in Windows.
The default password for this hidden account is normally blank (none).

For XP Home users:
Boot the computer into Safe Mode
Do this by pressing the F8 key (several times) after the Power On Self Test
is finished, until the Start menu appears.
This will get you to the correct menu window.
Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account
and any other accounts.
(Note: Accounts are displayed alphabetically).
Use the mouse or Up/down arrow keys to highlight the 'Administrator'
account.
The default password is a blank (no password required).

For XP Pro users:
You do not need to go into Safe Mode.
At the Welcome Screen, do/press the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys twice to display the
Windows logon box.
Type in "Administrator" (without the quotes), by default the password is
blank, no password need be entered.

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com


"Dystopia" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:23:21 -0500, "JS" @ wrote:

Log on to your account, then create a new account that
has Administrator privileges.

Shut down the PC and then restart the PC but this time
log on using the new account name you created.

What do see, is the toolbar and at least a few icons
displayed on the desktop?
I don't have access to any commands. There is no start menu or
anything else so I am unable to create another user.
--

Dystopia

On Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:28:46 +0000, Dystopia wrote:

There's obviously no a simple solution. It would have been nice to
have cracked it but if I am sensible I think it is time to admit
defeat.

Thanks for all you help but I am going to back-up everything, wipe the
hard disk, reformat and reinstall the OS. I'm sure that must work
but if not there's a scrap heap just down the road. Thanks again.
--

Dystopia