Folder configurations

XP Pro, SP3, updated today. Running mobile XP package on ThinkPad T60p.

(I had one utility that said I had SP4!)

I always keep "Show Common Tasks" turned off. I need to certain tasks over
and over, not search for something else to do. But there is something else
that crops up from time to time putting a sort of Classic version of "Show
Common Tasks" in a left side panel. Usually I can find a way ot get rid of
it but I can't now. ("Folder Options" has nothing useful.)

The current issue is when saving an image in a browser I normally see just
the file panel in the file save window. The last few days I've got the left
panel thing taking up space and shoving part of my file panel off the screen
to the right. The left panel shows:

My Recent Documents
Desktop
My Documents
My Computer
My Network Places

None of which are needed or even helpful on the save window. There is
plenty of navigating power in the rest of the window.

Similarly, when I open a certain folder I set up just for downloads it gives
me only the file window if I acces it directly, but if I click to open it
from the option on the download window it, too, comes up with a left panel
full of stuff that just gets in the way of what I need to do. (Altho this
does have an "X" to remove it. The file save window does not.)

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of these unwanted left panels that
recently appeared?

Thanks

JimL