From WinXP News:

*QUESTION:*
I've been using this XP computer for three years and this is the first time
this has happened. I booted up (it's a Dell laptop) one morning and the
taskbar was gone. The wallpaper is there but no Start button or taskbar. Can
you tell me what's going on and how to fix it? - Bev K.

*ANSWER:*
The simplest answer is that somehow the "Auto-hide the taskbar" option got
selected in the Start menu properties. To check that, press CTRL+ESC. This
should make the Start menu appear. Right click it and select Properties,
click the Taskbar tab, and make sure "Auto-hide the taskbar" is unchecked.

If that's not the problem, it gets more complex. A virus or malware could be
causing the problem. Start the computer in safe mode and try running a virus
scan. You should also apply all security updates.

If that doesn't work, try logging on with a different user account. If the
taskbar displays properly with the alternate user account, your user account
settings are probably corrupted. You can try creating a new user account and
copying the settings from your old account to it. You can find the
instructions for how to do that in "Method 2" under the Resolution section
of KB article 318027 at
http://www.wxpnews.com/9LVEM5/090224-Win-Logo-Display


On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 7:53 AM, Michael Lanspa <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Possibly as a result of another brush with Antivirus 2009
> (?malware/virus?), we suffered a series of Blue Screens of Death and while
> running a McAfee full virus scan, my task bar on my desktop computer (WIN XP
> Home SP3) sunk down below the screen and hasn't reappeared, even after
> numerous reboots and shutdowns.   I have to call up the Task Manager to
> reboot or log out.  That's the only tool I can call up, or the only keyboard
> sequence that will work.  The "Windows" key does nothing.  I can access
> files on the computer remotely via our wireless router, but cannot access
> anything on the computer itself, since no keyboard or mouse action works,
> even right-clicking for Properties.  Any ideas?
>
> Mike
>

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