Windows start bar

[t1grm]

You know when you right click on the start bar and go to settings? Well is there another way to get to that screen (e.g. via control panel)?. My start bar has gone. Normally I can get it back by switching autohide on and off again but as it’s vanished I can’t right click to enable the autohide option. Normally I’d reboot but have something downloading and need to use the PC in the meantime except I can’t run anything because the start bar’s gone

[Plotloss]

If you are using XP Start Menu and Taskbar are in Control Panel.

Think its the same under W2K and Me as well...

[squirrelz]

Yeah, when you post something like this it helps to say what operating system you are running, as it does make a difference.

Try firing up explorer and see if that brings the taskbar back. (windows key + E)

[rich-uk]

You haven't dragged it off the bottom of the screen have you? Or dragged it to one of the sides or top of the screen?

[steve-p]

I've had this happen before when explorer.exe crashes. Usually, it immediately gets restarted and the start button, taskbar and system tray all get repainted and are active again within a few seconds. On rare occasions, it doesn't restart, leaving an empty space at the bottom. The windows key shortcuts don't work, so there's no way to start any new processes. There is no way back except a reboot.

[JamieBeeston]

try

ctrl-alt-del

then when task manager pops up,

File...New Task..

type Explorer

and hit enter.

also, try Ctrl-Esc to get the Start Button to respond.

[t1grm]

Thanks for all the replies.

Squirrelz

Sorry I forgot the OS . It's Win 2K.

Rich

No I haven't resized it or dragged it elsewhere, you can see a blank space below the apps where it should be but just shows a strip of wallpaper.

Steve

That's the one. As you say normally it repaints itself but not on this occasion.

Jamie

Tried restarting explorer but it didn't work.

In any case I rebooted but have much more serious problems on my plate now (see my thread entitled HELP)!


>> Edited by t1grm on Wednesday 7th April 18:25

[agent006]

Press windows key or CTRL + ESC to get the start menu up, do settings and it's be on there from windows 95 up to the present day. This also might give you a clue as to where it's gone.

If it's desappeared competely, then you've probably managed to kill off the explorer process.

On any variant of NT, do CRTL_ALT_DELETE, click on task manager and do new task from the file menu. type in explorer and run it.