HELP! MY START MENU & TASK BAR ARE GONE...

[ozzyo]

OK Folks, I am screwed to the wall here, and I hope I can get some fast help! I’m running Win 2k Server Service Pack 2, just setting up my own personal website for dedicated use on the system, and everything is humming along. Upon booting up after some networking changes, my desktop appears (I have a dual display), my icons pop up, and I start computing—or at least I thought I could. One thing missing though—the taskbar…oh yes, and the start menu! Nothing I do can wrangle up these two fellers. I even tried a windows repair to no avail. I’m running blackice defender and Norton Antivirus, and a virus scan came back clean. Upon finishing a boot sequence, I think I can catch the smallest glimpse of a taskbar flashing before my eyes. I spent hours working through various “knowledge bases” to no avail. I really could use some help here—anybody been through this bizarre problem? Any suggestions? Thank you all…Peace out. G

 

[wahooguy]

Well, let's start with the basics. If your taskbar isn't really gone (it's just hidden), you can press the windows key to activate your start button. Or pressing Ctrl-Esc will do the same thing. If your taskbar appears, you can go to Settings - Taskbar and Start menu - and deselect Auto Hide will bring it back.

Another thing I've seen happen is do accidentally move the taskbar from the bottom of the screen to the side. This will really screw you up if you expect it to be hidden on the bottom when it's not!

Please post from here and we can dig deeper if it is really gone.

 

[ozzyo]

No no bro--I've had that happen many times in many forms...I was a newbie when 3.1 was out, but thanks for the basic approach. I mean my taskbar and start menu are TOTALLY gone--not hidden, not "mini-sized"--gone.

I am having trouble now with my Outlook program as it seems to not be able to open my windows address book. Things are getting worse...can anyone dig me out?

Thank you!

 

[sleew]

Did you checked is ther start menu folder in your profile folder?
Did you checked policy on W2KS,there you can hide start menu?SP2?......Try to uninstall it.
Unusuall applications?
Registry strings related to start menu? Sleew
Compaq & Microsoft TS
sleew@infosky.net

 

[chikn]

sounds like a seriously screwed registry---RELOAD

 

[dellboy]

I have seen exactly the same thing on a 2000 professional box, the only way round it was to re create the users profile, obviously a little easier on a workstation as opposed to a server, but have you tried logging into the machine as an alternative account? and can you see the task bar etc.

Cheers

 

[Zelandakh]

copy the whole profile folder as a backup.

log on as administrator. delete the problem profile. log on as that person and make sure you can see the start menu. log back on as administrator. in the backup, delete the ntuser.dat file and copy the rest over the top of the newly created profile. overwrite the folders and check the files.

should solve the problem.

 

[Maruis]

Hi Guys
Your taskbar is hidden or minimized as per say.......

Move your curser to the bottom of your screen untill you see a 2 sided arrow..left click/hold and drag your taskbar up...

There is your taskbar back...

Hope this helps

 

[CaffieneNnicotine]

Here is an idea that has not been touched on. Are you the admin? If not could it possible soome one has applied a system policy to you? I have done this before to someone just to agrevate them. Its a thought though. All Complaints Will Be Routed To /dev/null