Taskbar Problem 2

[kdub2000]

A friend has called with a problem that I have not yet run into. He has described to me that when he minimizes programs, they don't appear in his taskbar.

Then the only way to restore the minimized windows is to press the "ALT-TAB" combination and select the window he wants.

I cannot replicate the problem and he lives in another state, so I cannot see exactly what is happening. But I think he may have just accidentally hit a key combination that turned some feature on/off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[gargouille]

Does he have AV?
He needs to have it...but here is 1 answer:

Application Icon Does Not Minimize to the Taskbar
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS
When you minimize an application, it does not minimize to the taskbar; instead, the icon disappears.
CAUSE
Some applications register a shell hook but do not forward it to the Windows shell, even though Windows programming documentation indicates this should be done. Because Windows 95 runs mainly in Ring 3, it cannot detect this hook and therefore cannot keep track of the application's icon.

NOTE: If one application has this problem, it can prevent other applications from minimizing to the taskbar as well.

The following applications are known to cause this problem:
Audio Control (AUDCNTRL.EXE). This file is included with the Toshiba T4800Ct.
TextBridge version 3.0 by Xerox Imaging Systems.
EclipseFind by Phoenix Technologies.
WORKAROUND
Although you cannot see the minimized icon, you may be able to use the ALT+TAB key combination to cycle through the running applications.

If you do not load the application that causes this problem, your other applications minimize correctly.

NOTE: Applications can be executed automatically at Windows startup from the Startup folder or the Load and Run lines of the WIN.INI file.

 

[carrr]

kdub2000

Inronically enough. I was wrestling with this same problem when I came across your post. This is how I fixed my user's dilemna, which sounds exactly like your friend's:

-per a newsgroup at Microsoft's site, one 'Ron Badour' advised that this bug is caused by a file/program called WinSrv Reg that comes in as a result of receiving greeting cards(?).

Advise your friend to go to Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and see if WinSrv Reg is on the add/remove list. If it's there (it was on my user's machine), remove it and restart.

This fixed the problem at my location.

Good luck,
Roy

 

[carrr]

kdub2000

Inronically enough. I was wrestling with this same problem when I came across your post. This is how I fixed my user's dilemna, which sounds exactly like your friend's:

-per a newsgroup at Microsoft's site, one 'Ron Badour' advised that this bug is caused by a file/program called WinSrv Reg that comes in as a result of receiving greeting cards(?).

Advise your friend to go to Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and see if WinSrv Reg is on the add/remove list. If it's there (it was on my user's machine), remove it and restart.

This fixed the problem at my location.

Good luck,
Roy

 

[carrr]

As a follow-up, it appears that this WinSrv Reg program gets on a pc in a number of ways (it's bundled in MP3 software, online games, etc.). It's a 'behavioral marketing tool' brought to your machine courtesy of Permissioned Media.

http://www.permissionedmedia.com/

Go to their support section and reference their first bullet as a possible fix for your problem.
Very interesting...cheers.

 

[carrr]

Further, please reference this URL for what McAfee has to say about the problem:

http://vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99760#characteristics

I promise, I'm going away now......
Roy

 

[kdub2000]

Carrr,
I think this is the issue. I just spoke to him about him getting an e-greeting virus. I'll forward on the links to him.

He's out of town this weekend, but I'll update this post on the results.

thank you,

kdub

 

[kdub2000]

Carrr,

The stuff you suggested worked!!!

He's up and running just like new.

Thank you,

kdub2000

 

[carrr]

Glad to hear it...
This little problem is showing up more and more, judging by some other posts on the site.
Too bad some marketers don't anticipate the ramifications of their tactics a little more thoroughly.
Thanks,
Roy