Task Bar problem, last try before reformat...

It's most mysterious, and I'm hesitant to reformat because since I don't know WHY this happened, it could happen again.

I had just installed Easy CD Creator 5, and an odd assortment of smaller misc programs, mainly shell extentions. My Task Bar quit showing the minimized programs. I can see them in Control Alt/Delete, and get them to show if I cascade or tile the windows, but they appear ONLY on the screen, still not in the task bar.

I already tried removing the reference to the task bar in the registry as per Mosiac1. Did that twice.

I also tried deleting that reference, shutting off Windows Explorer and then immediately reinstalling Windows from RUN.

Still the same. What kind of a shell extention would do that? I checked out Roxios site, not one mere mention of a Task Bar problem, site wide.

Do they show up in safe mode? Or with video hardware acceleration at None (system properties/performance/graphics) ?

The taskbar is really dependent on IE, have you tried running the Repair Tool?

And did you at any time have TweakUI installed?

------------------
What the Dormouse said

[This message has been edited by Rog (edited 07-24-2001).]

Thanks, I'm up for it. I'll report back. Did I mention I should have thought of that?

That's not as bad as my post a couple days ago. ...Mentioned that the CD R/W said it was "not ready". What could THAT mean?

*blush* Boy did I feel dumb as I stuck in a CD...

ROG, I'll check that right now...

My progs are THERE in safe mode. And with graphics acceleration set to NONE: NOT there.

Another weird aspect, the area BEHIND the icons in the Quick Launch is BLACK, also a couple other areas, hard to describe where, but at the TOP of the Explorer "list"... is one.

Now try running msconfig

Clear the check beside "load startup group" and reboot. Do they show up with startup group bypassed?

Replace the check. Selectively disable files using the "startup" tab if the taskbar was normal with startup bypassed.

From your old thread:

C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\InControl Desktop Manager.lnk

Don't know what it does, but looks suspicious to me since it's desktop related.

Might not be getting along with Jammer...

------------------
What the Dormouse said



[This message has been edited by Rog (edited 07-24-2001).]

incontrol is some software for diamond graphics cards...

cyndy, until you figure out what is causing this, use alt+tab to switch between programs.

i have a diamond video card and incorrect drivers can cause all sorts of wonderful display problems. try reloading the video drivers (as you said this doesnt happen in safe mode, which uses standard vga drivers) or downloading new ones from the manufacturers website.

------------------
personally, i think christ is a can of spam; spam is infinate and has no age. coagulation is modern day nectar and the key to immortality. but then, i also think that pre-columbians had it right: the world is flat - its a huge petri dish.

I'm on the MSCONFIG project, will report back.

I did download the diamond incontrol tools from the website... But I will uncheck them 2nd and report back as soon as I know something. I have 2 computers so I can report quickly.

I think Magtechln has a good point. That does sound like Diamond's Incontrol utility. And it has been known to cause problems in the past. Disabling it in msconfig might just be the interface, not the drivers themselves.

You can try this as a further test, run msconfig and click on Advanced. Check the "standard VGA 640 mode". This will load safe mode type drivers and should bypass the Diamond stuff completely.

------------------
What the Dormouse said

With the start-up group bypassed the progs are in the task bar! But, the black is still behind the icons. I will uncheck them one at a time, starting with Incontrol and report.

Well, seems like it was an exe related to my sound card, but when I tried to confirm I could not duplicate it, so I am backing up to figure out what combination did it.

It's a program called RegEdit Extentions, handy little thing, it's too bad. I didn't suspect it because I had it on my computer for several months before this reformat about 10 days ago. But this time I added my sound card drivers in because I loaded Easy CD5 and plan on listening to music. I had no sound card for the last 3-4 months, long story that one.

Anyway, Regedit does not do it alone, only when the sound card exe loads with it. Maybe I could look for another one. It's by called VortexTray - "au10setp.exe" Doesn't look like a driver, is it a setup file? Sheesh. Maybe I don't even need it there.


That BLACK is still there though, how could I diagnose that? It was not there in Safe Mode, but then neither was quick launch. I can see if it's in Explorer in Safe Mode.


[This message has been edited by cyndy10 (edited 07-24-2001).]

The black taskbar is probably caused by the video driver. Now that you icons reappearing, try again reducing the hardware aceleration (if you previously restored it)to see if that has any effect. Also try loading just the standard VGA drivers for a look, by using msconfig>advanced.

If either of these corrects the problem, try removing and reinstalling the drivers. You should remove them from safe mode.

(could also be caused by too high color or resolution settings, so check these as well)

------------------
What the Dormouse said

[This message has been edited by Rog (edited 07-24-2001).]