Idiot-proof PC help needed!

[Hilary]

When I switched on my PC this morning, it all appeared normal, but then, after I'd connected to the internet, I lost the task bar from the desktop.

I could open and close most applications ok, but I had no way of disconnecting from the internet, and no Start button to close down the machine safely to start again.

After much frustrating clicking and trying various options, I had to disconnect my ISDN line and leave the machine to come to work (where I'm posting this).

Any ideas? I know I've managed to recover the task bar before, but can't think how.

We had a thunderstorm on Monday which resulted in a power cut and the PC's been behaving a bit oddly since then!

 

[SandraM]

From Microsoft Help & Support:

"To display the taskbar

If the taskbar is hidden, click Start, point to Settings, click Taskbar and Start Menu, and then clear the Auto hide check box.
If you have temporarily hidden the taskbar by dragging the top edge off the screen, drag the visible edge out to display the taskbar again.

Note

You can also open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box by right-clicking a blank area on the taskbar, and then clicking Properties. "

Hope this works for you.

 

[Hilary]

Thank s for the help, Sandra, it's much appreciated, but...

I don't have a Start button, I haven't got an edge of the taskbar to drag back, and I can't click on an empty part of the taskbar because I don't have one!

I'm going home for lunch now and will try again - otherwise I may be tempted to try the 'firm kick' approach

 

[Olaf]

Hilary, the fact that you've lost your Start button leads me to think that your windows program has been corrupted. You might want to think about a reinstall. I've done it, and didn't lose my files. Wish I could be of more help.

 

[Hilary]

Back home now, and the 'firm kick' approach seems to have worked for the time being

Apart from the taskbar / Start button problem, I also seem to have a gremlin in my ISDN connection, so I may try re-installing that before taking the plunge to re-install Windows.

Thanks for your help anyway