Taskbar Disappeared - help 4

michael_e · Joined: Jan 24, 2003 Posts: 99

Possibly as a result of another brush with Antivirus 2009 (?malware/virus?), we suffered a series of Blue Screens of Death and while running a McAfee full virus scan, my task bar on my desktop computer (WIN XP Home SP3) sunk down below the screen and hasn't reappeared, even after numerous reboots and shutdowns. I have to call up the Task Manager to reboot or log out. That's the only tool I can call up, or the only keyboard sequence that will work. The "Windows" key does nothing. I can access files on the computer remotely via our wireless router, but cannot access anything on the computer itself, since no keyboard or mouse action works, even right-clicking for Properties. Any ideas?

Mike

BudDurland · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 522

What happens if you bring it up in Safe Mode (repeatedly press F8 immediately when the windows boot process starts)

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Seems I recall seeing this happen back when XP first came out. To bad I can't remember what I did to fix it. SORRY - (& I wouldn't have a clue as to where any of my notes on it would be even if I still have them) - but it COULD have been as simple as toggling the hide function on & off a few times. Or I may have done a reg hack along the same lines.

But given what you posted, it could be a piece of code was corrupted & got removed. (or even a key) - You MAY need to do a REPAIR INSTALL to put the missing elements back. - Make sure your machine is TRUELY clean. Personally, I don't trust McAFEE as it falls in the same category as NORTON's A/V. Try AVAST as it will do a BOOT TIME scan. Also good are SPYBOT S&D, MALWAREBYTES & ADAWARE for trojans & such.

Also, make sure you have everything that can't possibly be replaced backed up if you don't already. Just in case you have to clean install or activate a "BOMB" in doing a cleanup. (here's hoping that the virus didn't get into any of it) - (I'd do this FIRST.) Put it on something that won't spread to other things , just in case it may contain a virus. (flash drives are cheap - $10 for 4G)

"BOMB" - something that destroys all your data / OS.

goretsky · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:46 am Post subject:

Hello,

Have you tried running the Taskbar Repair Tool from Kelly's Korner? If so, did it have any effect?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

I've seen the taskbar slide off the bottom of the screen when something readjusted the monitor screen and made the picture TOO LARGE to fit on the screen.

Try adjusting the monitor to reduce the Vertical Size.
Aslo, check your screen resolution in Windows.
Make sure that's not changed....somehow.

Just a thought, (and doesn't require a reinstall of Windows)

The Doctor Cool

rob_1 · Joined: Sep 27, 2007 Posts: 7

I had this happen to my mother after she had exited a game she was playing. Taskbar was gone like yours, so I tried enabling and disabling the auto-hide feature, voila! Taskbar fixed. I don't know why windows did this, as she had played the game countless times before. maybe our problems are linked somehow. they happened on the same day. anyway I hope this helps you.

michael_e · Joined: Jan 24, 2003 Posts: 99

Thanks all for your answers. Turns out we were re-infected with the A nti virus 2009 trojan (McAfee missed it) and it deleted our explorer.exe file, which I guess runs the taskbar. A Dell tech fixed it and removed the virus. I believe I will follow the advice of losing McAfee using Spyware Doctor instead, along with Malwarebytes.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Unless Spyware Dr has an A/V in it you will STILL NEED ONE.

Searching this forum will give you some suggestions - AVAST & AVG are the most suggested.

rob_1 · Joined: Sep 27, 2007 Posts: 7

I use avg and malwarebytes, for the life of me I can't see how macaffee and symantec, are able to sell their crap. this is not the first time I have ever heard of these programs missing viruses. I'm glad you were able to get it fixed though.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

I gave a USB stick to someone with malwarebytes on it to clean up the family computer. It worked. I asked what they used, McAfee.
I wrote down on a notecard what they should do replace McAfee with - all free programs,

rob_1 · Joined: Sep 27, 2007 Posts: 7

I agree, Macafee and norton both seem to be the classic example of bloatware. it seems that despite the free programs out there that do a better job. they still haven't gotten the idea that their own programs are inadequate. never mind the fact that they charge a subscription fee for definition updates for a program that does little to no good.

michael_e · Joined: Jan 24, 2003 Posts: 99

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think McAfee is soon to be removed from my computer. But I'll have to start researching a good replacement. Any thoughts on Spyware Doctor?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

On a paid newsletter I receive, one of the article mentioned that the two best, in his opinion were, Webroot's Spy Sweeper and PCTools Spyware Doctor.
I briefly tried Spy Sweeper a few years ago and my computer took a performance hit so I removed it.

Currently I run the paid and the free version of malwarebytes. The free version does not have real time monitoring nor automatic update scheduling. On the paid version, I have not noticed a performance hit.

If there is a trial, try Spyware Doctor and see how it works.

kanndoo · Joined: Aug 24, 2004 Posts: 9

I like Nod32 for a pay version of my antivirus and AVG for the free version and for antimalware I like Malwarebytes because it cleans fast. I also like Web Root Spysweeper. These program have cleaned up some pretty bad PC's for me.