Taskbar layout non-standard and refuses to change.

B

BudVitoff

Member
Running Vista Home Premium 32bit SP2.
In the overall scheme of things, this is pretty unimportant, but I would like to fix it.
My current taskbar looks like:

Start button
Divider dots (can't move it)
Active program icons (middle section)
Divider dots
Quick launch icons (quick launch toolbar)
<no visible divider>
Notification area

Note that Active Programs and Quick Launch are occupying each others' positions, and they won't let me shift them back where they "belong". Any ideas?
 

My Computer

System One

Hello & welcome.

It sounds like the task bar menu is half locked & unlocked?

Place your mouse over an empty space on the task bar & right click. Then un-tick the "Lock the Taskbar" box.

That should allow you to move the items about & then lock them in place again.

Give it a go & report back. OK?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP-Pavilion m9280.uk-a
    CPU
    2.30 gigahertz AMD Phenom 9600 Quad-Core
    Motherboard
    ASUSTek Computer INC. NARRA3 3.02
    Memory
    3582 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory (4 Gig)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS NVIDIA Geforce GTS450
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition 7.1 Audio (HP drivers)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2408 24.0" (Dual monitor)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1200, 1920 * 1200
    Hard Drives
    3*500 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Plus 2x USB (160Gig each) external HDD
    BluRay & DVD Weiters
    HL-DT-ST BD-RE GGW-H20L SCSI CdRom (Bluray RW) Device
    AlViDrv BDDVDROM SCSI CdRom (Blueray) Device
    TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-H653N SCSI CdRom
    Internet Speed
    40 Meg
Thanks, but that was the first thing I did. That's why I'm so befuddled.

As long as I'm here, that first divider refuses to move, even though I get a double arrow when I hover over it.

Now what?
 

My Computer

System One

One step forward, then one step sideways?

Everything went fine until I got to step 6, which said to hide the quick launch from the Windows taskbar. I couldn't see how to hide it, so I went straight to step 7, which said to delete the same thing (which effectively hides it, IMHO.) I was finally left with a dedicated quick launch toolbar docked on the left side of my screen.

It was a good answer, but not really to the question I asked!

I'll post this, and while hoping for another solution, I'll wrestle with reducing the triple-thick taskbar back to a single thickness. :confused:
 

My Computer

System One

I think
Almost there
Resize the taskbar

Unlock the QL and drag to location of your choice
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
The good news is that I was able to wrestle the taskbar down to a single thickness, which we have lived with for a couple of years.

The bad news is that resizing the taskbar lets me increase its thickness, which we have lived without for a couple of years, and prefer to continue that practice. On a hunch, I removed a couple of quick launch items to no avail.

And I'm still puzzled by that immovable divider next to the Start button with its own double arrow.

I just noticed your "unlock the QL". As far as I can see, it's not locked.


Yeah, I created a restore point just before I started this.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

These are all procedures that I have not tried myself, since I am happy with the appearance of my desktop and tool bar. Be sure that you want to experiment.

Have your tried to hide the tool bar?
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/208519-taskbar-auto-hide-turn-off.html

While making a new toolbar?

Right click on toolbar
toolbar
New Toolbar.

If you decide to experiment with these changes may I suggest that you write down the procedure as you do it, so you can go back. I am not certain that System Restore will come to your rescue in this situation
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I can make it hide, but that's also not the solution I seek.

Note the second line of the original post.

This is my daughter's machine, and she couldn't care less about the taskbar arrangement. It's just my programmer's curiosity (50+ years) that drives me on this, both for how did it get switched and how can I put it back. Since I'm really just dealing with moving shortcuts, I don't think I can do anything catastrophic (famous last words?)

Your references did take me to a place that tells me more than I ever wanted to know about the taskbar, so I might just wander around there for a while -- or I might just quit wasting time.

Thanks for all your help and time.
Have a great 2011!
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hi BudVitoff,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

The last time I saw this problem, it was resolved by first right clicking on the taskback and clicking on Unlock the Taskbar (if it is locked). Next, right click on the taskbar and click on Toolbars and remove any that are checked. Then reboot. When the system restarts, right click on the Taskbar, unlock it again if necesssary, and right click again on toolbars and recheck the items you unchecked and see if things re-sort properly.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Unable to reposition taskbar to bottom of screen. Just arbitrarily moved upon a reboot.
Right click gives me a window with: Menu Bar, Navigation Bar, Bookmarks Bar, and Customize. Only. How do I get the full window back to unlock the toolbars?...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Insiron 6400
    CPU
    dual core Yonah T2250, 6400/E1505
    Memory
    dual In-Line 2x1024
    Graphics Card(s)
    States, 6400, DAO-MDS, 128MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD 15.4WX, Quanta display, GWVA, 6400
    Hard Drives
    Kit,SW,VHP32SP1,DVD,Multi,5
    Mouse
    Logitech USB wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable
Right-click the Start menu icon > Properties > Taskbar tab > Uncheck Lock the taskbar
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq/SR5130NX
    CPU
    AMD AthlonTM 64x2 3800+
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
Lorien and Ardneh! Using both replies I finally got the taskbar at the bottom. Thanks for the input. I am smart enough to just get in trouble.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Insiron 6400
    CPU
    dual core Yonah T2250, 6400/E1505
    Memory
    dual In-Line 2x1024
    Graphics Card(s)
    States, 6400, DAO-MDS, 128MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD 15.4WX, Quanta display, GWVA, 6400
    Hard Drives
    Kit,SW,VHP32SP1,DVD,Multi,5
    Mouse
    Logitech USB wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable
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