task bar acting up

from Stardock Forums

So, I'm pretty certain that ObjectDock is the cause of this...

I checked the box in the settings that says, "Hide the Windows Taskbar".

After doing so, I rechecked it because I didn't like it.

But now, every time I start up Windows it sets my taskbar to not show. (Even though the box to hide the taskbar is unchecked)

I have to go to ObjectDock settings, then check and uncheck the "Hide the Windows Taskbar" checkbox to get it to show, then I also have to go into taskbar preferences and recheck "Keep the taskbar on top of other windows" which somehow gets unchecked.

I imagine this is simply a problem in my registry, but I don't have a clue where or how to change it. If it's not my registry, then what is it?

Any help would be awesome, because it's a real pain to have to change my taskbar settings every time I start up. :)

objectdock
2,109 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OK, what version of ObjectDock? Free or Plus? What service pack of XP [unless it's Vista?]

Are you running the latest build?

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I suppose it also might be worth mentioning that I'm running XP in Parallels on a MacBook.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Several of the Stardock apps will hide the taskbar. I had this happen in the past with OD+ only to find out I still had Right-Click checked to hide the taskbar. If you use any others make sure to "uncheck" them all.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Right click on the Windows Taskbar in an open place, click properties.  Is auto hide task bar checked?

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

No. It's not checked. That would be far too simple, wouldn't it? Heh. That's not the problem anyway. It's not that it's auto-hidden. It's that it's completely gone. Invisible.

Nice try though. I guess I could try uninstalling ObjectDock and see what happens.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

So. I uninstalled it (with Revo Uninstaller, I wiped it clean from my registry and all) and my taskbar still disappears. :( This is frustrating.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well that's not good at all.

Have you tried Microsoft/Windows help/forums to see if you can find how/where to get the taskbar back? 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

No, I haven't yet. I can get it to come back using ObjectDock (redownload it and check and uncheck the box to hide the taskbar). I guess I could try that though. Now that I think of it, there's probably some way to bring it back without. There has to be. :)

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

press CTRL+ESC does that bring up the taskbar and start panel?

If not press CTRL+ALT+DEL and bring up the task manager check the processes is explorer.exe running?

If not restart it.  Click on file New task and type in explorer.exe.

Now once you have some idea of what is happening with explorer.exe then you can begin to research what is happening on your system.  Do you have anything installed that hacks explorer?  Object Dock doesn't hack explorer.

I'd recommend doing an internet search on "taskbar missing" and checking out the reputable listings.  Microsoft has info on this problem as well.

I suppose it also might be worth mentioning that I'm running XP in Parallels on a MacBook.
End of quote

I'm not aquainted with this but, it may present unique challenges to finding the source of the problem without checking the sources there as well. 

You're going to have to start doing some digging by checking the various web sites, trying some things to see what's going on, eliminating viruses as a cause and possibly restoring your OS.

Good luck!