Missing Start button

Did you get him to try Ctrl-Esc???? Did the Start menu appear???? From
which side of the screen did it appear, if it did???
Heirloom, old and time for bed


"Mart" wrote in message
...
For a more detailed 'official' description of Dan's reply see :-

"How to Move the Taskbar from Its Default Position"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253679/en-us

Also check-out the following two articles :-
"Unable to See or Use the Taskbar"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/199161/en-us

"Taskbar is Not Visible in Windows"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/134237/en-us

Mart


"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden, either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar. Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar". He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I haven't
asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I can't simulate for
him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks like the links my Mart
may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden, either on
the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin strip,
like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor right on the
edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a double arrow.
Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar. Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could have
inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click it to get
to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar". He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option does not
exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top' (Set to
'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden, either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar. Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar". He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

If no luck
Try to restore the earlier registry backup
rb###.cab file.

"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME computer and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar the last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

I seem to recall that my mission, when I was last there, that I thought I
accomplished, was to make sure he couldn't defeat some quick launch icons I
had put at the lower left. Perhaps that is something else yet (than locking
the taskbar), perhaps not.

In any event, I will have him do what you say if I can get him to find and
move that taskbar! At worst, I will see him in about one month and the ctrl
esc will work until then, given that he uses the computer about twice a
week!

Thanks much!
Dean



"Mart" wrote in message
...
Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option does
not exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top' (Set
to 'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are
there still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden, either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor
right on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a
double arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar.
Everyone here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes
rather than being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my
dad could have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could
right click it to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of
the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar". He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME
computer and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar
the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

For my Dad, if I can't get him to find the taskbar, I don't dare let him try
this.

But it is timely reminder for me. Actually, restoring to an earlier
registry has been a godsend for me a couple of times, once, as I recall,
when I, in hindsight, desperately over-reacted to a router or printer loss
of communication problem, and overwrote a fixed IP address and then couldn't
get any of my computers to talk to each other or a printer, or something
like that. I spent a good part of a weekend, consulting supposed free
support 'experts' at the router and printer companies, all to no avail -
trying to recover from that, until someone - at HP, on the pay per incident
line (though she didn't charge me), I think -suggested your simple fix. I'm
glad you reminded me - I tend to totally forget about this often great
option.

Dean

"AAH" wrote in message
...

If no luck
Try to restore the earlier registry backup
rb###.cab file.

"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME computer and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him to get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

He also may be thinking of the feature in WinME
"Lock Desktop items" instead.

Harry.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option does
not
exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top' (Set
to
'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are
there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden, either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor
right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply
click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back
to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar.
Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click
it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of
the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar".
He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME
computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar
the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him
to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

Care to enlighten, Harry?

"Lock Desktop items" is not a feature that I can find on my copy of WinMe,
nor can I find any reference to it in either Help or on the Knowledge Base.
I've even tried TweakUI Help , but still nothing. Am I missing something?

Mart


"webster72n" wrote in message
...

He also may be thinking of the feature in WinME
"Lock Desktop items" instead.

Harry.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option does
not
exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top' (Set
to
'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are
there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden,
either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor
right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply
click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back
to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar.
Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather
than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click
it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in
message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of
the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar".
He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User /
DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME
computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine
that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar
the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him
to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

Methinks Harry has a point, although, I don't think this would be the cause
of the "missing Start button." See
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,11...1/article.html
Heirloom, old and new to me, too.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Care to enlighten, Harry?

"Lock Desktop items" is not a feature that I can find on my copy of WinMe,
nor can I find any reference to it in either Help or on the Knowledge
Base. I've even tried TweakUI Help , but still nothing. Am I missing
something?

Mart


"webster72n" wrote in message
...

He also may be thinking of the feature in WinME
"Lock Desktop items" instead.

Harry.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option does
not
exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top' (Set
to
'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I
can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks
like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are
there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden,
either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very
thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor
right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a
double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply
click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it back
to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar.
Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather
than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right click
it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in
message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one of
the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by
moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden taskbar".
He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User /
DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME
computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine
that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his taskbar
the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise him
to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean

I did't mean to imply that it was, H, only that Dean may have thought it
would lock the taskbar.
Thanks for helping out.

Harry.


"Heirloom" wrote in message
...
Methinks Harry has a point, although, I don't think this would be the
cause
of the "missing Start button." See
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,11...1/article.html
Heirloom, old and new to me, too.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Care to enlighten, Harry?

"Lock Desktop items" is not a feature that I can find on my copy of
WinMe,
nor can I find any reference to it in either Help or on the Knowledge
Base. I've even tried TweakUI Help , but still nothing. Am I missing
something?

Mart


"webster72n" wrote in message
...

He also may be thinking of the feature in WinME
"Lock Desktop items" instead.

Harry.


"Mart" wrote in message
...
Dean, you may be confusing the 'lock' utility with XP. That option
does
not
exist on WinMe.

However, you do have 'Auto hide' (Set to 'off') and 'Always on top'
(Set
to
'on')options - if/when you eventually get the taskbar to show by
right-clicking and selecting 'Properties'.

Mart


"Dean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dan and everyone. My dad is rally lame with computers, so I
haven't asked him to do anything yet. I have an XP machine, so I
can't
simulate for him. I want to have all my facts straight. it looks
like
the links my Mart may be the easiest way.

I thought that, last time I visited him, I locked the taskbar. If
so,
wouldn't that keep him from being able to make it disappear? Or are
there
still other ways to do that?



"Dapper Dan" wrote in message
...
Dean
I think what's being said is that it may accidentally be hidden,
either
on the bottom or top or either side. If it is, you may see a very
thin
strip, like maybe 1/16th of an inch, and if so, position the cursor
right
on the edge of that thin strip, and the cursor will turn into a
double
arrow. Then simply click and drag to where you want it.

Try and hide it on your own computer by positioning the cursor on
the
outside edge on the taskbar; once you get the double arrow, simply
click
and hold and then drag it through the bottom edge. Then bring it
back
to
where it should be.

Hope this responds to your query.

Dan

"Dean" wrote in message
...
I'm a little confused by the reference to unhding the taskbar.
Everyone
here seems to assume it is somewhere on one of the fringes rather
than
being truly hidden. If it were truly hidden, something my dad
could
have inadvertently done, then I don't know how you could right
click
it
to get to properties. Kindly explain.

Thanks everyone!
Dean

"Jack E Martinelli" wrote in
message
...
Possibly the missing taskbar has inadvertently been moved to one
of
the
other sides of the screen. Have your father search for it by
moving
the
cursor to each side, in turn, until he finds the "hidden
taskbar".
He
can
then the drag it to the desired side, and/or unhide it, using the
Taskbar /
Properties / General tab.

--
Jack E. Martinelli Former MS MVP 2002-06 for Shell/User /
DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
------
"Dean" wrote in message
...
My dad, who lives far away so I can't check it, has an old ME
computer
and
says, somehow, has managed to lose his start button. I imagine
that
means
he has lost his entire task bar. If I recall, I locked his
taskbar
the
last
time I visited him.

Can someone who still has an ME computer tell me how to advise
him
to
get
the start button back?

Thanks!
Dean