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General discussion

Toolbar Position - Win98 SE

Nov 16, 2003 9:19PM PST

I did something, and now my Toolbar is at the top of my desktop screen instead of the normal bottom. Every thing else is normal: desktop icons, their positions and the layout of the toolbar. How can I reposition the toolbar to the bottom of the screen?
Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Toolbar Position - Win98 SE
Nov 16, 2003 9:23PM PST

Practice the CLICK-DRAG on your mouse. When you click on some object, holding the button down and moving the mouse can move the object.

To move the toolbar, click on the gray area and drag it to the bottom of the screen. Let go of the mouse button when its where you want.

Bob

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Re:Re:Toolbar Position - Win98 SE
Nov 16, 2003 9:33PM PST

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Practice the CLICK-DRAG on your mouse. When you click on some object, holding the button down and moving the mouse can move the object.

To move the toolbar, click on the gray area and drag it to the bottom of the screen. Let go of the mouse button when its where you want.
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Bob, I failed to mention that this is the first thing I tried. When I click in the open gray area, hold down button and drag, nothing happens. However, 'click and hold' of an edge will expand/collapse the toolbar.

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Check this registry item.
Nov 16, 2003 9:36PM PST
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Re:Check this registry item.
Nov 16, 2003 11:23PM PST

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Check this registry item.

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/917/

If you find this value, delete it.

And if you find this value, consider that PARASITES often drop such values into the registry to annoy the user.
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I checked the registry for the item, TaskBarSizeMove, in the key described in WinGuides and there is no such item. I haven't implemented their suggestion to add this item with REG_DWORD for lock and unlock, but this may be necessary. Note that I restored registry from an earlier good version with same results. Prior to that, I ran a complete virus check with NAV 2004 and no infections were found. Stumped.

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Re:Re:Check this registry item.
Nov 16, 2003 11:37PM PST

There is a distinction (at least according to Symantec) between viruses and parasites. The newest version of Norton Antivirus will scan for some spyware/adware, but you're best off downloading Spybot and Ad-Aware and scanning with them. Both are free.

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Re:Re:Re:Check this registry item.
Nov 17, 2003 12:31AM PST

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There is a distinction (at least according to Symantec) between viruses and parasites. The newest version of Norton Antivirus will scan for some spyware/adware, but you're best off downloading Spybot and Ad-Aware and scanning with them. Both are free.
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Josh,
I ran Spybot, rebooted but the taskbar is still at the top of the screen.

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Check this registry item.
Nov 17, 2003 4:58AM PST

You didn't indicate whether you have tried the suggestion of adding that entry to the registry.

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Toolbar/Taskbar1
Nov 17, 2003 12:11AM PST

1. If the Taskbar is alive and well, the information is recorded (binary value 110000....) in the system registry, [Q216663]:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Streams\Desktop\Toolbars

2. When starting Windows and the Taskbar is missing or displays incorrectly, the registry information may be corrupt. Delete the key "StuckRects" from the following address and restart the system to recreated it, [Q247502]:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects

Note: That binary value should then return in the first mentioned registry address and hopefully the Taskbar will be at the usual postion, the bottom.

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Re:Toolbar/Taskbar1
Nov 17, 2003 2:10PM PST

I deleted the registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects
and rebooted, but the TaskBar was still at the top of the screen. Next, I was about to try the tweak from winguides.com in Bob's post but I choked since the directions are listed for ME/XP. Also, the Win98 SE registry structure seemed to be different from the layout in winguides info. Should I ignore this and proceed?

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Re:Re:Toolbar/Taskbar1
Nov 17, 2003 7:56PM PST

I can't search for all possible varients of articles. I have another example of a registry key that Microsoft has not update the KB Article to include an OS, but the article works.

If you need such articles to be up todate, please state that this is one of your requirements. The 95/98/ME os is aging fast and not everyone updated the pages to be perfect.

I understand why you may feel choked, but imagine me wondering why it is taking so long to execute the supplied help from all that have chimed in.

In closing, the removal of the key does not move the taskbar. The taskbar with the start button is just "unlocked."

Bob

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Re:Re:Re:Toolbar/Taskbar1
Nov 17, 2003 9:46PM PST

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I understand why you may feel choked, but imagine me wondering why it is taking so long to execute the supplied help from all that have chimed in.

In closing, the removal of the key does not move the taskbar. The taskbar with the start button is just "unlocked."

Bob

Posted by: R. Proffitt Posted on: 11/18/2003 3:56 AM
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Bob,
May be I'm too terse in my replies. I've tried all of the suggested remedies (deleting the key) except adding the TaskBar key to the registry. Not finding the registry key in the Winguides article made me nervous due to the ME/XP notice. I also couldn't find anymore information on this entry on the Knowledge Base so I resorted to the Forum for clarification. I really appreciate the assistance you folks provide. Thanks.

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Good to read.
Nov 17, 2003 9:58PM PST

For some reason I couldn't figure out if the key was there, not there or such.

-> I would have deleted it without much ado since I know that key and a few other "NO" keys do things like this. Documentation is SCARCE and fading so don't get too obsessed with exact articles.

Points worth covering.

1. We are discussing the TASKBAR and not a "TOOLBAR." The TASKBAR is that one with the start button. Please confirm we are all on the same page.

2. You have deleted the keys mentioned by Bill and I.

What are those NO words? Many pests drop NO entries into the registry. For some perverse reason, Microsoft didn't document them all in one place. This pains many, but here's just one example:

A DWORD value in [HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer] named "NoDesktop" set the values to either "1" or "0" will cause the icons to not appear on the desktop and you can't "right-click" on it either.

The nugget to carry away from this is that examination of ALL the entries in that registry key can uncover what is ailing the machine.

Of course there are other places to look, but this is a favorite for pranksters like http://www.littlewhitedog.com/reviews_other_00019a.asp

Bob

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Re:Toolbar Position - Win98 SE- Registry Item
Nov 17, 2003 12:47PM PST

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Re:Check this registry item.

You didn't indicate whether you have tried the suggestion of adding that entry to the registry.

Posted by: Josh Katz Posted on: 11/17/2003 12:58 PM
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Josh,

I'm trying that tonight and will report on results.

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Re:Re:Toolbar Position - Win98 SE- Registry Item
Nov 30, 2003 12:05PM PST

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Re:Check this registry item.

You didn't indicate whether you have tried the suggestion of adding that entry to the registry.

Posted by: Josh Katz Posted on: 11/17/2003 12:58 PM
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Josh,

I'm trying that tonight and will report on results.
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Josh,

I tried the various registry edits, but they caused more problems than provided cures. No doubt, I am to blame, i.e., flubbed something. However, I read all of the MS Knowledge Base articles on the Taskbar. Finally, I just got tired of the Taskbar being at the top of the screen so began to experiment. Surprise (because I don't know why the actions worked): 1) Holding down ctrl and clicking and holding left mouse button, I moved the Quick Launch icons out of the Taskbar; 2) Holding down ctrl again and clicking and holding left mouse button in blank (gray) area of Taskbar, I was able to move it to the bottom of the Desktop; 3) Finally, holding left mouse button in blank (gray) area of Quick Launch icons bar I moved it onto the Taskbar and positioned it. After shutting down and rebooting, the Taskbar remains at the bottom of the desktop. Again, I would lose if someone asked me to explain why this worked. Now, I've begun the files backup process in preparation for converting to WinXP Pro. No doubt, I shall be seeking advice from you fine folks on that forum. Y'all are the greatest.