Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

The Task At Hand
By Cate Eales

Appeared November 24, 2005 on castanet.net

With every version of Windows from Windows 95 to Windows XP, you have a Taskbar on your desktop. The Taskbar is where you’ll find the Start button. It shows you what programs are currently running. On the right side, it includes the clock and probably some other icons. This area is called the “Sys Tray.” (In Windows XP, this is called the “Notification Area.”) In Windows 98 SE and newer, you might also have a Quick Launch Bar between the Start button and the Notification Area.

Sometimes the Taskbar seems to wander off on its own. I can’t tell you how often clients phone me because the Taskbar is missing, or because it’s on the top or the side of the screen. It’s not so hard to get the Taskbar back under control.

If you can’t see the Taskbar, that’s either because “auto hide” is activated, or it’s just been dragged too far toward the bottom of the screen, and it’s smushed (technical term) down there.

First thing to do is verify that “auto hide” is off.

• Press Ctrl and Esc at the same time. (Or press the Windows key if you have one.)
• Click Settings.
• Click Control Panel.
• Click Taskbar and Start Menu.
• Clear the check (if any) from Auto hide the Taskbar.
• Clear the check (if any) from Lock the Taskbar.
• Click OK.

If both boxes are clear, then you can move the Taskbar up and into view.

• Press Ctrl and Esc (or the Windows key).
• Watch where the Start Menu opens --- probably in the lower left corner of the screen.
• Press Esc on its own. Now you should see a small grey line where Start was.
• Move the mouse over that line and watch carefully until you see the cursor change to double-headedarrow.
• Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the edge of the bar up.
• Let go when you’re satisfied with the size and position of the Taskbar.

If you can’t that that to work for you, restart the computer in Safe Mode, then reboot normally. That should restore the Taskbar. If THAT doesn’t work, consult a professional.

If your Taskbar is visible, but is at the top of the screen or docked to the side of the screen, you can, of course just leave it there! Macintosh users are accustomed to having their “Menu Bar” at the top of the screen.

I don’t like that, either. So if you want to move the Taskbar back to where it belongs:

• Close all open windows so it’s easier to see what you’re doing.
• Move your mouse so the cursor is on an empty area of the Taskbar.
• Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the Taskbar to the area of the screen where you want it to end up, probably the bottom of the screen.
• When the mouse is close enough to the edge, you’ll see the Taskbar there. Release the mouse, and the Taskbar will snap into place.

You’re good to go!

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Last week’s column on PDF files generated quite a few suggestions for Adobe Acrobat alternatives. Gary, a Kelownian living now in Quebec City, writes, “An interesting tidbit you might want to pass along to your readers is that your can convert documents to pdf if you have the Open Office Suite. In my opinion it's superior to Microsoft office with all the same functions and capabilities but best of all it's FREE!!! Also, SUN has a little known secret hiding on their website. Educational users can download Sun's Star Office 8 for FREE as well (retail is $70US). You have to register, but any Academic and Research institution, including Primary and Secondary (K12) Schools, 2-and 4-year Colleges, Universities, student, researcher, staff, or faculty member can do so by filling out the forms and obtain a free license.

Here are the links:
For Open Office:
http://www.openoffice.org
For Star Office 8 for "educational" users
https://sdlcweb3a.sun.com/ECom/EComActionServlet;jsessionid=09CE00EC2AE0D02A3F02F7E13EC292B1 “

And David in Kelowna suggested, “I use PDF995 and PDFedit995 at work all the time. You can use them for free (with pop up advertising) or pay $9.95 each for the key. “

Thank you for writing in. And thanks to all who take the time to read this column. If you have any comments or suggestions for future topics, please email me at cate@rlis.com and let me know.

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Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website at http://rlis.com/.