How to find, move and modify the taskbar
The taskbar is originally installed to appear across the bottom of your display area. The taskbar is what shows your open applications, what you are currently working on. Among other things it allows you to quickly switch between open applications, open new applications and monitor applications that run in the background. The taskbar includes the START button, the taskbuttons, and the system tray. In Windows 2000 a Quick Launch bar initially appears on the taskbar, but it can be moved.
There are several things you can do to modify the behavior of the taskbar to suit your working style. If you have lost your taskbar, want to put it in a more convenient location, want it to either disappear from view or stay in view, resize it, or change whether the clock appears on it, click on your choice from the list below.
If your taskbar is properly configured it should work the way you set it up. If the taskbar does not seem to behave normally or if you would like help in modifying taskbar properties please contact Technical Support Operations for assistance.
"I've lost my taskbar, How do I find it?" This one of the most frequently asked questions. There are three common solutions: 1. Turn Auto hide off; 2. Turn Always on top on; or 3. Resize the Taskbar.
We can open the Start menu without knowing where it is. That will allow us to check that "Auto hide" is off, and "Always on top" is on.
Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, and press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Select Settings and then Taskbar.
Select the " Taskbar Options" tab. Check the status of "Auto hide" and "Always on Top"
Is there a check mark in the box next to " A uto hide"? If there is, turn it off by clicking the box next to " A uto hide" to remove the check mark.
Is there a check mark in the box next to " Always on top"? If there is not, turn it on by clicking the box next to " Always on top" to add the check mark.
If " A uto hide" is off and " Always on top" is on click OK to close the Taskbar Properties window. If you still can't see your task bar then you may need to find it and then resize it. Here is how to find it:
Drag your mouse pointer slowly to the bottom of the screen. Watch the pointer carefully. If it hits the edge of the taskbar the pointer shape will suddenly change style (usually to a double headed arrow, but you may see only the top of the arrow) then:
Keep the mouse pointer on the edge of the taskbar, hold down the left mouse button and slowly drag the taskbar toward the center of the screen to bring it into view.
If you have trouble finding or dragging the edge of the taskbar try this:
Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Is the Start menu at the bottom left hand corner of your screen? If it is, continue to the next step. If it is not, click here for further instructions.
Press and hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar , then from the pop-out menu select Size.
Press the up arrow twice to push the margin of the taskbar up
With your taskbar properly configured it should remain in view. If you couldn't find your task bar using the method above try shutting down and powering off your machine, then restarting. For more information see document 39013 — How to reset your computer. If you are still unable to locate the taskbar or if it does not behave normally please contact Technical Support Operations for assistance.
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Finding your taskbar when it isn't on the bottom
Close down all open programs.
Try moving your mouse slowly around the edges of the screen to see if the pointer changes when it touches the edge of the hidden task bar. If you find it just hold the left mouse button down and slowly drag the edge of the taskbar toward the center of the screen.
If you still can't find it then try using keystrokes to locate and resize it as follows:
Hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Select Settings, then Taskbar.
If the taskbar menu appears in the upper right hand corner of your screen then the taskbar is against the right edge of the screen. To resize it do the following:
Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Press and hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar , then select Size.
Press the left arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar to the left.
Press { Enter} to finish.
If the taskbar menu appears in the upper left hand corner of your screen then the taskbar is either against the top of the screen or along the left hand side.
Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Press and hold the { Alt} key, press the space bar , then select Size.
Press the right arrow key twice to push the margin of the taskbar to the right, if the taskbar does not come into view try pushing the down arrow twice to push the margin of the taskbar down.
Press { Enter}to finish.
If you are still unable to locate the taskbar or if it does not behave normally please contact Technical Support Operations for assistance.
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There are two ways that the taskbar tends to "disappear" in normal use: (1) When it is covered up by an application because the option "Always on top" has not been selected and (2) when it shrinks off the screen when it is not being used because "Auto hide" has been selected. It is supposed to reappear when the mouse pointer gets near it. To keep the taskbar in view reset these options.
1. Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
2. Select Settings, then Taskbar.
3. Select " Taskbar Options" tab.
4. Is there a check mark in the box next to " A uto hide"? If there is, turn it off (unselect it) by unchecking the box next to " A uto hide".
5. Is there a check mark in the box next to " Always on top"? If there is not, turn it on (select it) by checking the box next to " Always on top".
6. Click OK to close the Taskbar Properties window.
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Make my taskbar hide when I'm not using it.
If you want to make the most of your screen space, you may want the taskbar to slide out of the way when you aren't using it. If you select the "Auto hide" option the taskbar will seem to shrink into the edge of the screen when you move the mouse pointer away. The taskbar will reappear when you move the mouse pointer to the edge of the screen where the taskbar is hiding. To select the "Auto hide" option:
1. Hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
2. Select Settings, then Taskbar.
3. Select " Taskbar Options" tab.
4. Is there a check mark in the box next to " A uto hide"? If there is not, turn it on (select it) by checking the box next to " A uto hide".
5. Click OK to close the Taskbar Properties window.
6. To use the Taskbar just move the mouse pointer to the edge of the screen where the taskbar is hiding.
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Make my taskbar wider or narrower.
You can widen the taskbar to better see the names of the open applications. You can also make it so narrow it can't be seen (although a better option is to set "Auto hide" on).
1. Slide the mouse pointer carefully toward the margin of the taskbar.
2. When the pointer changes (usually to a double headed arrow) you are ready to change the size. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the edge of the taskbar to the size you want.
3. Release the mouse button.
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Move my taskbar to another location.
The default location for the taskbar is the bottom edge of the screen. The taskbar must stay against one edge of the screen, but you can choose which of the four edges.
1. Place your mouse pointer in an empty spot on the taskbar (any spot that is not an icon or button).
2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the taskbar to the screen edge
where you want the taskbar to appear.
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Put the clock on the taskbar, or take it off.
Press and hold the { Ctrl} key, press { Esc}. The Start menu will pop out.
Select Settings, then Taskbar.
Select " Taskbar Options" tab.
To put the clock on the taskbar put a check mark in the box next to " Show Clock" by clicking the empty check box.
To take the clock off the taskbar remove the check mark in the box next to " Show Clock" by clicking the checked box.
Click OK to close the Taskbar Properties window.
Move or modify the Quick Launch bar
The Quick Launch bar is on your taskbar by default. You can, however, take it off the taskbar and put it somewhere else on your screen. For information on adding new applications to the Quick Launch bar or moving it to a new location on your screen see document 69053 — How to move or modify the Quick Launch bar.
Additional details on the taskbar.
In Windows 2000 various toolbars can be added between the Start button and the system tray. These toolbars share the space of the task display area. In Windows 2000 there is only one such toolbar installed by default, called the Quick Launch bar. The Quick Launch bar contains icons with shortcuts to frequently used programs. By default the Quick Launch bar rests on the taskbar, but it can be used separately. For more information on the Quick Launch bar see Eureka! document 69053 — How to move or modify the Quick Launch bar.
Created by the PeopleSoft Knowledge Management Team.
Copyright © 2000, 2004
All rights reserved.
Created: db 01/25/1999
Revised: db 07/30/2004