XP service pack 2 freaked out my desktop?

Good day to all,

I recently updated and installed xpsp2, and in doing so, the task bar became all messed up-- the quick launch buttons stretched themselves out across the task bar pane, and refused to organize themselves neatly again keeping 'to the left' of the task bar, beside the start button. Also, when i would open a window, internet, photoshop, or otherwise, no tab would appear in the task bar and thus i could only navigate between windows using alt+tab. In frustration, i hit system restore, and am back to my pre-xpsp2 state.

has anyone had a similar problem?

jack, i know you're out there somewhere with sound advice [ ]

todd

 

Very strange, I've never heard of this happening. How many icons do you usually have in the qucik launch area of your taskbar?

Next time you try make sure no other programs are running or windows are open at all and also try right clicking on the taskbar and locking it. That's all I can think of trying.

good luck
Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

Ugh, not heard of this one either. Have you tried removing all toolbars then adding them back? I'm sure you have...that's just all I've got right now. Maybe your next install will go better.

Editor in Chief http://www.bargainPDA.com and http://www.SPOTstop.com

 

thanks jack and brian for the feedback. Indeed, i thought the 'glitch' was rather strange myself.

the taskbar was locked pre-install. and in response to you jack, i have 18 quick launch items. I think i've summoned up enough courage for another go at the install, perhaps round one was an anomaly?

thanks to both of you,

todd

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by toddy

 

Here is a kind of stupid question-did all of the icons become distorted, or just the quick launch buttons? I ask because SP2 might have resored system defaults, such as video drivers or display resolution.

 

hey reverend,

the quick launch icons spread themselves out across the length of the task bar and stopped at the system tray, in the lower right (normally, they rest in two rows beside the start button). The second oddity was that when i opened browser windows, there was no tab in the task bar either, even when I removed all the quick launch buttons. In order to navigate between windows i was resigned to using alt+tab. No combination of lock/unlock, show quick launch etc would remedy it. It was wierd indeed. I was about to retry sp2 last night, and while i was checking what errors i might encounter with firefox (i recently switched over to the mozilla browser), i came across an intriguing comment from someone, unrelated to firefox compatibility, yet enough that i'm now hesitating upgrading to sp2....to be continued...

 

You might want to download the whole patch-ie. get the IT package with every conceivable component of SP2.

Also, is your copy of XP legal? After all, this is Microsoft's major security patch, and nothing says security to Microsoft like having folks pay for everything they possibly can pay for.