undisclosed wrote:
> I am having this too. I can move the mouse to other programs on my task
> bar but the clicks are unresponsive. When this happens, I can also not
> move the task bar.
>
> I get get around the unresponsive taskbar by
> 1) Using ALT + Tab to move between programs.
> 2) Using Ctrl + ALT + Delete to start up the Task Manager, after which
> the task bar becomes responsive again.
>
> But then after a while the task manager becomes unresponsive again.
>
> I have checked for viruses but apparently there are none in my system
> (according to more than one program) but perhaps it is a hidden virus.
>
> I have used the task manager & services console to turn off as many
> services as I could. I have not located the service/program that is
> causing the problem. I am glad that I have been able to delete some
> unwanted services, but at the same time I do not want to delete too
> many.
>
> In Vista apparently there is something called GDI object leak
> (Graphical display objects are not mapped properly by the system, and so
> clicking them does not work, and microsoft has published a fix for it).
> There have been some updates to windows lately so there is an outside
> chance that it is a Windows problem.
>
> Any help greatefully recieved.
>
> Should I do a highjack this and send it somewhere?
>
>

The time you've taken to try and fix XP is more than it would have taken
to reinstall XP, the only sure way to know you're malware free.

M

I have done a lot of things to my desktop, taskbar, quick launch bar, start bar, explorer folder views (largely to make them look and function like win2k, which I use on my other two computers), IME, and other things I can not remember. I have spent long hours reading neuber.com so as to judge which services I need and do not need and turned off those that I do not. I have tweaked the registry I believe but I forget what. And at the same time I have forgotten what I have done and how I did it. Will these things remain changed after a repair? I guess not.

I use hard disk cloning software to prolong the life of my PCs. This means that they have all last a long time, and have a long history of customisation. And it is only very rarely (I can't remember the last time) that problems like this occur. So, I would reallly like to cure the problem rather than reinstall.

If I were more tecnically savy, or younger, I would be able to keep abreast of OS changes, and use the latest version of everything. I would be happy using Vista now. But at 44, I want to dig my heels into the sand, not just out of stubborness, but because I find the continual process of change a pain in the brain. I just want to use computers not have to continually learn how to use the latest upgrade, the latest GUI.

More than one different types of anti virus software tell me that I am malware free.

Another possibility:

I see that one thing INSIDE a program window that is not functioning well is my browsers mouse actions. I used to be able to select and drag text a little to have it open a new window in google searching for the selected text.

The taskbar unresponsiveness problem coincided with the recent-ish I.E. 8 upgrade (I had put it off since I was not keen on doing it). Does I.E. change the dlls that are used by the OS for OSsy things?

I use Maxthon 1.x which is a light tabbed browser but it uses the I.E. rendering engine. If I unistall I.E. 8 will maxthon continue to operate?

undisclosed wrote:
> Hmm...I have done a lot of things to my desktop, taskbar, quick launch
> bar, start bar, IME...Will these things remain changed after a repair?
>
> More than one different types of anti virus software tell me that I am
> malware free.
>
>

Malware are not just viruses. I would back up my data and reinstall, not
repair, if I were you.

M

I am not sure what you mean.

If there any recognisably "mal" or bad, nasty software wise then I guess that the various virus detection programs that I am using would find it.

However, I have thought of the "root kit" possibility. If someone had installed a root kit, created a user, (and possibly deleted the root kit afterwards) and then is simply logging into my computer, using only standard software, then perhaps the usage of that rouge user might cause the symptoms that I am experiencing, but a virus program would simply see the system as being one used by various users. Is that he sort of thing?

How might I tell? Er, I guess I should install Zone Alarm and see if anyone is trying to get in from outside.

But anyway, for the time being, I am able to use my computer and I do not have the time to reinstall. If you mean reinstall from scratch then that would take me ages, with all the software, software keys, internet settings on top of the OS configuration. I might not be able to reinstall some of my software, if I can't find the password.

I am aware that reinstallation is a possible solution. But if I were to go along that road I would not be posting here.

I think that the create new users idea was a good one and it might have worked.

I am hoping that this thread will be searchable, others will have the same problem and that someone will suggest something that works. If not then when I am less busy I will reinstall and spend a couple of days reconfiguring.

Tim

It turned out to be my keyboard. New keyboard, problem fixed.

Got new wireless mouse and memory too.

Thanks, Paul. :o)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:h9hhkh$b7u$1@aioe.org...
> Kelly wrote:
>> Where is your original post?
>>
>
> You can use the reference message ID on the USENET posting,
> to find the thread. Google advanced search allows searching on
> message ID, and sometimes, it even works. This is a search for
>
> 3BD436C6-BABD-4602-937D-82D9519985AE@microsoft.com
>
> http://groups.google.ca/group/micros...8019fcf42b4f59
>
> Paul

Her

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"undisclosed" wrote in message
news:b126bbba8188b040245ca8a86c22de86@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> My "original" post is quoted in blue, in full by Kelly.
>
> I thought the question was not where (since Kelly was quoting it
> immediately below his question) but "where did it go to", i.e., the port
> was, "why did you remove it"? Hence my response.
>
> My question remains that * m y t a s k b a r i s u n r e s p o n
> s i v e *. I click it and nothing happens. I have to use Alt+Tab to
> change between programs.
>
> Tim
>
>
> --
> timtak

Oh, Geezzz....glad all is well.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"undisclosed" wrote in message
news:70d98e91551bd057fc297c95cd49147a@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> It turned out to be my keyboard. New keyboard, problem fixed.
>
> Got new wireless mouse and memory too.
>
>
> --
> timtak

undisclosed wrote:
> It turned out to be my keyboard. New keyboard, problem fixed.
>
> Got new wireless mouse and memory too.
>
>

Glad you got it sorted out.

M

So am I. With all the services that I cancelled, and the extra memory, the computer (dual P 3.5Ghz) is like a new machine. Thanks for everyones patience. It was a stressful time for me. Helped to have somewhere to
report progress to!
Tim

hi i have the same problem,
try making another admin acount from safe mode and see if it works on that account, my hunch is that the previous update corrupted the file for the taskbar. if the taskbar still freezes i'd restore it to factory default.

Well that is what I thought but if it were a Windows update the net would be teeming with threads like this just recently, when in fact there are a stream of them from a long time ago. Good luck.