Minimized programs not going to taskbar

[Angela61299]

Hi. I have a user on Windows 95 who is having a problem. When she minimizes her applications they do not go to the taskbar. It appears that the applications close; however, she can use Alt + Tab to move between the programs so they are still open. I found an article about this on Microsoft's site that said the problem was caused by an installed program but it only gave three possible culprits and my user has neither of them.

She told me she tried to download something the day before the problem began occurring called Cool Downloads and in order to do that she had to download the Install Shield. She said she got an error during this process yet Cool Downloads still appeared in her Control Panel under Add/Remove Programs. I tried having her uninstall the Cool Downloads but it hung before it completely finished so we manually deleted any remnants of it and the Install Shield but we are still having the problem. Is there anything I can do besides reload her computer? Thanks

 

[crisc]

Many programs utilize InstallShield to keep track of files the program creates, so when its time to uninstall the software, it knows where these files and reg entries are. I'm not sure why you would need to download InstallShield though, it's usually intgrated into the program. However, if this download failed, this would explain why the uninstall didn't work completely. Try "downloading" whatever it is that failed the 1st time, reinstall "cool downloads" (sounds like crapware to me), then uninstall it again. Hopefully this was the change that she made to her PC that is causing this.

 

[Angela61299]

I had her re-download the application. This time we were able to uninstall it successfully however we are still having the problem. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Enkrypted]

I'd run a scandisk and a defrag and see if it corrects the problem...

 

[mudskipper]

I don't know if this is even possible, but could the user have accidentally re-arranged the start bar in such a way that you are just not seeing the minimized programs?

It is amazing what some people can accomplish on accident (and I can't replicate on purpose)! LOL Mudskipper
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Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[Angela61299]

Thanks for your reply. This user is in Texas and I am in Maryland so I can't rule out that she rearranged the taskbar because I can't see it; however, I have had her stretch it out in every way I can think of and she still doesn't see any applications. Thanks.

 

[mudskipper]

Well then, I'm sure her taskbar is very large. After all, everything is big in Texas! Sorry, couldn't resist! LOL Mudskipper
___________________________________________________________________________________

Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[Angela61299]

I tried the scandisk and the defrag but it didn't help. Thanks anyway!