How do you fix the taskbar and start button on the computer?

Question

ok I am USUALLY pretty computer literate. I have read the answers to this same question, NONE of them work. My taskbar is double its normal size the weindow open on top, quick launch under. USUALLY the double-arrow dragging down to normal size works, but not this time. It either stays the same size, or disappears completely. I am able to move to all sides of the screen, but double the size. Please help it's driving me CRAZY!!

I do NOT want to restart (I know its usually a cure all) But I have too many things going on on this system right now

Answer 1

You may have enlarged it than locked it.
right-click on the taskbar to see if it is locked.
If it is, click to unlock then drag down.
If it is not locked, here is information on how to manage the taskbar:

Manage the Taskbar

Source: This is an excellent link with good explanations and graphics.
http://www.coolnerds.com/XP/Taskbar/xpTaskbar.htm

Moving and Sizing the Taskbar
Windows XP is very flexible. You can size, color, and position anything to your liking. But you can only move and size things on the taskbar when the taskbar is unlocked. In addition, you can quickly lock, or unlock the taskbar at any time by right-clicking the current time in the lower right corner of your screen and choosing Lock the Taskbar from the shortcut menu that appears. You can tell when the taskbar is unlocked, because sizing handles are invisible, and Lock the Taskbar on the shortcut menu isn't checked.

It's best to keep the taskbar locked when you're not intentionally trying to move or size it. That way, you won't accidentally move or size the taskbar while you're whipping around the screen with the mouse pointer. But just so you know, when the taskbar is unlocked, you can change its height as follows:
3. Move the mouse pointer to the thin bar that appears along the top strip of the taskbar, until the mouse pointer turns to a two-headed arrow.
4. Hold down the left mouse button and drag that top edge up or down until the taskbar is the width you want, then release the mouse button.

Tip: If the taskbar seems "stuck" between double-height, and no height, drag one of the dotted vertical sizing handles up to the row above it. Then drag the top edge of the taskbar down a notch.

To move the entire unlocked taskbar to another edge of the screen, move the mouse pointer to some empty spot on the taskbar (not on a button or icon). Then hold down the left mouse button, drag the taskbar to any edge of the screen, and release the mouse button.

Answer 2

It is because the open programs and quick launch are on top of each instead of side by side. To the left of the open programs, you should two rows of dots that you can click and use to drag the open programs so that it is next to the quick launch instead of on top of it.

Once you do that, you should be able to drag the task bar to a single row.

Answer 3

I had that problem once. when I rebooted the task bar was back to normal