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Moving and Resizing the Task Bar
The Task Bar is the bar that appears across the bottom of the
screen, the one with the Start Button on the left-hand side. Through
the Start Button, the Task Bar allows access to all the programs and
Settings on your computer. It may contain the Quick Launch Toolbar,
featuring Shortcuts to activate selected programs with a single
click (these appear to the right of the Start Button), as well as
the System Tray (to the far right), which displays the time along
with various programs that run unobserved in the background (your
anti-virus program for example). The Task Bar can be moved and
resized to suit your preferences. In fact, many people do this by
accident and have no idea how to return it to its original size and
position. To move your Task Bar, left-click on an empty spot on the
bar and hold the mouse button down. Holding the left mouse button
down, move the cursor to the Top, Right, or Left of the screen. When
you see the shaded gray line appear in the desired position, release
the left mouse button to reposition the Task Bar. The Task Bar can
be returned to its original position in the same way. If your Task
Bar has the Quick Launch Toolbar activated, start by clicking in the
large area between the Quick Launch Toolbar and the System Tray
(past the raised gray line).
Note: Windows XP starts with the Task Bar locked by
default, meaning you cannot reposition it without unlocking it.
To unlock the Task Bar, right-click on the Task Bar to bring up its
menu, and then left-click on "Lock the Taskbar" to remove the check
mark and unlock the bar. The Task Bar can be changed in size
as well, and this too is sometimes done by accident.
Position the cursor along the top edge of the Task Bar until it
becomes a black, double-headed arrow. Left-click
and, holding the left mouse button down, move the cursor. The gray line that appears indicates the new size of the Task
Bar. Release the mouse button
to set the size. The Task Bar
can be returned to its original size in the same way.
(Another common mistake is to resize the Task Bar right off the
screen. When this happens, the
Task Bar can still be selected and resized back onto the screen, exactly as
described above. Just position
the cursor near the edge of the screen until the black, double-headed arrow
appears, then click and drag the Task Bar back into position.)
To
access more Task Bar controls, right-click on either the Quick Launch
Toolbar, the programs in the System Tray, or on the Task Bar itself.
Choosing Properties from the Task Bar pop-up Menu enables such
choices as keeping the Task Bar “Always on Top,” or “Auto hide,”
which keeps the Task Bar hidden unless the cursor is positioned over the
area where the Task Bar will appear.
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