Taskbar At The Bottom Of Screen Unresponsive - Windows 8.1
Jun 23, 2014
The taskbar at the bottom of my screen is unresponsive for the last week, despite the fact that I've shut down and restarted my pc many times. It is extremely annoying to switch between windows without the use of the taskbar; I need to go back to the desktop and click from there. I'm using Windows 8.1.
The icons on the taskbar at the bottom of my screen become distorted. They'll generate copies of themselves, overlap other icons, and the start menu button disappears. Whenever I try to click an icon, it opens the icon to its left, as if the mouse needs to be calibrated. When I open the start menu, every time I scroll my mouse across a shortcut, it disappears. Poof. Just like that. I scroll my mouse over the icons a few more times, and usually, they'll come back, but if I scroll again, they disappear once more. Thus, I'm not able to open any programs from the start menu. Additionally, my background (which I normally have cycling through a folder of wallpapers) goes completely black.
This happens without warning; sometimes I'm playing video games and it happens when I alt-tab, sometimes I'm browsing the internet and it happens randomly, once I was just looking at my screen without running any programs or tasks and it happened. It will fix itself anywhere from a span of 2 minutes to half an hour.
I'm running 8.1 on an HP desktop, with IE version 11.0.2.
Some time in the past week or so, the bar at the bottom of the page when I am in a browser session, launched from the desktop, no longer appears. It's the one that usually shows the Connection, Safe to Eject, my Norton status, Volume icons, date/time, etc. I use automatic Windows updates, so I'm kind of assuming it was something there that did it...but don't know for sure.
All I want to know is How Do I Get It Back? I especially need that volume control icon, so I can mute all the ads when I open a news video on Yahoo, Bing, or MSN.
This bar shows just fine when I'm looking at the Desktop screen, just not in the browsers.
i am running windows 8 on my Toshiba Satellite L 300 , it was running smoothly and all its features are good too. but suddenly the screen turns out a solid color based on the color which was on desktop ( for example if i am having a yellowish theme, the solid color will be yellow ) .. i have seen a lot white and light yellow color the most when the screen change . after the color change the total system will be unresponsive, the only way i find is to press the power button for 2 seconds, ( ya full power off ) ... again if i start the system, may be it will work perfectly for a long time but suddenly again it happened..
the problem start before two weeks, i thought it may be due to some software error and i done a full system reboot and i don't have any program installed except windows 8, but still it exists. .. now i am sure that problem is somewhere in windows OS or my hardware ... i am unable to find whats going on ..
One month ago, I installed Windows 8 with media center pack in HP Pavilion DV 2519tu Laptop. At the beginning it was running fine. But from last 10 days, the Key options at the bottom of welcome screen has not shown. What i think it may be due to some wrong software
After updating my GPU driver (and I think, it failed) this red tint appeared It's only at the bottom though, it doesn't affect the whole screen.
It appears at startup and everywhere. It doesn't appear in an external monitor.
I have two graphics cards: Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M The NVIDIA is the one I updated recently.
I also tried reinstalling the NVIDIA driver but I don't know if I reinstalled it properly.
Yeah it's a laptop. A Samsung laptop.
Anyway, is this hardware related or software related? Maybe the failed installation is just a coincidence. I also have problems of ants entering my laptop so maybe they messed up the inside.
I think this may relate to updating this netbook from Win 8 to 8.1 (but I updated very soon after purchasing so not certain). Basically after several minutes of use, the Touchscreen doesn't respond to touch anymore. I can still use trackpad but no touchscreen.
I have installed latest updates (and drivers from Lenovo site), but still no joy. I've also tried recalibrating touch screen (via Control Panel app) but this hasn't worked (and "reset" option is greyed out).
This just randomly happened today while I was moving around files on an external drive. This is what the first few rows of icons should look like, but it's like everything under the word "Start" was moved down and partially off the screen. I don't know how to get it back, or which process to attempt restarting (is the Start screen handled by the explorer.exe process?). Also, the right - click menu (which is usually on the bottom) is completely hidden, so I can't use any of that functionality.
I built my PC from scratch on Friday 18th April. On the evening of 21st April I turned my PC on and saw a USB error popping up in a yellow box on the bottom right of my screen. This error was popping up every 5 se conds without fail.
I tried to uninstall the drivers for all USB ports and reinstall but this didn't work. Instead I inspected the error from my Device Manager and read this:
"Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43) A request for the USB device descriptor failed." ((Port_#0011.Hub_#0003)) My USB devices
I have a Gigabyte H87 3HD Motherboard, a Nvidia GTX 760 graphics card, Intel i5 4440 Quad core processor, EVGA 650w Power Supply. I have Windows 8.1 64-bit as an OS.
With all my USB devices plugged in or without ANY plugged in, the error still pops up regardless. This leads me to believe it could be a problem with the motherboard itself.
I have tried the following solutions:
On and Off againUpdated BIOS to F6 VersionUpdated Windows 8.1Updated Chipset + all DriversWindows Hot FixesUsing CMD and NetMon to asses the USB portsSystem restore
I even right clicked on the error on the Device Manager, uninstalled and the error was still pinging up. Is my computer haunted? None of these have worked. I feel like I have exhausted all my options hence why I have named the thread as such.
Recently my laptop is giving me a problem. I was cleaning it up by uninstalling unused programs and deleting documents and files no longer needed. After doing all this and running CCleaner, I restarted by laptop. I noticed that it took an unusually long time to start up and log in. When it finally logged in, I was a at a blank purple screen... my Start screen. I was able to open the task manager and get to the desktop where my background is just black, but i have the taskbar. The taskbar only has the start button, which I cannot press, and the battery, internet, sound icons on the lower right.
I am unable to click any of these icons though. I cannot access the charms bar or anything Windows 8 Start menu related. No icons or programs are there for me to click, so the only way to access anything is by beginning a new task from the task manager. I tried to restore my laptop, but it did not fix the problem. So then I decided to do a factory reset (I saved all important files to a flash stick), but Windows 8 requires a media or installation disc, which I do not have because I downloaded the Windows 8 update. I do not think accidentally deleted any important files originally, because I was mainly just deleting from My Documents. How can I reset the laptop without the installation disc, or how can I obtain an installation disc without having to rebuy Windows 8?
So I am using Windows 8 not pro, and I have moved the task bar to the top off my screen and set to autohide, but now when ever anything opens windows places it at the top of the screen and underneath the taskbar, is there a way to make windows open down the screen slightly, as I fight with the task bar to move the window.
The "Pin to Taskbar" function, though always available for programs, appears temperamental in regard to data files (txt, doc, pdf). At the moment I find that if I pin a file to Start, the "Pin to Taskbar" option will then appear if I right-click it on the Start Screen or All-Apps Screen (though it still won't appear in the Desktop environment). But I'm sure I've tried that before and it didn't work then.
At any rate, on one occasion (January 9th) I was able to pin two files to the Taskbar from the All-Apps Screen (after making them appear there by putting shortcuts to them in the Start Menu folder). And yet -- although those two files are still on my Taskbar -- that method fails to work now!
I've recently purchased a Samsung Series 7 all-in-one computer. Having used iMacs all my life, and the need for a Windows computer for programming, I opted for this machine.
Here is a screenshot of my specs before I continue:
At times the system is unresponsive. All I have open is Visual Studio Express 2012 and Chrome with 4 tabs open. When I switch to Visual Studio it has to restart and crashes. The application I'm developing is tiny, so it's not an issue with that. Sometimes when using Chrome if I open a new tab the whole computer will freeze for 20 odd seconds.
Even when I ctrl+alt+del to open task manager, the task manager takes some time to open.
I've disabled visual effects, but I've not noticed much difference. It came with 4GB ram, but I got another 4GB to top it up to 8GB.
In comparison to my 2010 Sony Vaio laptop this computer is much slower. I can't understand why.
I'm tempted to downgrade to Windows 7 but then I will lose my touch features, and I will have to purchase Windows 7.
Some weeks ago, I noticed an odd problem with my taskbar.
While using my laptop at home, I use an exterior monitor to extend my desktop, and usually set the monitor as my primary. Occasionally, I would notice that my open apps would appear to be greyed-out (and therefore un-clickable) on my secondary screen. All the pinned apps would be full colour, but would only respond to clicking as if I was starting a new version of the app (e.g. a new browser window rather than switching to the existing one).
It appears as though a second "ghost" taskbar was over top the main one, and only on one screen. This ghost taskbar would block any attempt to click on the taskbar underneath. Unlocking the taskbar and moving it, for example, to the side, would confirm this as the ghost taskbar would drag and snap to the edge, leaving the normal taskbar at the bottom of the (same) screen.
The ghost taskbar would disappear (or perhaps merely move behind the main taskbar) if the taskbar is swapped with the primary screen (causing the tray to move over).
A reload of Windows Explorer via Task Manager seems to be a temporary fix, as is restarting the computer. However, this issue may appear multiple times per session, and within a short time of any reload/restart. This also does not seem to occur when using only the laptop screen.
I do not run any desktop customization software, and have triple-checked for any Windows, Microsoft, or driver updates. I am moderately competent in doing repairs to the computer so long as I have reasonably detailed instructions on how to do the fix.
I have 32-bit Windows 8 and it keeps freezing/ becoming unresponsive... my Comp specs are: HDD1: 125GB HDD2: 60GB HDD3: 60GB Graphics: 1024 MB DDR3 GeForce GT 520 RAM: 4GB DDR2 Processor: 3.20GHz Intel Celeron D Usual activity: Gaming/Media streaming ISP of 100 MB up and 100 MB Down...
I usually play minecraft all the time along with chatting with freinds on skype for most of my day. i mainly use it for those reasons, i really never use it for anything else. My antivirus is Avast Internet security PRO...
Recently, my UPS stopped working for unknown reasons, so while i sent it to repair, my computer had no backup power. Then, there was a storm here that made the lights flicker in a way that my computer shut down abruptly. Not only that, for 5 seconds it turned on and off really quickly. I was playing fallout 3 when that happened, and when i tried playing it again, my save game had corrupted.
That was not the issue though. After this, my windows installation feels unresponsive. Weird little things happen, like sometimes i enter a website's address in chrome and hit enter, yet nothing happens, a white screen loads. I have to refresh, then it works.
Also, sometimes menus don't work, like i hit Apply or Ok, but nothing happens, then i wait like 10 seconds then it works again.
Another issue is my video card. It seems to have gotten loud when i play video games, i downloaded HWMonitor and it got up to 84 C, which isn't melting temperature but it's still pretty high. (it never got past 75 on high load, now it goes up to 80 for non-intensive games).
Okay, so I just recently installed my Windows 8.1 Update 1 OS to my PC. It's been going great, most of my favorite apps and games installed and worked perfectly. But I've been getting this bug rather frequently, but don't know from where it all begins.
The OS functions normally at first, but then after I switch from a few metro apps to the desktop, and then back, I lose all control with corner functions. What I mean to say is, the task switcher charms, or the charms bar, or the start button or actually even the ability to close the app by pushing it down... nothing seems to work. The app functions normally and I can use my keyboard to Alt+Tab out of the mess, but this keeps happening.
When I try to update windows and click "install updates" after about a second the update window in the picture, freezes and becomes unresponsive .
Everything else works on the computer just the windows update window freezes. So after a while, it actually got passed the freeze somehow, Now its been stuck on "downloading 13 updates ( 0kb total, 0% complete)
Earlier today my Asus x551m laptop stopped working; the cursor arrow is still visible and movable, but nothing is clickable, ctrl-alt-delete does nothing, and this laptop does not have an easily removable battery that would allow for a hard reset. Also, when I hold the laptop up to my ear, it is completely silent as if it's not even running. It's been like this for almost 3 hours, and I'm hoping that it will be ok once the battery dies and I power it on again.
I have an ASUS laptop running 8.0 which I am running with a second screen (dell monitor) connected via VGA. I have it set so the external monitor is the primary screen and the laptop is the secondary screen. It is set for a taskbar on each display, with the primary taskbar containing the shortcuts on the monitor, so when I click them they open there. It's been working fine for months.
So I switched it on today and my taskbar shortcuts have jumped to the taskbar on the second (laptop) screen, however my external display is still set as the primary and still has my desktop icons, trashcan etc but a blank taskbar (like the one that used to be on the secondary display)! When I click the shortcuts which are now on the taskbar of the laptop screen they open on the monitor. (ie the wrong screen) I disconnected the monitor, turned off the extended desktop and set it to just use the laptop screen. All my desktop icons moved to the laptop screen but the taskbar shortcuts vanished and I was left with a blank taskbar. If I plug the monitor in again and extend the desktop they reappear, but on the wrong screen. Even if I reboot without the external screen connected I get no shortcuts until I plug in the monitor and set it to extend the desktop. I have checked all the taskbar settings and they are all correct.
About two weeks ago when I right-clicked in the bottom-left corner there would be a menu that would pop up. Now it just moves my mouse a little bit and dosen't do anything.
This menu was really useful...It held things like My Computer, Run, Command Prompt etc.
I updated to the windows 8.1 preview but it was working when I did that. about a week after I got the preview it did this.
I was using the computer, when the power went out for like half a second, the computer ended up restarting, and while starting up, the power went out. When the power came back, I wasn't able to get past the Blue window's icon with a swirly loop on the bottom.
I've created a repair install thing and placed it on a flashdrive, and I've booted from it and tried to do system restore. After around 4-5 hours, a blue screen pops up and said something about window's encountering an error. (Too fast to catch what else it may of said)
What can I do to make my computer work again? Should I try to do another system restore. Also how long does it take to boot from the flashdrive? It takes me around 1 hour. Is it supposed to take so long?
Basically every app i open, every little things i do, would end up being unresponsive for up to a minute, then it would work for a few seconds and freeze again. I cant surf the web, play games, or even go to the start menu without everything freezing on me. Heck, typing a 3 letter word would take an eternity.
I've done a ton of research and did everything i can think of to fix this issue. I've refreshed my windows not once, or twice, but THREE times and this problem persists. After the refresh everything would go smoothly for a day then everything gets progressively unreponsive. I've also booted in safe mode and ran both malwarebytes and superantispyware. The scans ended with a few threats and ive quarantined and deleted every malware.
Next thing i did was doing the sfc /scannow in command prompt. It detected some corrupted files and successfuly fixed it yet the problem still persists. My last hope was upgrading to windows 8.1 but alas, but even that didnt do the job. Everything is not responding and its driving me nuts.
I'm typing this under safe mode with networking (everything seems to be completely smooth and responsive in safe mode).
Only just a few days ago did this problem begin. During any session, my wireless adapter will become totally unresponsive and then all of my media connections will become inactive and disconnected. I try to run an ipconfig and it just lists everything as disconnected.
I am thinking that this isn't a driver problem because the wireless internet works up until this happens. I use a d-link usb-wireless adapter but that shouldn't be the problem because even my ethernet becomes disconnected when this issue occurs.
I've installed Windows 8 on an xtreemer ultra media center. It's connected to a projector and a touch screen monitor in duplicate screen mode. Sometimes I would like to keep projector off and only use monitor.
Problem is when I turn off the projector. You hear the sound that windows detects a disconnected device. The image changes to a clean desktop (used to be lock screen, but I disabled that). And system becomes unresponsive. No cursor can be found. No metro interface. Microsoft+p is not displaying. Tried everything I can think of.
Ever since I got Windows 8 Pro 64 bit, it's turned my computer into Ricky Retardo.
When I click on the Metro tiles for People, Photos, Video, Games, whatever ... it grows to fill the whole screen, and then immediately closes again like nothing was supposed to happen. I figured I needed to restart my computer. That didn't fix it.
Then I installed the Windows Media Center 8 with the promo code and everything. When you first start it, it tries to setup, and asks you whether or not you want Express or Custom installation. Picking either or on both options causes the entire program to go unresponsive and crash.
I have a retail version of Windows 8 pro. All updates have been applied. I have a 128g SSD and several SATA3 hard drives in my system. Often I'll be working on my PC and a program like photoshop or thunderbird or even explorer become unresponsive and greys out and sometimes if I wait long enough it comes back but only for a short while before it happens again.
Many times it will happen when I am accessing the file structure, i.e. file > open and other times it will happen in an explorer window when trying to access a random folder, i.e. I can browse the c:windows folder but not the c:windowssystem32, but after waiting a bit it shows up.
Sometimes this happens with other (non system) drives.
Also, when I try to open task mgr or event viewer or many built in OS executables I immediately get an error stating:
c:windowssystem32 askmgr.exe (or mmc.exe, etc.) The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion
A reboot fixes this problem, but only for a short while. It may even be that this only happens after coming back from sleep but I haven't spent enough time in front of the machine post-boot but pre-sleep to know for sure.
I have had some intermittent issues with coming back from sleep where either the monitors (video card is HD7870 and mobo is ASRock Z77 Pro 3 - firmware up to date) never initialize or I get the splash login screen but my usb keyboard doesn't recognize input to allow for the password prompt and the mouse cursor moves but clicking does nothing.
Does it sound like a mobo hardware issue with hybrid sleep? I like the hybrid sleep with my SSD for fast boot and wakes but I'm at a loss. Also, I had RTM before the retail version with all the same hardware and never had any of these issues.
One thought is maybe disconnecting a drive to see if its a bus issue where one drive is causing the others to become really slow reads/writes???
Oddly, my chrome browser never seems effected by this.I have also tried disabling my Avast AV s/w just to be sure it isn't that.