It's the taskbar. You have to get your cursor in the right place before you can click and drag it. Try an open space near the clock. If you can't find a place where it works right click on an empty space on the taskbar and make sure 'lock the taskbar' isn't checked. After you get it where you want it go back and check 'lock the taskbar' and it shouldn't move.

can't get down,so frustrating,and feel so damn stupid.

ok before you can drag it or move it anywhere you have to first click on lock the task bar so that it is UN locked then you can move it, till you UN lock it you can not move it anywhere. Once you have it set to UN lock then you can drag it back to the bottom by grabbing it in a clear area of the task bar. To un lock simply click any clear spot on the task bar to see the option to Lock the taskbar> uncheck that.

O K i quit! i've tried everything ya'll said..........i can't do it

is there no longer a check mark in front of lock taskbar? the taskbar must be unlocked before you can move it so there has to be NO check mark in front of lock taskbar.

check the link I provide in the helpful area for microsoft xp directions

this might be helpful also
taskbar info

here is a video of how to do it
video

Here is a link that might be useful: microsoft directions

Hey Patricia relax a little so you can enjoy that fantastic machine you have. When things go wrong and you get flustered you should walk away for a while, even a long while if needed.

Just quietly sit there and run through Bob's and ravencajun's comments and then apply things one at a time. I fully understand your frustrations, my wife gets terribly frustrated with her computer. She does have one big advantage though, she just tells me to "fix it" LOL

Remember there are no stupid questions regarding computers. If you are unsure of the instructions come back and tell us which part you are having trouble with, perhaps it just needs to be explained differently.

You can do this

Hi Granny... Maybe this will help you. The pic below shows a shot of your thread with my taskbar at the bottom. Please read steps 1-2.

{{gwi:1478003}}

Now click on VIDEO in Raven's post above. When it opens, you will see the title MOVING THE TASKBAR BACK TO THE BOTTOM. Notice that
Leo's taskbar is along the right side. Make sure you don't lift your finger off the button when you left click on the taskbar to drag it to the bottom.
{{gwi:1478005}}

Remember that you just need to get close to the bottom, and it will jump into place. If you found this forum, YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :)

OK guys,got the task bar in the bottom,now another problem.when i get on AOL the task bar is hidden under that screen.how do i get it back right?i'm just a pain in the butt.........thanks again,patricia

Right click on an empty spot on the task bar, click properties and make sure 'keep the taskbar on top of other windows' is checked.

hey bob,it worked!now see if ya can help me with another problem guys.since all this happened,when you click "start" it's different than before.on the left side in blue it says "windows xp home edition"i don't have a problem with that but some of my stuff i use often is gone.like window washer,my husbands solitare,and a few other things..can ya'll help me fix it? TIA

You are not stupid, PCs are built to make us look stupid. LOL My Sis told me when I bought my first computer to buy a note pad and write information down because when you fix something it maybe 6 mos or a year before you need it again and its hard to remember. I still have my note book, don't need it anymore, but there's plenty of new stuff, to confuse me. I have also learn to google my problems, I enjoy researching things.

Patricia that area on the left when you click the start button shows what ever programs you have most recently used so as you use your programs say the solitaire it will again show up there, so go ahead and use your regular programs and they should be back there soon. You can always find all your programs by clicking start then the all programs then find them in the lists there and click on them from there or you may have a shortcut to some of them on your desktop.
You can make a shortcut to your desktop for any program, just find the program in the list in all programs then right click on the icon for the program from that menu you will see send to and if you put the cursor on that it gives some options to the side one is desktop (create shortcut) select that one, now you will have a icon on your desktop for that program and it will be easy to access.

Talk about great timing.......just lost my task bar, and had a moment of panic. Thought I would ask you, and here was the answer I needed! Thanks a heap.

I have learned so much from this thread. You guys are wonderful, patient teachers. And Woodsgranny - thanks for asking your questions.

I have also had my task bar on AOL disappear since I got a new computer in January. I thought I needed to call AOL (not something I relished so I put it off and did an annoying temporary fix). My temporary fix had involved signing off - and resigning in. What a pain that was. Well next time I'll know how to fix that.

Abreeze - I am in awe of how you got pictures of the computer screen - with inserted instructions. That required several steps - none of which I have a clue about. But there is one I'd like to learn because it's come up several times. Is there an easy way to take a picture/shot of a current computer screen? This came up first when I was having somebody design a website for me. Everytime I brought the site up, it displayed differently than when the designer did it (and she was in a different state). She had wanted me to take a screen shot - but I had no idea how? It's come up since then as well - so maybe it would a good thing to learn (if it's relatively simple).

I'm such a computer dummie that I didn't realize that patricia's aol taskbar problem was different than mine. So I still need help with mine. Sometimes when I'm on AOL - and searching the net, etc - the tool bar disappears - so I don't have access to the browser, reading or writing mail, etc. I have no idea why it sometimes disappears. But as I said above - what I've been doing to restore it is sign off my AOL account - and then sign back on. That restores the toolbar.

Another thing that happens (a bit less often - but maybe once a week) -is that all my toolbar favorite settings disappear -and it goes back to the default choices AOL provides. Anyone know why this happens or how I can fix it. I've been just gradually replacing the ones I can remember - but they're not all that easy and it's time-consuming.

Thanks.
Lynn.

Lynnalexandrs taking a screen shot is remarkably easy. Simply hit the 'Print screen' or 'PRN SCRN' button next to the F12 button and you have it on your clipboard.

Now open your photo editing program, use Paint if you really must, but the free Irfanview is so much better.

In Paint or Irfanview click Edit an the top then Paste, there is your screen shot. With Irfanview or any good photo editing software you can crop to only the portion you want.

if you want to just put your screen capture directly into an email to send to someone all you do is while on the screen you want to capture do as owbist said hit the prt scr button then do nothing else, go to your email open the new email to write and put the cursor in the body of the email box then right click and hit paste, it will paste the screen capture in the email body.

there are some good little freebie programs out there that are even better than the regular print screen on your pc. Some that I like are
Gadwin printscreen
http://www.aplusfreeware.com/categories/mmedia/FastStoneCapture.html

http://www.wisdom-soft.com/downloads/downloadfiles.htm

those are some good safe choices for anyone looking for a nice screencapture utility.

Personally I am usually on my linux pc and I dearly love ksnapshot, I wish they had a windows version, there is a gnome version too but I don't use gnome.

LYNN I have never ever used an AOL browser, toolbar, email or anything else AOL related so I can not help you.

which program are you using to do your tutorials?

there are several available just was wondering which one you like.

hey guys,got another one.i know it's simple,but,when you're a "dummie"it's not.i had my great grandaughter the weekend and she played on my keyboard.when i go to this forum,ebay,even aol page...i can hardly read,even w/glasses.the letters are aooo small.please tell e it's an easy fix.
lynn i think lots of our problems are AOL.but i have to keep it 'cause that's what ilearned on(still trying)i just fear internet explorer.
waiting for one of you computer whizzes to help me,thanks,patricia

A temporary fix is hold down the Ctrl key and hit the + key. The more times you hit it the larger the text will get. you can roll the mouse wheel if you prefer (holding down the Ctrl key).

Here's a more permanent fix. I've never used the AOL browser so I had to look it up.
Change Text Size in AOL

1. Under 'My AOL' in the AOL Toolbar, select Preferences.
2. Then click on the WWW icon in the scrolling list on the left.
3. On the right, click on Advanced Settings. A dialog box will appear with a collection of controls on the right and a column of options on the left.
4. Select the Browser Display option on the left.
5. You can set the Text Size to 'Large' or 'Largest' for more comfortable reading.
6. Click the OK button in the Advanced Settings dialog box and then click the OK button in the Preferences dialog box to make your new settings take effect.

if she was playing with the mouse I bet she changed your text size with it.

Just hold down the ctrl button and turn the wheel on your mouse it will make it larger and smaller as you turn it.

ravencajun,I DID IT!thanks,i couldn't find it on the the AOL toolbar.by the way ravencajun,where are you from?

Raven, I have so much to learn about computering! I do a lot of trial and error! :) The reply I wrote to Patricia (this thread) took me forever... I did a print screen and pasted it into Paint. I didn't know you could type text in Paint, so I was doing text boxes in Word and trying to paste them in Paint. It was a mess. Finally, I tried an icon in Paint and discovered that it was for text! More trial and error followed when I attempted to draw arrows.

I enjoy reading this forum and have learned a great deal from it. When I have a question, I do a search here and also Google it. It always amazes me what I find! This forum and Google have been my computer lifeline! :) I also check the Help index in software. I love what is being written in the Tips and Tricks thread. I would love to be able to share something... Thanks for asking! :)

Patricia good for you Yea!!! I am originally from a small town in South Louisiana down on the bayou in Cajun country and I am a Cajun,my family all still lives there, I now live in the Dallas area.

Abreeze and those of you wanting to be able to do nice little tutorials you might want to look at Wink, it is free and you can do some really neat stuff with it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wink

Owbist and Ravencajun - thanks for the guidance on doing screenschots. I don't use paint or irfanview. Right now I'm primarily using the Camedia software my camera came up (and only very simply to rotate and crop). Occasionally I've done that with Picasa. But I really am close to illiterate with computers and have not ventured further into photoediting. But that was one of my goals for 2008 - top catch up with technology. (Alright - I'll never catch up, but to make some digital progress.)

My first task of the year was to get a professional website. Now I didnt' do the design or programming, but to write and arrange content was a big accomplishment for me. Next was digital music. I've learned how to set file type and bit rate for recording cd's to computer (or downloading music). And I've learned to make playlists on itunes. I still want to learn to make digital recordings of my albums - and figure out making cd covers.

My other goal was a little more familiarity with photo editing. But I haven't even decided which software to use. I was considering photoshop elements. Any opinions? Mostly I'll want to do simple editing, cropping and organizing of photos. If I knew how to photoshop in different colored walls in a picture of my house - that would be great too. If I could add words to a photo - also good. That's probably all I aspire to.

Just a final word on my illiteracy. I never used an F key before. I've had no idea what they do. Also the first time I noticed a "print screen" button.

Thanks for the help.
Lynn.

PS - if I get far enough, maybe I'll have the courage to look into firefox - which I understand is vastly superior to AOL - but like Patricia, it would be one more thing to learn.

Lynn a good way to get a start on working with photos is to download the free program Irfanview. Here is a link to a tutorial and you can download Irfanview on the same page. Be sure to get the plug ins also: Irfanview tutorial.

just can't show enough appreciation to ALL of you,thanks so much.don't think i feel quiet so dum anymore.still have a pocket full of questions,but leaving for baton rouge tomorrow for a few days,a cousin w/ cancer.
raven,send me an email,can't stand it,got to know where you're from.i live in sulphur,ls.,almost in texas.

another great free program for working with photos is Gimp, I use it in linux but they also have the windows version.

if you do google searches for "gimp tutorials" you will find some help on how to use it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gimp download

Lynn you are daring to explore and that is possibly the greatest asset for a computer user. Keep right on doing that. Regarding photo editing you should possibly consider Irfanview and it's plugins as Bob414 has suggested. Sure it has limitations but as a starter it can be a boon and it is free. Ravencajun's Gimp is a full blown program with a steep learning curve, excellent for later but right now we have no wish to scare you off LOL.

If by 'CD covers' you mean the adhesive labels I use the Memorex exPressit package which comes with 120 cd labels, spline case front labels. This also includes a CD of sotware. Regular $20 but I got some in Big Lots for $10. They come 2 sets per letter page sized paper.

Lynn, I apologize for not replying sooner to your above post, but I knew that Owbist and RavenÂs answers were much better than mine would have been. If you would have seen me working on the pictures and text for the above post, you would have laughed and shaken your head at my floundering efforts! :) After reading through the Irfanview Tutorial that Bob gave, I think IÂm going to download it and give it a go. The tutorial indicated that screen capture (IrfanviewÂs name for print screen) does a much cleaner job than the Print Screen key on our computers.

This is what I did: Opened All Programs, moved mouse up to Accessories, and selected Paint from the drop-down dialog. I found the place in the Computer Forum thread that I wanted to capture and hit my Print Screen key. I returned to Paint and did a Control V to paste the shot. Next I did a right click on my Taskbar and took a Print Screen of the Taskbar dialog box. I added that to screen shot of the Forum thread. My first attempts at adding text were terrible. Finally I did this:

{{gwi:1478007}}

(I started saving the Paint image in My Pictures.) In order not to lose the Computer Forum thread in which I was posting, I opened a new internet window so that I could go to the VIDEO site that Raven posted. (I wanted to take a Print Screen to help the reader spot the Video play button.) I pasted the shot in Paint below the earlier pic. In the space between the two pics I typed some things for the reader to consider. Next I basically followed the steps outlined above and added text to the Video shot. Then I joined Photobucket (free). After you join you will see this window:
{{gwi:1478010}}
CHOOSE FILES to upload. Photobucket says when the image has uploaded. Next click the HTML Code. Paste in Forum. (You could practice in Test Forum.) I've tried to make this brief--hope it's clear! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Test Forum

Nice tutorial abreeze!

Good work abreeze, I had never used Irfanview for my screenshots. But as it loads much faster than my Corel PhotoPaint I may well use it from here on.

I did not see any difference in quality using 2 methods. First I used the Irfanview/Options/Screen capture then CTRL + F11. Then I tried again using my Print Screen button and Edit/Paste. Either way is good leaving it up to personal preferences.

Wow - this is great info. Now can any of you wizards help me create a 28 hour day so I can spend real time on this? Just kidding. But it is going to take more time to try all the above. If I could master it, I could even help my mother - who, at 76, is great at searching the internet for information -and great about reading and writing emails - but is scared of things like downloading a picture, has no idea how to cut and paste, etc., will never attempt digital photography,etc.

For my digital photography needs, it sounds like irfanview is the way to start - rather than photoshop elements. I am less concerned with spending money on photoshop elements (assuming it's under $100) - if it's a better program than irfanview - but maybe it's not. I was thinking I didn't want to have to learn one program and then later decide I was better off learning a different program. maybe I need to start with easy first - and then progress.

So maybe next week (I'm headed off for vacation tomorrow) I might take a stab at it. So Irfanview rather than photoshop elements? (And maybe some day I'll try minimal home video editing.)

Thanks everyone.
Lynn.