Resolved disappearing XP taskbar by restoring explorer.exe, but didn't work this time

I read online to use File > New Task from Task Manager to bring back explorer.exe when the taskbar disappears. (That normally happens when closing an Explorer window at a time when the system is not performing well.)

The first time I tried it, it worked and brought the taskbar back. Now the taskbar has died again, and I've resurrected explorer.exe this way, but still no appearance of the taskbar.

What's going on, and how do I get the taskbar back? This taskbar crashing has been going on over a year.

 

Re: Resolved disappearing XP taskbar by restoring explorer.exe, but didn't work this

Since you're running XP like I am, Press the Windows button and go to Control Panel. Double click on Taskbar and Start Menu and see if Auto Hide the Taskbar is checked (it usually is by default). Uncheck it, click Apply then OK and see if that solves your issue (see attached).

 

Re: Resolved disappearing XP taskbar by restoring explorer.exe, but didn't work this

Thanks for that great suggestion. In this case, I went on ahead and killed explorer.exe again with Task Manager. Then when I rewrote explorer.exe in Task Manager, the taskbar returned. But next time I will follow your advice on going to Control Panel.

It's great to have knowledge so that I'm no longer totally helpless when that happens.