I opened up Task Manager, using ctrl+alt+dlt. I touched a key, or 2 keys on the keyboard accidentally, it must have been a toggle function, because all of the manager disappeared apart from the pane with running programs in it. It is literally just a box with the programs in it - no bar at the top, only the 'end task' 'switch to' and 'new task' buttons remain.... anyone know how I can get it back to its original state?

Shiv

Open Task Manager and double click right above Status. That should bring back the tool bar for you

Oh, so simple yet so effective!! Bloody microsoft, you think they'd put a button at least.

Thanks a lot

Your welcome Shiv, I'm glad I was able to help