and its starting to annoy me. It has happened before and have done a system restore to get rid of it, but we would like to find out what it is instead of keeping restoring it.

Not only has it got a weird toolbar (see attachment) up left hand side, but also some of the icons next to the clock have gone. We have wireless internet and there used to be a computer icon that i could hover over that told me if i was connected, the connection strength and i could disbale the internet from there. We thought we found that part, but its not appeared.

Any advice?

This will remove the Folder Options:

Remove Common Tasks from the Desktop (Line 45)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


You have your Taskbar icons set to hide. Do you know that? Click on the arrow down there.

I have followed the link you have sent me and restarted the computer, but that thing on the right hand side is stil there.

There isnt anything hidden on the bottom toolbar near the clock. There is no arrow to click on.

Any other ideas?

Just noticed on the attachement it is showing an arrow on the bottom right hand corner of the screen. That isnt normally there. In fact that is the first time since the problem occured that i have seen that arrow. It isnt there now and it wasnt there before i took the photo.

Try this one although I believe it is the same edit:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_d...sk_desktop.htm

If that doesn't work I will post the manual edit.

Both these changes suggest that someone or thing is manipulating your Display Properties.

its worked, your a star, thank you sooooo much. Even icon of computer with connection info has appeared.

Any ideas what had happened? I might be able to avoid it next time. lol

Cool! Glad it worked.

As mentioned this behavior indicates someone directly or indirectly has manipulated your Display Options in the registry.

If you are the only User of the computer then this might indicate a malware infection. Do you run a regular virus scan?

Also read this post:

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=32403

If you so desire please post a HijackThis log in that HijackThis section and our Pros over there will let you know if they see anything suspicious.

I am the only to use it and it never leaves the house. It has been acting a bit odd lately. Like its a bit hit and miss if it will actually start up, the lights are on but the screen with stay black. I then have to hold the off button and re-start it. This could happen a few times.

You might want to post a log as noted above in that other section just to see if they find anything.

Also is it an old computer? You can run a diagnostic on your hard drive from the manufacturer's web site.

That type of monitor behavior is sometimes indicative of a communication problem between the BIOS and monitor.

This sometimes occurs with DVI connections.

This could also indicate a troubled Power Supply Unit.

There are many variables when you start up a computer.