Taskbar freezes but programs still function.

My problem comes after playing Call of Duty 2 in vista and installing
(since uninstalled) the Gamespot downloader.

My start menu is blank of both most used programs as well as default
Email and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird). Also since that occurred,
if I try to work with the properties of the new interface; the taskbar
will lockup. All programs running still run but the taskbar and start
button are frozen. Upon calling up the task manager, I see Windows
Explorer using about 96% of the CPU cycles. I don't sem to see the
lockup when i work with the classic menu. I would like to have access to
the most often used programs though.

I have used the malicious software removal tool (nothing found) and a
virus scan by Avast Anti Virus (nothing found with a scan of the common
areas (using a different login account); I will need to do a scan from
the affected account to make sure the user profile is scanned I guess.)

So far only this one account (an administrator account) is affected. All
other account log ins are, so far, unaffected.

Is this a common problem or just a bad situation, caused by what has
been run and installed? Is it possible to fix a single login account
without disrupting the whole system? I have created the system restore
DVD from the partition when the computer was purchased earlier this year .

I know enough computer tech, to know when to ask for advice. So here I
am. Hat in hand asking for your advice.

Thanks
Don

"Don" <> wrote in message
news:a4aIi.19$...
> My problem comes after playing Call of Duty 2 in vista and installing
> (since uninstalled) the Gamespot downloader.
>
> My start menu is blank of both most used programs as well as default Email
> and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird). Also since that occurred, if I try
> to work with the properties of the new interface; the taskbar will
> lockup. All programs running still run but the taskbar and start button
> are frozen. Upon calling up the task manager, I see Windows Explorer using
> about 96% of the CPU cycles. I don't sem to see the lockup when i work
> with the classic menu. I would like to have access to the most often used
> programs though.
>
> I have used the malicious software removal tool (nothing found) and a
> virus scan by Avast Anti Virus (nothing found with a scan of the common
> areas (using a different login account); I will need to do a scan from the
> affected account to make sure the user profile is scanned I guess.)
>
> So far only this one account (an administrator account) is affected. All
> other account log ins are, so far, unaffected.
>
> Is this a common problem or just a bad situation, caused by what has been
> run and installed? Is it possible to fix a single login account without
> disrupting the whole system? I have created the system restore DVD from
> the partition when the computer was purchased earlier this year .
>
> I know enough computer tech, to know when to ask for advice. So here I am.
> Hat in hand asking for your advice.
>
> Thanks
> Don

What about using Compatibility Options in the Preferences Dialog?

Miles Perry wrote:

>
> "Don" <> wrote in message
> news:a4aIi.19$...
> > My problem comes after playing Call of Duty 2 in vista and
> > installing (since uninstalled) the Gamespot downloader.
> >
> > My start menu is blank of both most used programs as well as
> > default Email and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird). Also since
> > that occurred, if I try to work with the properties of the new
> > interface; the taskbar will lockup. All programs running still
> > run but the taskbar and start button are frozen. Upon calling up
> > the task manager, I see Windows Explorer using about 96% of the
> > CPU cycles. I don't sem to see the lockup when i work with the
> > classic menu. I would like to have access to the most often used
> > programs though.
> >
> > I have used the malicious software removal tool (nothing found) and
> > a virus scan by Avast Anti Virus (nothing found with a scan of the
> > common areas (using a different login account); I will need to do
> > a scan from the affected account to make sure the user profile is
> > scanned I guess.)
> >
> > So far only this one account (an administrator account) is
> > affected. All other account log ins are, so far, unaffected.
> >
> > Is this a common problem or just a bad situation, caused by what
> > has been run and installed? Is it possible to fix a single login
> > account without disrupting the whole system? I have created the
> > system restore DVD from the partition when the computer was
> > purchased earlier this year .
> >
> > I know enough computer tech, to know when to ask for advice. So
> > here I am. Hat in hand asking for your advice.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Don
>
> What about using Compatibility Options in the Preferences Dialog?

Could I get a litle more information. I think I am misapplying your
advice as I don't see a compatability otion.

Thanks
Don.

--

"Don" <> wrote in message
news:XaBIi.76$...
> Miles Perry wrote:
>
>>
>> "Don" <> wrote in message
>> news:a4aIi.19$...
>> > My problem comes after playing Call of Duty 2 in vista and
>> > installing (since uninstalled) the Gamespot downloader.
>> >
>> > My start menu is blank of both most used programs as well as
>> > default Email and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird). Also since
>> > that occurred, if I try to work with the properties of the new
>> > interface; the taskbar will lockup. All programs running still
>> > run but the taskbar and start button are frozen. Upon calling up
>> > the task manager, I see Windows Explorer using about 96% of the
>> > CPU cycles. I don't sem to see the lockup when i work with the
>> > classic menu. I would like to have access to the most often used
>> > programs though.
>> >
>> > I have used the malicious software removal tool (nothing found) and
>> > a virus scan by Avast Anti Virus (nothing found with a scan of the
>> > common areas (using a different login account); I will need to do
>> > a scan from the affected account to make sure the user profile is
>> > scanned I guess.)
>> >
>> > So far only this one account (an administrator account) is
>> > affected. All other account log ins are, so far, unaffected.
>> >
>> > Is this a common problem or just a bad situation, caused by what
>> > has been run and installed? Is it possible to fix a single login
>> > account without disrupting the whole system? I have created the
>> > system restore DVD from the partition when the computer was
>> > purchased earlier this year .
>> >
>> > I know enough computer tech, to know when to ask for advice. So
>> > here I am. Hat in hand asking for your advice.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > Don
>>
>> What about using Compatibility Options in the Preferences Dialog?
>
> Could I get a litle more information. I think I am misapplying your
> advice as I don't see a compatability otion.
>
> Thanks
> Don.
>
Uh, I meant Properties dialog!

Go to the application(s) concerned.
Right click and select Properties - should be the bottom option.
Select the Compatibility Tab.
click on the tick box next to the greyed out "WinXP".
This will allows the selection from several older Operating Systems
in a dropdown list.
5 other tickboxes for other options can be selected or blocked.

I've used this successfully for older games.

Miles Perry wrote:

>
> "Don" <> wrote in message
> news:XaBIi.76$...
> > Miles Perry wrote:
> >
> > >
> >>"Don" <> wrote in message
> > > news:a4aIi.19$...
> >>> My problem comes after playing Call of Duty 2 in vista and
> >>> installing (since uninstalled) the Gamespot downloader.
> > > >
> >>> My start menu is blank of both most used programs as well as
> >>> default Email and browser (Firefox and Thunderbird). Also since
> >>> that occurred, if I try to work with the properties of the new
> >>> interface; the taskbar will lockup. All programs running still
> >>> run but the taskbar and start button are frozen. Upon calling up
> >>> the task manager, I see Windows Explorer using about 96% of the
> >>> CPU cycles. I don't sem to see the lockup when i work with the
> >>> classic menu. I would like to have access to the most often used
> >>> programs though.
> > > >
> >>> I have used the malicious software removal tool (nothing found)
> and >>> a virus scan by Avast Anti Virus (nothing found with a scan
> of the >>> common areas (using a different login account); I will
> need to do >>> a scan from the affected account to make sure the
> user profile is >>> scanned I guess.)
> > > >
> >>> So far only this one account (an administrator account) is
> >>> affected. All other account log ins are, so far, unaffected.
> > > >
> >>> Is this a common problem or just a bad situation, caused by what
> >>> has been run and installed? Is it possible to fix a single login
> >>> account without disrupting the whole system? I have created the
> >>> system restore DVD from the partition when the computer was
> >>> purchased earlier this year .
> > > >
> >>> I know enough computer tech, to know when to ask for advice. So
> >>> here I am. Hat in hand asking for your advice.
> > > >
> >>> Thanks
> >>> Don
> > >
> > > What about using Compatibility Options in the Preferences Dialog?
> >
> > Could I get a litle more information. I think I am misapplying your
> > advice as I don't see a compatability otion.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Don.
> >
> Uh, I meant Properties dialog!
>
> Go to the application(s) concerned. Right click and select Properties
> - should be the bottom option. Select the Compatibility Tab.
> click on the tick box next to the greyed out "WinXP". This will
> allows the selection from several older Operating Systems in a
> dropdown list. 5 other tickboxes for other options can be selected
> or blocked.
>
> I've used this successfully for older games.



--

The damage is done and the program (COD 2) runs fine on a differnet
(user level) account. But the my original administrator level account
has that problem with the taskbar and windows explorer. I stopped using
the downloader but the problem still exists when I try to right click
on the taskbar and find out why the programs list is blank or make
changes to the taskbar, but only on that single account. The other
accounts work fine and show up fine. Makes me scratch my head. I knew
XP pretty good, but Vista still confuses me at times.

I unfortunantly don't know which program to try and tweak to fix my
error; if it is even possible. Thanks for the suggestion and my
apologies if I am misunderstanding. It has been a rough last week.

Thanks Don.