Taskbar, desktop and start menu keep disappearing

After I turn on, it all settles down, then at various points, usually either
when I turn on Explorer or Messenger, I loose the taskbar, desktop and start
menu and cant get them back. Sometimes though it happens almost as soon as
everything first appears but I have found that the longer I dont do any
actions, the longer it lasts when I start using it.
Im about to throw the computer out the window, but im not technically minded
so maybe its something simple.

I also signed up with Norton not long before this trouble all happened but
this was after some virus that has been removed got in through messenger -
could this be related?

Any help appreciated!

It doesn't take a technology literate person to open a window.

<sorry, I couldn't resist>

Right Click on the Taskbar, then chose Properties, and deselect Auto Hide.
If the taskbar is auto-hidiing, you should be able to get it back by taking
the mouse to the bottom of the screen -- or to the side of the screen where
the taskbar normally resides. (You can grab the taskbar and drag it to any
side of the screen, left, right, top, or bottom.)

Once you get the Taskbar where you want it and drag the dividers where you
want them, and set the size of where you like it, you should Right Click and
select Lock Taskbar. This will preserve the taskbar where and how you want
it.

I doubt Norton is your problem ...

Disable all non essential WINDOWS explorer add ons (shell extensions)
with Nirsoft shellexview (right click run as administrator to do this)
(see download on the bottom of page)

disable ONLY the stuff highlighted in PINK and only if you are
sure you dont need them

Its not hidden thats for sure, plus it wouldnt hide the desktop icons aswell
would it?

You're right, the taskbar going into hiding would not affect the desktop
icons.

Based on your sequence of events, I would download the free AVG or AVAST anti-virus programs. Uninstall Norton, all of it! Then install AVG or AVAST.

If your problem is gone (I'll bet it is) call Norton and get your money
back. You may also have to contact your Credit Card company to stop payment.

I solved it by restoring the settings from a week ago but still no clue as to
what was causing it as the restore failed the first time but took ok the
second time.
Im now faced with Norton digging its heals in and refusing to uninstall.
What fun.

Hi, Stu. Regarding uninstalling Norton, have you tried right click on
Norton and click Run As Administrator ? If that doesn't work, go to
Brink's Tutorials. He has one called " Enable/disable Real Built-in
Administrator ", and one called " Take Ownership of File/folder ". One
of them will work, guarantee. If you have trouble following the
procedures, just post the problem(s) and Brink will respond. Please
inform of your progress. Good luck.
PS. the first tutorial is under 'account', the other one I think is
under "enable'

Forgive me for double posting, problem solved, I'd assumed my judgement of a friend absolute,he ignored my request not to use peer networking on my laptop while he used it, Azeurus, while not the direct cause does two major nonos, it frees ports and draws attention to the user, weather it was virii carried via software or an attack triggered by maxes ego is beyond me.

However, the cure is very simple, duplicate explorer.exe, rename it using all lower case(windows protocol does not apply case variables to my knowledge and adding L in place of l makes it tard ass and regurgitate the executables commands.)

If anyone beat me to the punch I am sorry, I was testing my problem solving abillities within a chaotic environment. I am very green at this but also a hands on learner.

Thank you for your patience, if anyone needs more details on the solution please let me know.