Thread: Unusual desktop addition

I recently incurred a problem that I cannot seem to un-do. On my desktop screen saver, a blue column with the title 'folder tasks' at the top of the screen and various options progressing down the left side appeared. When my mouse covers a desktop shortcut icon, the 'details' tab describes that shortcut. I believe it first occurred when I adjusted the screen resolution for a different monitor. The problem is I cannot reverse the event and, for some reason, I cannot restore the computer to an earlier time also. Are the two problems related? The OS is XP Pro.
If anyone is still feeling generous with their assistance, I'd like to know how to find out if the computer has a network card. It's 4 years old and I've just purchased a new computer that I have connected to it. I can go on line and get emails on both, but I'm having a problem sharing files. All attempts to get the old one to talk to the new one haven't worked. The new one is showing the network connection, but cannot connect. The old one will not show the connection. Both are connected to a wired broadband router with cat-5 Ethernet cables, and are linked to each other with a USB 2.0 File Transfer Cable. I'm thinking the problem is that the old computer doesn't have a network card. Thank you for any assistance that might be offered.

Hi,

A quick way to see if you have a network card is to goto your device manager and if you have a network adapter in the list of hardware then it would be listed there..

As for the other problem you mentioned your screen saver, is this problem to with a screensaver or just you general windows desktop

Thank you for the reply.

The device manager did indicate there was a network card, but it is connected to the Ethernet outlet, which I have connected to the broadband router. I guess I'll have to find another way to transfer my information and operate the printer from both computers.

The windows desktop seems to be the problem. I can change the picture on the desktop but not get rid of the band on the left with the options. It comes in when my desktop icons load, and leaves with them when I shut down. I momentarily have a full screen at shut down.

hi

I found this which may fix your problem

1. Download the XP_CommonTasks.zip file and save it to your hard drive.
2. Locate and double-click the file you just saved and extractXP_CommonTasks.exe.
3. Double click XP_CommonTasks.exe to run the utility.
4. Reboot for the change to take effect.

That REALLY messed things up!!!

I'm just glad I've got another computer to stay in touch because that one is now useless!
I did EXACTLY as you said and it took me almost an hour to finally get it back under control once I re-booted. It kept freezing up and the mouse wouldn't work for me to log in. I had to keep trying to catch it before the DOS commands scrolled past so I could start in safe mode. Now all the text and pages are so large I cannot access the bottoms of the page to make changes. Remember 'system restore' is nonoperational? I can't roll it back to undo what was just a nuisance and is now got me completely broke down. Without being able to change the screen resolution or reduce the text and boxes/pages proportions, I cannot utilize the controls at the bottom of the pages. Everything is cut off about one quarter of the way off the bottom of the page by the task bar. I've got an old monitor and there are adjustments to the screen proportions. They don't fix the problem, it's in the display program.

Thats odd!..
Ok you should be able to access your display properties by "right-click" the desktop background and choose "properties" then "settings"

That worked fine, thank you and sorry about the panic. I'm depending on the computer to get a new business started out of my home, and my lack of computer skills is causing stress.
Are you still in a helping mood? The system restore does not work I'm assuming, because of an error message that reads: "Application failed to start because framedyn.dll was not found." Before you tell me to reload the startup CD for my OS, I had to have the hard drive replaced earlier this year and the guy installed his own XP Pro OS from a copied CD. I had tons of problems with it trying to update, validate, etc.. I finally got back in touch with him and he gave me the product code as he was skipping town. (a couple hours more would have been too late). Because this is going to be my 10 year old son's computer, a lot of the little glitches that are still there are not a problem, but the restore feature is important. I know he's eventually going to wonder, "What happens if I do this?" and then I can at least restore it. Any way to get the restore feature back to being operational?

Hi,
Glad that worked for you, it sounds like you have been having a bit or a nightmare with your system, xp etc..

To fix the error your getting try the following, its a bit long but should help.

Replace the Framedyn.dll File
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type %systemroot%\system32\dllcache, and then click OK.
3. Right-click framedyn.dll, and then click Copy on the shortcut menu that appears.
4. Click Start, and then click Run.
5. In the Open box, type %systemroot%\system32\wbem, and then click OK.
6. On the Edit menu, click Paste. If you are prompted to replace the existing file, click Yes.

Verify System Variables
1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu that appears. If you receive the following error message, click OK:
rundll32.exe - Unable To Locate Component

This application has failed to start because framedyn.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. Click Environment Variables.
4. Under System variables, click Path, and then click Edit.

NOTE: If no Path variable is listed, click New. In the Variable name box, type Path.
5. In the Variable value box, type the following:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\Sy stem32\wbem
6. Click OK three times (each time that you have the option).

That worked with out a glitch. I created a new restore point and verified there were a couple others receintly. Thank you for your help.

No problem, thanks for lettings us know!!