Introduction: (Auto)Hiding/Disabling/Removing the Windows Taskbar (Windows XP)
A few days back, I submitted this instructable which was about playing a prank by temporarily disabling the desktop icons. But it was preety lame, as there are several ways of disabling the task bar, which I will be telling you about.
WARNING: You may find the first few very obvious, and very annoying too, depending upon the kind of person you are, so don't freak off, and abug with angry comments, just read on.
I won't be providing graphics along with the instructable: the first few are quite obvious; the following ones are pretty simple; and if u are willing to try out the last one, you should me mature enough, and I reckon you could do well without graphics.
DISCLAIMER: This is an only a destructable. It is not officially backed or supported by Microsoft, so you will be solely responsible for what happens to your computer (exception: if this instructable helps you, and you are pleased with the result, then, yeah I take the responsibility and you can thank me. ;) :) :D). I and this instructable can and shall not be held responsible for any injury, superficial or serious, loss of life, property and data, or any other negative or not-so-good consequence arising out of following or doing what this instructable instructs to do.
Proceed further on your own risk.
WARNING: You may find the first few very obvious, and very annoying too, depending upon the kind of person you are, so don't freak off, and abug with angry comments, just read on.
I won't be providing graphics along with the instructable: the first few are quite obvious; the following ones are pretty simple; and if u are willing to try out the last one, you should me mature enough, and I reckon you could do well without graphics.
DISCLAIMER: This is an only a destructable. It is not officially backed or supported by Microsoft, so you will be solely responsible for what happens to your computer (exception: if this instructable helps you, and you are pleased with the result, then, yeah I take the responsibility
Proceed further on your own risk.
Step 1: Auto Hide
Right click on the task bar, click on properties. In the dialog box that appears, select the taskbar tab, if not selected, and check the autohide the taskbar checkbox..
To disable auto hide, do the same as above, except that this time, uncheck the auto-hide the taskbar checkbox.
To disable auto hide, do the same as above, except that this time, uncheck the auto-hide the taskbar checkbox.
Step 2: Lamey Lame
This according to me is the lamest way to hide the taskbar.
Actually, it does not even hide the taskbar; it merely closes the explorer.exe process, consequently closing the taskbar as well.
Open Task Manager (right click on task bar > task manager OR use key combination ctrl + shift + esc or ctrl + alt + delete), select the processes tab, and end the process explorer.exe. this will close the task manager.
The only way to control the computer now is using the task manager, invoked by the above mentioned key combinations.
To bring the taskmanager back, you will need to invoke the explorer process again. This can be done by opening task manager, file > new task > type "explorer", minus the quotation marks, in the "open" field.
Actually, it does not even hide the taskbar; it merely closes the explorer.exe process, consequently closing the taskbar as well.
Open Task Manager (right click on task bar > task manager OR use key combination ctrl + shift + esc or ctrl + alt + delete), select the processes tab, and end the process explorer.exe. this will close the task manager.
The only way to control the computer now is using the task manager, invoked by the above mentioned key combinations.
To bring the taskmanager back, you will need to invoke the explorer process again. This can be done by opening task manager, file > new task > type "explorer", minus the quotation marks, in the "open" field.
Step 3: Unlocking and Resizing the Taskbar
This too is an option.
Unlock the task bar. This now enables you to resize the taskbar. You can now decrease the size to nothing.
This however, leaves a bar three pixels where your taskbar used to be. But now, you cannot access the start button, quick launch icons, window buttons, or the system tray items.
Unlock the task bar. This now enables you to resize the taskbar. You can now decrease the size to nothing.
This however, leaves a bar three pixels where your taskbar used to be. But now, you cannot access the start button, quick launch icons, window buttons, or the system tray items.
Step 4: Using Softwares: Taskbar Hide
You can download this software, TsakBar Hide (at the time of submission, the latest version available was 1.5; you may also try out TaskBar Hide Plus)
you can download TaskBar Hide Here: Download TaskBar Hide
This software gives you option to hide to hide specific part(s) of the taskbar, or the entire taskbar.
in the TaskBar Hide Window, there is a panel of icons and buttons at the top; there is this icon of an oldish monitor; click on that, and you will have a list of parts to hide. Select the All Taskbar option.
This has a user rating of 5/5, but seriously I wouldn't give it even a half out of 5; the interface is pathetic, and the next time you use computer (after boot-up), its annoying window pops up; I mean not only do you need to run in at start up, but you also need to instruct it every time you boot your computer.
Not at all recmondable, in my view.
you can download TaskBar Hide Here: Download TaskBar Hide
This software gives you option to hide to hide specific part(s) of the taskbar, or the entire taskbar.
in the TaskBar Hide Window, there is a panel of icons and buttons at the top; there is this icon of an oldish monitor; click on that, and you will have a list of parts to hide. Select the All Taskbar option.
This has a user rating of 5/5, but seriously I wouldn't give it even a half out of 5; the interface is pathetic, and the next time you use computer (after boot-up), its annoying window pops up; I mean not only do you need to run in at start up, but you also need to instruct it every time you boot your computer.
Not at all recmondable, in my view.
Step 5: Using Softwares: Custom Made Software
I found these in a thread. They are coded by an VB scripter. One allows you toggle the tasbar on and off by the help of a button; the second hides the taskbar, and the third brings it back. The names will tell you all.
The one that's hides the taskbar for good is supposed to keep it hidden for good, until you actually run the program to show the taskbar, but it didn't work on my computer that way, but the users on the thread were sort of satisfied, so it may be a problem with my computer, so this one can be tried out, if you are willing to experiment. But I suggest you do run a virus scan before running them, although they are simple VB scripts and did not do the usual nonsense you can make them do, but still... Running a virus scan wont do you any harm.
Attachment: Winzip File containg hide/unhide files
The one that's hides the taskbar for good is supposed to keep it hidden for good, until you actually run the program to show the taskbar, but it didn't work on my computer that way, but the users on the thread were sort of satisfied, so it may be a problem with my computer, so this one can be tried out, if you are willing to experiment. But I suggest you do run a virus scan before running them, although they are simple VB scripts and did not do the usual nonsense you can make them do, but still... Running a virus scan wont do you any harm.
Attachment: Winzip File containg hide/unhide files
Attachments
Step 6: Using Softwares: Using Object Bar
This actually removes the Windows Taskbar. The WINDOWS Taskbar, I repeat, the WINDOWS Taskbar.
You can download Objectbar here: DOwnload ObjectBar
Because It sure does remove the taskbar, but in its place adds another one. or as many bars You want. So to summarize it, it replaces the Windows Task Bar by another one(s).
I unloaded the software as soon as I found out what it does.
Note: I didn't really explore the software; so I do not totally rule out its capability to actually remove the taskbar.
So give it a try, if you don't have anything else to do, and you desperately want to get rid of the WINDOWS taskbar.
You can download Objectbar here: DOwnload ObjectBar
Because It sure does remove the taskbar, but in its place adds another one. or as many bars You want. So to summarize it, it replaces the Windows Task Bar by another one(s).
I unloaded the software as soon as I found out what it does.
Note: I didn't really explore the software; so I do not totally rule out its capability to actually remove the taskbar.
So give it a try, if you don't have anything else to do, and you desperately want to get rid of the WINDOWS taskbar.
Step 7: Using Softwares: Using ObjectDock Plus
This is my favorite, especially coz, in all these, this is the one that did the trick for me.
Download objectDock Plus, from here: Download ObjectDock Plus
Install the Program, and run it.
On any dock, click on the Configure Dock button. In the general section, check the option: Hide the taskbar.
This is the best in many ways:
If you want to get rid of the taskbar for getting the MAC OS X look on your PC, this is ideal, since it gets you rid of the taskbar, as well as gives you a dock.
You also have the option to have show windows/system tray items here, so it can also act as a stylish floating dock, and it also has the option of tabbed docking, and several other superb features.
The glitch: At boot up time, the task bar shows for 3 seconds, until objectbar is loaded at startup, but the whole process is automated, and doesn't require much human involvement.
Another problem: Uses lots of RAM: Requires 256MB at least, and consumes around 5000K of Memory at run time.
Download objectDock Plus, from here: Download ObjectDock Plus
Install the Program, and run it.
On any dock, click on the Configure Dock button. In the general section, check the option: Hide the taskbar.
This is the best in many ways:
If you want to get rid of the taskbar for getting the MAC OS X look on your PC, this is ideal, since it gets you rid of the taskbar, as well as gives you a dock.
You also have the option to have show windows/system tray items here, so it can also act as a stylish floating dock, and it also has the option of tabbed docking, and several other superb features.
The glitch: At boot up time, the task bar shows for 3 seconds, until objectbar is loaded at startup, but the whole process is automated, and doesn't require much human involvement.
Another problem: Uses lots of RAM: Requires 256MB at least, and consumes around 5000K of Memory at run time.
Step 8: Step Ultimate: Fiddling With the Registry
Do this only if:
1. You desperately need to get totally rid of the TaskBar
2. You know the this-and-that of the registry
3. You know the risks of minutiscle error.
WARNING: The damaging consequences of changing/modifying registry entries range from loss of data to circumstances requiring formatting of the computer and reinstallation of the operating system.
So venture any forward ONLY AND ONLY IF you know things around here in the registry.
This is how you do it:
Open Registry Editor.
Create/change/modify the following registry entries/keys:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoTrayItemsDisplay"=dword:00000001
"HideClock"=dword:00000001
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:00000001
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
To reverse this, replace the '0's with '1's.
An unfortunate note: While this seems to do the job in most computers, it didn't work in my case. I don't know if there's a problem in my computer or what, but this didn't work on my computer, although it worked on all others.
Another Note: Another, and a shorter way of doing this is just by creating/changing/modifying the following registry entry/key:
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
If you have any further queries regarding THIS way of removing the taskbar, I'm afraid I won't be to resolve them, since myself I am not a pro in Creating/changing/modifying registry entries and keys.
But yeah, I would like to mention that even though this did not result in the desired manner, it did remove the quick launch toolbar, the application windows buttons and the system tray, not to mention the system clock, but even otherwise it did not do any damage to my system.
Despite this disclosure, I do not take any responsibilty to any unfortunate happening to the folks who try this, or for that matter, any procedure mentioned in this instructable.
1. You desperately need to get totally rid of the TaskBar
2. You know the this-and-that of the registry
3. You know the risks of minutiscle error.
WARNING: The damaging consequences of changing/modifying registry entries range from loss of data to circumstances requiring formatting of the computer and reinstallation of the operating system.
So venture any forward ONLY AND ONLY IF you know things around here in the registry.
This is how you do it:
Open Registry Editor.
Create/change/modify the following registry entries/keys:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoTrayItemsDisplay"=dword:00000001
"HideClock"=dword:00000001
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:00000001
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
To reverse this, replace the '0's with '1's.
An unfortunate note: While this seems to do the job in most computers, it didn't work in my case. I don't know if there's a problem in my computer or what, but this didn't work on my computer, although it worked on all others.
Another Note: Another, and a shorter way of doing this is just by creating/changing/modifying the following registry entry/key:
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000001
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
If you have any further queries regarding THIS way of removing the taskbar, I'm afraid I won't be to resolve them, since myself I am not a pro in Creating/changing/modifying registry entries and keys.
But yeah, I would like to mention that even though this did not result in the desired manner, it did remove the quick launch toolbar, the application windows buttons and the system tray, not to mention the system clock, but even otherwise it did not do any damage to my system.
Despite this disclosure, I do not take any responsibilty to any unfortunate happening to the folks who try this, or for that matter, any procedure mentioned in this instructable.
Step 9: The Result
Using ObjectDock did the job for me, but if none of these ways help you, use the resizing trick in combination with any of the following steps.
Hope this instructable has been of help!!!
Good Day!!!
Cheer-io!!!!!!!!
Hope this instructable has been of help!!!
Good Day!!!
Cheer-io!!!!!!!!
