Windows Vista Side Bar

  • Thread starter Thread starter Virgin Media
  • Start date Start date
V

Virgin Media

Guest
A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
disappearing on my computer?
It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
desktop - it has disappeared!
And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there it
is!
If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
Thank you
 
Re: Side Bar

Virgin Media wrote:

> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
> disappearing on my computer?
> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
> desktop - it has disappeared!
> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way -
> there it
> is!
> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
> Thank you
>

Have you tried right clicking on the sidebar/properties and put a tick
in "Sidebar is always on top of other Windows"?
Frank
 
Re: Side Bar

On Thu, 8 May 2008 16:56:54 +0100, "Virgin Media" <xan@home.com>
wrote:

>A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
>I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
>disappearing on my computer?
>It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
>open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
>desktop - it has disappeared!
>And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there it
>is!
>If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
>click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
>Thank you


How do you have the sidebar properties set? Right click in the sidebar
area, then properties, then see if or not the properties that control
the sidebar are as you wish them.

You can force the sidebar to remain if you like. If you check that
option it stays on top of other windows (or is suppose to anyway) and
takes on a darker color than it would otherwise have. Under this mode
the sidebar area of your desktop is roped off... so every other window
you open to run full screen will (or is suppose to) resize to allow
for the sidebar to stay visible all the time. You can also move the
sidebar to the left of your desktop
 
Re: Side Bar


"Frank" <fb@signm.crt> wrote in message
news:4823262d$0$7716$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Virgin Media wrote:
>
>> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
>> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
>> disappearing on my computer?
>> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when
>> I
>> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
>> desktop - it has disappeared!
>> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there
>> it
>> is!
>> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
>> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
>> Thank you
>>
>
> Have you tried right clicking on the sidebar/properties and put a tick in
> "Sidebar is always on top of other Windows"?
> Frank

Thank you Frank but I did try this - but then all the windows I open are not
full screen and only about 3/4 size with sidebar taking up other 1/4 of
view.
I have tried - bring gadgets to front as well and this doesn't work either.
 
Re: Side Bar

Apologies to Virgin Media for posting as Virgin Media.
I thought when Windows Mail said "name" they meant the name of the folder
with the newsgroups in!!!
 
Re: Side Bar

"Virgin Media" ha scritto:
> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
> disappearing on my computer?
> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
> desktop - it has disappeared!
> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there
> it
> is!
> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
> Thank you

I don't know if i've understood your problem, but if you show your desktop
by clicking on the "show desktop" icon it's normal that you don't see
the sidebar. This is because the Vista sidebar is an application like any
other, and so if you click "show desktop" ALL the applications (sidebar
included) will be minimized.

Hi!
 
Re: Side Bar


Virgin Media;706316 Wrote:
> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
> disappearing on my computer?
> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then
> when I
> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
> desktop - it has disappeared!
> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way -
> there it
> is!
> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if
> I
> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
> Thank you

Hi Virgin Media,

You can set the Windows Sidebar to always be on top by:

1. Right click on the Sidebar notificatioin area tray icon and click
Properties.
2. Check "Sidebar is always on top of other windows"
3. Click OK.

Hope this helps,
Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*
 
Re: Side Bar


"8n20_C#" <enzoc73@msn.com> wrote in message
news:98C139E9-81B4-400B-AEB6-4D5FFCACF90B@microsoft.com...
> "Virgin Media" ha scritto:
>> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
>> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
>> disappearing on my computer?
>> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when
>> I
>> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
>> desktop - it has disappeared!
>> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there
>> it
>> is!
>> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
>> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
>> Thank you
>
> I don't know if i've understood your problem, but if you show your desktop
> by clicking on the "show desktop" icon it's normal that you don't see
> the sidebar. This is because the Vista sidebar is an application like any
> other, and so if you click "show desktop" ALL the applications (sidebar
> included) will be minimized.
>
> Hi!
>
>
Does your side bar disappear then?
Does everyone's side bar disappear?
I do wonder - because for the first few days I had this computer it did not!
It stayed visible no matter what I did.
I have played with some features like the visual effects and some security
admin stuff - but I cannot see how any of these have effected the side bar
in this way.
I know it is possible for it to stay put and to stay visible. It is
something I have done that does make it disappear - some smooth scrolling
evident glass shadow effect with translucent lighting - I don't know! But
it WAS OK and now it is not!
What can I possibly have done or disabled or enabled to do this?
 
Re: Side Bar


"Brink" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:20cf245ce4b642ce6e9bdfb6cbcd283e@nntp-gateway.com...
>
> Virgin Media;706316 Wrote:
>> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
>> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
>> disappearing on my computer?
>> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then
>> when I
>> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
>> desktop - it has disappeared!
>> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way -
>> there it
>> is!
>> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if
>> I
>> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
>> Thank you
>
> Hi Virgin Media,
>
> You can set the Windows Sidebar to always be on top by:
>
> 1. Right click on the Sidebar notificatioin area tray icon and click
> Properties.
> 2. Check "Sidebar is always on top of other windows"
> 3. Click OK.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Shawn
>
See other message - if I do what you suggest then I cannot get a full
screen. The screen display is truncated by the side bar. All I want is for
the side bar to stop disappearing and STAY ON THE DESKTOP! I do not want
to see it all the time - but I do like it to be there on the desktop where
it is supposed to be. What is the point of having it if it is INVISIBLE???
See other message also - but for the first few days I had this computer - it
did stay put. I have been adjusting a few features - and one of them has
caused this. But which one? Where?
 
Re: Side Bar

"Xan" wrote:
> Does your side bar disappear then?

.... and previously wrote:
> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
> desktop - it has disappeared!

This is normal, it happens to me, too.

> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there
> it
> is!

This is normal, because you minimize your applications but don't
minimize the sidebar.

> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears.

If with this:
> click on desk top to go back
you mean "show the desktop by clicking the desktop icon", it's
normal that the sidebar is not visible, because it is minimized.
If you mean "show the desktop by minimizing all my fullscreen
applications, without using the desktop icon", this is not normal
but, sorry, i don't know how to help you!

Bye!
 
Re: Side Bar


Xan;706453 Wrote:
> "Brink" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
> news:20cf245ce4b642ce6e9bdfb6cbcd283e@xxxxxx-gateway.com...> > >
> > >
> > > Virgin Media;706316 Wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Virgin Media,
> > >
> > > You can set the Windows Sidebar to always be on top by:
> > >
> > > 1. Right click on the Sidebar notificatioin area tray icon and click
> > > Properties.
> > > 2. Check "Sidebar is always on top of other windows"
> > > 3. Click OK.
> > >
> > > Hope this helps,
> > > Shawn
> > > > >
> See other message - if I do what you suggest then I cannot get a full
> screen. The screen display is truncated by the side bar. All I want
> is for
> the side bar to stop disappearing and STAY ON THE DESKTOP! I do not
> want
> to see it all the time - but I do like it to be there on the desktop
> where
> it is supposed to be. What is the point of having it if it is
> INVISIBLE???
> See other message also - but for the first few days I had this
> computer - it
> did stay put. I have been adjusting a few features - and one of them
> has
> caused this. But which one? Where?

That's the only option that I know of to keep the Sidebar on top and
not disappear behind another window. You might try this fee program in
this tutorial to see if a option in it will help the Sidebar stand out
more.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/105573-windows-sidebar-theme.html

Shawn


--
Brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask
them.*
'*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com)
*Please post feedback to help others.*
 
RE: Side Bar



"Virgin Media" wrote:

> A very small problem compared to some of you here but........
> I think the side bar is great - nice feature BUT why does it keep
> disappearing on my computer?
> It is there on the desktop when I first switch on computer and then when I
> open 3-4 windows and then click on the desk top icon and go back to
> desktop - it has disappeared!
> And yet if I minimize the windows and go back to desktop this way - there it
> is!
> If the window I am using is not full screen - I can see it - and yet if I
> click on desk top to go back to desk top - it disappears. Any ideas?
> Thank you
>
>
 
Re: Side Bar


you could actually solve this problem (which was bothering the hell out
of me too!) by pressing the "windows key" + SPACEBAR on the keyboard.

funnily enough i actually found this out by clicking the help topic
"How do I customise Windows Sidebar?" in the "Properties" dialog box.
:biggrin:


--
chillgab
 
Re: Side Bar

We still don't have an answer to the original question. My hp Vista is the
same...sidebar used to stay visible on desktop however I returned to desktop.
Now it doesn't if I click on 'return to desktop' icon rather than just
minimize other windows. It's changed. MS needs to fix it. I don't want the
sidebar on top of everything I do...only the desktop and always on the
desktop. Just like it used to be!

"chillgab" wrote:

>
> you could actually solve this problem (which was bothering the hell out
> of me too!) by pressing the "windows key" + SPACEBAR on the keyboard.
>
> funnily enough i actually found this out by clicking the help topic
> "How do I customise Windows Sidebar?" in the "Properties" dialog box.
> :biggrin:
>
>
> --
> chillgab
>
 
Re: Side Bar

"bigbeav" <bigbeav@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61BF6163-C4C6-4963-A4CC-10765D3D5A25@microsoft.com...
> We still don't have an answer to the original question. My hp Vista is
> the
> same...sidebar used to stay visible on desktop however I returned to
> desktop.
> Now it doesn't if I click on 'return to desktop' icon rather than just
> minimize other windows. It's changed. MS needs to fix it. I don't want
> the
> sidebar on top of everything I do...only the desktop and always on the
> desktop. Just like it used to be!
>

Right-click on a blank part of the sidebar and choose Properties. Uncheck
the box that says "Sidebar is always on top of other windows".

Works here....
 
Re: Side Bar

That's discussed in thread above...we already know this. People don't want
sidebar on top of everything they do...just the desktop...without having to
click on the sidebar icon every time they return to desktop directly.

MS apparently designed sidebar as a program that minimizes like everything
else when the "return to desktop" icon is clicked (or windows key+d). But
that means the sidebar disappears when these methods of desktop access are
used. Can't believe they didn't at least include an OPTION to have it
"always on top of desktop" (only). I wonder why so many have complained
about this and MS hasn't put this little option -or else a permanent change -
into one of their updates that continually barrage my computer.

"Gordon" wrote:

> "bigbeav" <bigbeav@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:61BF6163-C4C6-4963-A4CC-10765D3D5A25@microsoft.com...
> > We still don't have an answer to the original question. My hp Vista is
> > the
> > same...sidebar used to stay visible on desktop however I returned to
> > desktop.
> > Now it doesn't if I click on 'return to desktop' icon rather than just
> > minimize other windows. It's changed. MS needs to fix it. I don't want
> > the
> > sidebar on top of everything I do...only the desktop and always on the
> > desktop. Just like it used to be!
> >
>
> Right-click on a blank part of the sidebar and choose Properties. Uncheck
> the box that says "Sidebar is always on top of other windows".
>
> Works here....
>
>
 

Similar threads

C
5 Ways to Improve IT Help Desk Accessibility and Inclusivity
Replies
0
Views
76
Christopher Tozzi
C
AWS
Site Upgraded
Replies
1
Views
37
Cloaked
Cloaked
F
Menu drop down appears at top left of screen
Replies
0
Views
79
FrankieQ
F
M
Amazon’s one-day sale slashes electric standing desks as low as $199
Replies
0
Views
74
Maren Estrada
M
M
Keeps the cords on your desk organized and tangle-free for $16 at Amazon
Replies
0
Views
76
Maren Estrada
M
Back
Top