Windows XP / Getting Started

Sizing the Taskbar

In the preceding section, if you unchecked the box marked Lock the Taskbar, you can see little bumps immediately to the right of the Start button. No, it is not terminal acne. Those bumps signify that the taskbar can be stretched and moved to make more room for the programs you want to run. Every Windows user who has a screen bigger than a postage stamp needs to make the taskbar bigger. Here is how:

  1. If you can't see the little bumps to the right of the Start button, right-click an empty part of the taskbar and clear the check mark in front of Lock the Taskbar. That unlocks the taskbar so you can move it around.
  2. Hover your mouse over the top line of the taskbar. You know you are doing the right thing when the cursor turns into an upand down arrow.
  3. Click and drag the top line of the taskbar higher.

    Taskbar Higher
  4. Lock down the taskbar by right-clicking any empty space and checking the line marked Lock the Taskbar. This way, you can't inadvertently mess up the taskbar while you are going about your usual Windows business.
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