Missing Window Controls Make Life Hell Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Missing Window Controls Make Life Hell in the Windows Vista forums; I've tried google on this but I'm getting nowhere. This is my mother-in-law's laptop, she's got Vista Home on a Dell Inspiron 1521. I'...

[BillsBayou]

I've tried google on this but I'm getting nowhere.

This is my mother-in-law's laptop, she's got Vista Home on a Dell Inspiron 1521. I'm a Windows XP guy. I've been doing Windows since version 3.1. What's killing me is missing controls on some windows.

First, when running Internet Explorer, I get what I assume is an information box from Google Taskbar letting me know that it has been installed and is ready for use. There is a user agreement which has a user agreement with a scroll bar. The scroll bar is the only control on the box. There are no "Minimize" "Maximize" or "X-Close" controls in the upper right.

So I do what I've always done, I CTRL-ALT-DEL to get to the Task Manager. First, the Google box doesn't appear in the list. Second, it's on my Taskbar. Third, Task Manager has NO CONTROLS!

I'm hunting all around for something that will show me how to deal with Windows that have no controls.

BTW, while I'm typing this, the windows have disappeared to the Taskbar only and I can't get them back up! I can't get Task Manager back. I'm so lost.

It's sad. I'm 44 doing computers since high school (TRS-80), have a B.S. in Comp Sci, I program on the damned things and I'm lost in Vista. I'm laughing while I type this...

Help very much appreciated.

[Znod]

Welcome BB. I am in betweeen about 30 task. Let me make an initial suggestion. Turn off Google toolbar and all other Vista addons. See if things improve and post back. We'll see where you are after this step.

[BillsBayou]

I'm thinking my problem is with Nag Screens.

The first time I saw this on her laptop, it was for PC-Cillin Internet Security 14. It was a registration Nag Screen she got the first time she fired up the machine. Given her lack of Internet access, the blasted thing would not go away. The lack of Controls on the box was killing me.

Then the Google Taskbar, which I mentioned. I cannot reproduce the error there.

However, Task Manager still has no controls. I have a transparent edge which I can use to size the window. Inside of that is a grey area which I can use to relocate the window. I have the "End Task" "Switch to" and "New Task" buttons, but no other controls. There is a window with "Task" and "Status" which currently lists "Windows Vista Forum | Vista Babble.." (you guys ). What gets me is the lack of a menu bar or "X" control in the upper right. I have to use Alt-F4 to close the window (which is a last resort option in my opinion, not an actual option for effective use).

So I've disabled all the BHO's in Internet Explorer except for Sun Java and Shockwave. Task Manager is still a minimally functioning box for me.

[BillsBayou]

Oh freaking freak.

I just double clicked on the friggin grey area (inside the translucent area) and got the Menu Bar and the "X" control.

What's all this about?

Man, the learning curve on Vista is going to kill me.

[Znod]

Have you searched throughly for viruses and malware?

[BillsBayou]

I solved the problem by uninstalling Google Task Manager and giving them hell in their "Why are you uninstalling?" text box.

Thanks for the help.

[Vistanoob]

Glad to hear you got your problem solved and glad to hear that it wasn't the fault of the OS.