double height toolbar on desktop in xp

someone screwed around with my computer and i am now the proud owner of a desktop with a toolbar that is double height. i can use my mouse to move it to the side or to make it bigger but i cannot seem to make it smaller. is there a way to do this other than using the mouse and the left button. thanks

If you mean the taskbar at the bottom of your screen make sure it is unlocked and the left side is pulled out far enough to accommodate all the icons in one row then pull it down to the normal size.

hi Kodiak
i am not at my home computer right now so i can't play with it right away
it is the taskbar. excuse my poor use of terms
i am not quite sure i understand what you mean when you say make sure the left side is adjusted so everything fits on one row. where do i put the cursor to do this
thanks

I'm assuming you mean it looks like this:

http://tinypic.com/jg5ndk.jpg

and you want it to look like this:

http://tinypic.com/jg5o2c.jpg


If so, you just need to get your mouse pointer at the top of the taskbar (start bar) and when your mouse pointer changes to a double-headed black arrow pointing up and down, click and hold the left button in and drag it back down to a single height.

You can prevent this from happening in the future then by right-clicking an empty spot on the task/start bar, and then clicking on "Lock the taskbar"

Hope this helps :thumbs2:

my taskbar is double height but i have stuff on both lines and your picture has everything on one line. i tried the procedure that you suggested and it only works to make it bigger not smaller.

i unchecked quick lauch in properties and then, with the mouse, i was able to reduce the taskbar to single high. now i have locked it. thanks for the ideas guys

Thats my mistake on words also. You said you have things on both lines and I just meant you need to stretch out the left side where the media and IE is located so there on one line. When it is unlocked there is a line of indent looking dots close by there and if you put your pointer on it and hold you can stretch it out. You can see it in 3fingers pics.