[confirmed]AB 2011 Bld22 - Whole Taskbar disappears

[Merel]

I run Windows XP Professional. Very recently I updated from an old version of AB to the latest 2011 Bld.22.

- I suspect very much that the use of this version 'might' be causing the whole taskbar to disappear at the bottom of screen.
- I encountered this issue already two times, each time while using this version of AB.
- It never occured before.

- To close Windows I must use the emergency fast shutdown script for Windows
%windir%\system32\SHUTDOWN.exe -s -t 01
(a link to it is always available on my desktop)

I suspect that it 'MIGHT' be related to particular circumstances (things that I remember while it occurred)
a/ Maybe when changing coming back to normal display mode, after a full screen mode.
b/ Maybe when launching some particular applications (maybe .pps show, maybe movie)
c/ Maybe it is related to the 'download' module (which I didn't have when using the old version)

I still can open Task Manager and Explorer. I'm sure this issue is caused by some unwanted registry change(s).

Anyone with the same problem ?

[AXEMAN]

no but for now can you go back to the one that worked for you last. go here to find one http://avant.it-mate.co.uk/

[Jasmine]

Previous version before upgrading to v2011 build 22?
It happens sporadically during using Avant Browser? Do you think the browser is freezed or runs unstable enough when it happens?

[Merel]

Previous version before upgrading to v2011 build 22?
It happens sporadically during using Avant Browser? Do you think the browser is freezed or runs unstable enough when it happens?

I have to do a little research to tell you which was my previous version, but for now I don't think it matters much.
(I recommended the old version for its stabilty in one or two posts here.)

The fact that the bottom taskbar suddenly disappears does not seem to be unique , since more cases are reported and repair scripts are available to restore the taskbar. What exactly 'triggers' this issue is a big mistery

- So far I'm quite satisfied with overall stability of the latest version.
I didn't observe suicidal behaviour (which always was the major cause of irritation in all versions)

Untill the taskbar disappears, AB runs very stable and so is the whole system.
I don't remember which other programs were running at same time, but I don't believe it is relevant.

At which moment exactly the taskbar is disappearing I'm not yet sure, because it probably happens when AB is using the full screen (which I probably made by using a function key)

At both occasions I was searching how to come back from full screen back to normal display. The function keys didn't seem to have much effect. Moving the pointer to the top edge of screen made the AB main menu and other toolbars appear again, so I was able to restore the normal display in some menu. At that time the task bar was (probably) already gone.

Those are the circumstances which I suspect can trigger the issue. But other Windows XP users are probably causing the same issue in other (or similar) circumstances.

For now, two facts are sure
1. It started only after installation of this AB version
2. AND while using it.

[Jasmine]

Moving the pointer to the top edge of screen made the AB main menu and other toolbars appear again, so I was able to restore the normal display in some menu. At that time the task bar was (probably) already gone.

So switching back from Full Screen, the task bar didn't come back?
How about in latest build 23?

[Merel]

Moving the pointer to the top edge of screen made the AB main menu and other toolbars appear again, so I was able to restore the normal display in some menu. At that time the task bar was (probably) already gone.

So switching back from Full Screen, the task bar didn't come back?
How about in latest build 23?

After update to Build 23, this problem persisted. I suggest to change the title of this topic.
I doubt if the topic title can be edited by forum users. (?)

The whole taskbaar at bottom of screen had disappeared after the following sequence :
1. I opened a movie file (but that's irrelevant) and switched to full screen to watch it (using the F12).

2. To go back in normal display, I tried function keys none of which managed to do so. (using F10-F11-F12)
By 'normal' display, I mean at the top the usual main menu and all usual toolbars and at the bottom the taskbar.

- At this moment however I was able to make appear the top part of normal display, by moving the mouse pointer towards the top of sreen. (which I used in next point 3.)
- Also at this moment, at the location of where taskbar normally appears, there was only the color of my desktop background, underneath the movie frame.

3. Using the availability to display the menus (moving mouse pointer) I was able to switch back to what I would like to call a "semi-normal" mode (everything ok at top page, normal display of the webpage , but no bottom taskbar; only background color)

4. To quit Windows XP , I used (Ctrl+Alt+Del) TaskManager => ShutDown => Restart

5. Lucky enough the Windows did restart with the Taskbar as usual.
(So I didn't have to launch again a script to restore the taskbar)
Only the "speaker" icon was missing, but I have the impression that this is not related to this issue.

So, this issue can be reproduced here on my PC. I guess that Avant Browser triggers a bug that might not be incriminated directly related to AB itself. But it might as well be. (I can try another browser to see what will happen)

I would suggest that other forum users would try to reproduce the same issue by using WinXP and going trough same sequences.

Thank You

[Jasmine]

(I can try another browser to see what will happen)

Yes please see whether it has something to do with short of system resources. When it happens check also in the task manager the cpu and memory usage.
BTW, try Avant Browser 2011 build 26
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=30212
Download

[Merel]

(I can try another browser to see what will happen)

Yes please see whether it has something to do with short of system resources. When it happens check also in the task manager the cpu and memory usage.
BTW, try Avant Browser 2011 build 26
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=30212
Download

Thank you Jasmine.
So far I have been using Firefox for a little while. NO problem using the function keys... Steady Windows taskbar.

I will update to build26, also because I have another additional problem with AB, as you probly have noticed in another topic.
I will come back here...after more testing done.

EDIT : 'Help' > Check for new version => "You are using the latest version of Avant Browser" !!!!
When asking for my version with 'About' .. the popup tells Build 23 !!!!
So what ???

[brawnymike]

The link for release AB 2011 build 26 is in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=30212

[Merel]

The link for release AB 2011 build 26 is in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=30212

Thank you Brawnymike

[Merel]

I went for the download of build 26 and .... what I actually downoaded and installed was build 27 !
I guess one of these days Avant Browser will appear in the Guiness book for browser with the most updates per year.

Two days ago Help>About was telling that I was running "the latest" version... Bld.23 (see reply #7) !

[Merel]

Build 27 still has the problem

I have ben using the 'View' menu ONLY (not function keys, but the reslult will be the same)

Task bar still disappears once I uncheck the options full screen/desktop.

The Taskbar does not apear again when closing Avant Browser.
However only at one occasion it reappeared, by closing AB

[Jasmine]

Merel could you make a video for this problem?

[Merel]

Merel could you make a video for this problem?

I has been ages since the time I made a screen capture video. I have Screenpresso already installed. It can record a video.
I will give it a try and will come back here.

But (off topic) other freeware software suggestions are welcome.
Which freeware would you recommend, supporting Win Xp ?

Recording will probably not be a problem but it might be that at a certain point in the sequence, I will not be able to stop recording, and save the footage made.

[Merel]

THIS VIDEO shows that after unchecking full screen, the taskbar has disappeared.

It was illustrated by moving the pointer horizontally over the bottom zone, where normally taskbar should appear.

Sorry for the poor quality of this movie. I'm not familiar with the recording application 'Debut'.
The video ends after closing AvantBrowser and using Ctl+Alt+Del to restart.

[xiaobing]

THIS VIDEO shows that after unchecking full screen, the taskbar has disappeared.

Confirmed

[xiaobing]

Fixed in 2011 build 30.

[Merel]

Fixed in 2011 build 30.

I don't think this issue is fixed at all !

My wife was calling me to have a look at her PC (=PC2), because at the bottom of the screen ALL the usual Windows items were gone.

When I asked her what she wat she had been doing, she said that she had been watching in Avant browser something in full screen view. She is not familiar on this full screen and had some trouble coming back in normal view.

This confirms that she encounters the very same situation as I did before on my own PC (=PC1)

SO... NO START button , NO 'Quick Launch' toolbar, and NO SYSTEM TRAY.
Instead : an empty space showing the same color as my desktop background.

I was able to fix this problem on my own PC (=PC1 Windows XP-Pro) with some file.reg
But using the same file.reg on her PC2 , it did not restore the missing items logged on with her account.
PC2 has Windows XP Home

On her PC2, when I log on with my own account, the problem however does not show.

For the moment I have no solution. I'm sure something changed in the registry (regarding her account settings)

Don't know what to do, besides to complain that this should not be happening only with Avant Browser.

[xiaobing]

Which version of avant you wife uses?

[Merel]

Sorry I forgot to mention : The last version 2012 Bld.27

In the meantime I have been investigating a bit more. After the fault occured, I detected at the left side of screen an extremely thin vertical line. Just like if screen display was misadjusted.

Actually this was the taskbar, but reduced to something alsmost invisible !!!

Dragging (left mouse button) on the vertical line, I was finally able to "open" the taskbar (to variable width),
like if it where a normal vertical window over the whole height of screen, but horizontally limited to about half screen by the amount of icons present in the desktop.

The usual drag an drop of the taskbar to the bottom of screen was just a final step.
The taskbar is now back, but the Quick Launch and the ActivePrograms bar have switched locations.


I have no time right now to reproduce the fault again.
I still believe that the fault is caused by going from full screen to normal display, from deduction of what my wife was telling me. You might try to reproduce it.

I conclude as for testing this version :
- ybrowser is a pain in the ****, and there is no way to keep it out of business ; it's coming back
- This bug with the taskbar is likely still present
- The version seems to be much more stable.