Restoring application windows missing from taskbar?
May 27, 2008 6:59 AM Subscribe
Can you restore an application windows missing from the taskbar?
I minimized a defragmenter program to the taskbar and it remained there for a while until it suddenly disappeared. I can still see it running in the background but I want to bring up the window (or GUI) up again so I can see whether it's done or not. Is this possible? After all, I don't want to risk screwing up my hard drive by logging out or restarting while it's being defragmented.
I minimized a defragmenter program to the taskbar and it remained there for a while until it suddenly disappeared. I can still see it running in the background but I want to bring up the window (or GUI) up again so I can see whether it's done or not. Is this possible? After all, I don't want to risk screwing up my hard drive by logging out or restarting while it's being defragmented.
Odd. Maybe try using FileMon or DiskMon to try to figure-out if it's still running.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:10 AM on May 27, 2008
posted by hungrysquirrels at 7:10 AM on May 27, 2008
I don't know how to get the window back but you can safely log out while it's defragging, it'll shut it down normally before it logs you out.
posted by wangarific at 7:22 AM on May 27, 2008
posted by wangarific at 7:22 AM on May 27, 2008
If you're running XP, defragmenters use facilities built into the OS for relocating files, and it's safe to interrupt them at any time. Logging off should do no harm at all.
posted by flabdablet at 7:28 AM on May 27, 2008
posted by flabdablet at 7:28 AM on May 27, 2008
get Process Explorer, then you can find the process. right click on it and select "Bring All to Front" and any windows it has will come up.
posted by Mach5 at 10:55 AM on May 27, 2008
posted by Mach5 at 10:55 AM on May 27, 2008
I believe that if you kill explorer.exe (via Task Manager/CTRL+ALT+DELETE) it will automatically restart and detect the application. It's been a while since I've ran Windows XP so I can't verify this.
posted by christonabike at 11:17 AM on May 27, 2008
posted by christonabike at 11:17 AM on May 27, 2008
If it appears in Windows task manager, (press CTRL+ALT+Delete, choose 'Applications' tab), just click on the the app name and then the 'Switch To' button.
posted by punilux at 12:03 PM on May 27, 2008
posted by punilux at 12:03 PM on May 27, 2008
If you have a multi-monitor setup (or it's a laptop that gets docked to a computer with an additional monitor) this can happen sometimes when monitor setups change. If that's the case, and you can see it in alt-tab
1. alt-tab to it
2. hit alt-space
3. hit the "m" key (for "move")
4. hit any arrow key (just activates the mouse to move it)
5. drag the window onto the visible screen and click to release.
also check the system tray next to your clock, sometimes programs just minimize to it instead of sitting around in the taskbar.
posted by quixxotic at 6:35 PM on May 27, 2008
1. alt-tab to it
2. hit alt-space
3. hit the "m" key (for "move")
4. hit any arrow key (just activates the mouse to move it)
5. drag the window onto the visible screen and click to release.
also check the system tray next to your clock, sometimes programs just minimize to it instead of sitting around in the taskbar.
posted by quixxotic at 6:35 PM on May 27, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bifter at 7:06 AM on May 27, 2008