[cmmahone]

I am having some of the instability problems I would read about i.e. Infinite Loop, lots of BSOD, etc. So I read that loading the new VIA 4.37 Drivers in the hpe they would solve some of my stability problems. They did, but as a side-affect. I now have a "band" on the left side of my screen.

The band exhibits the following characteristics:

- The band runs from top to bottom.
- It contains , what appears to be the same options as the "My Documents" folder.
- These options include "Folder Tasks," "Other Places," and "Details."
- There is no other lettering on the band.
- Right-clicking on the band, reveals no menu to close it.
- Left-clicking on the band, reveals no menu to close it.

As a side-effect to this or because of this my "Taskbar and Start Menu" icon under the control panel is ineffective. But the icon does work under "SAFE" mode.

If I go into the Desktop Properties, the background picture appears normal. But when I go to the actual desktop, the desktop picture is obscured (instead of repositioned) by the band.

Reloading old VIA drivers has no-effect.

I have searched the following Websites for information with no luck:
- Microsoft
- VIA
- NTCompatible

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.


My System Specs:

OS: WinXP Pro - All current updates installed
Processor: AMD 1.4 Athlon
RAM: 768 Mb
Sound Card: SB Live Latest Drivers
MB: Soyo Dragon - Latest BIOS update
Video Card: Asus Geforce 3 - Drivers 21.83

[Lactic.Acid]

Can you drag it around anywhere? I've done this once or twice, where you create a new toolbar on the desktop and don't realize it. Granted, right-clicking should give you a response as well. Check your Active Desktop settings as well. Maybe there's something goofy in there.
/L.A

[cmmahone]

You can't minimize it, drag it, resize it, affect it in any way.

[jleinen]

Could possibly be a defective video card. Been there done that. Try another video card if you have one laying around. If it works right more than likely the Geforce card is DOA.

[cmmahone]

It only happen when I load the latest VIA drivers. If I roll my changes back the band disappears. The catch is that "the later drivers fix some instability problems."

So I was looking of a way to load the drivers and get rid of the band too.

[Palos]

You don't really need the 4-in-1s...I didn't install them at all, and I have minimal problems (sometimes desktop freezes when I exit an OpenGL game). I use the 21.81 Dets, and got all the possible updates from the Windows Update site. That's it really