Is there a way to 'completely' hide the taskbar in Windows XP?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
I just like having my desktop completely clean with a pur black background image with no desktop icons showing. I find its easy on the eyes and i like its purity. But when i hide the taskbar by selecting autohide, it still leaves a little horizontal line at the bottom of the screen.

So i was wondering if there is actually some way to completely hide the taskbar so that i can get a pure black image covering my entire DVI connected LCD screen. Im mentioing DVI because with a CRT i can simply incrase the vertical scale to hide it. But with DVI, there are no geometric screen adjustments.
 
Crusty

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
I honestly don't see the point... how often are you just staring at your blank desktop?
 
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
There is only one point, and that is to satisfy my perfectionistic urges. Im one of those people who washes his hands more than 20 times a day. So i guess i would say that im slightly ill. But thats my problem. Im not asking wether its pointless or not. Im asking wether its possible or not.

So is it possible?
 
S

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
AFAIK replacing the shell would be the only way to do this.

Besides if you're really that anal retentive you're going to want a shell you can have more control over anyways :p
 
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
I guess there is no easy regedit available. I tried bb4win, but that means a whole new shell, which im not interested in.

No big deal, it was just a luxury that i guess i cant have easily.
 
S

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
I suppose you could set it to hide automatically and move it to a side on the screen that it would be more out of the way (i.e. the top)?
 
D

Doh!

Platinum Member
Jan 21, 2000
2,325
0
76
You can run one of the dock programs with a taskbar hiding plugin. Then the dock can be made invisible easily.
 
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
Im not going to get a docking program just for hiding the taskbar. Thats assuming i can even find one.

There was must be registry edit of some form that somebody out there must know about.

I tried changing the taskbar colors so that they match the dekstop background so that it appears like its not present. But somehow windows will always make sure its there.
 
S

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
There was must be registry edit of some form that somebody out there must know about.
Click to expand...
For a registry entry to exist and do something the functionality would have to be built in to explorer.
I tried changing the taskbar colors so that they match the dekstop background so that it appears like its not present. But somehow windows will always make sure its there.
Click to expand...
For the other 99.9999% of the population that's probably a good thing ;)
 
RebateMonger

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
0
0
Originally posted by: xMax
I just like having my desktop completely clean with a pur black background image with no desktop icons showing.....
Click to expand...
Did you try turning the monitor off? ;)

 
S

spyordie007

Diamond Member
May 28, 2001
6,229
0
0
lol that doesn't work because it would just restart would it not...?
Click to expand...
Typically yes; however the system can bet setup so the explorer shell doesnt run (you would just have to use something as a replacement if you wanted to do much of anything with the system)
 
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
cant set theme to have black taskbar. Windows seems to make sure that the taskbard, when hidden, has a different color than any given colored background.

Whatever... So far killing the eplorer.exe does the job. but i dont know how this would affect performance, and it limits me to only being able to launch an application through the taskmanager or to restart explorer.
 
Malak

Malak

Lifer
Dec 4, 2004
14,696
2
0
Get the Litestep shell. I have no taskbar. I've used it for a couple years. You still have a menu, in fact 2 menus, but they are popups. If you right click or shift left click on your desktop your menus pop up. There are thousands of themes to choose from, easy to find one you like. Some have taskbars, some don't.
 
E

EliteXen

Senior member
Nov 13, 2003
426
0
0
Originally posted by: xMax
I just like having my desktop completely clean with a pur black background image with no desktop icons showing. I find its easy on the eyes and i like its purity. But when i hide the taskbar by selecting autohide, it still leaves a little horizontal line at the bottom of the screen.

So i was wondering if there is actually some way to completely hide the taskbar so that i can get a pure black image covering my entire DVI connected LCD screen. Im mentioing DVI because with a CRT i can simply incrase the vertical scale to hide it. But with DVI, there are no geometric screen adjustments.
Click to expand...

I wrote a program to do this for my best friend a little while back. Shoot me an email if you want a copy.
 
X

xMax

Senior member
Sep 2, 2005
448
0
0
i was actually able to do it with a pure white background. for some reason, i wans't able to get the taskbar, when hidden, to be pure black when the desktop background wallpaper was jujst a pure black image. but with a pure white background image on the desktop, i was able to get the hidden taskbar to become completely white and therefore appear completely hidden.

Since ive switched to choosing a white background over a black one, for monitor calibration related reasons, then for the moment i will not be needing such a program.

But thanks for the offer, and if i will contact you if i have a change of mind.
 
E

EliteXen

Senior member
Nov 13, 2003
426
0
0
Originally posted by: xMax
i was actually able to do it with a pure white background. for some reason, i wans't able to get the taskbar, when hidden, to be pure black when the desktop background wallpaper was jujst a pure black image. but with a pure white background image on the desktop, i was able to get the hidden taskbar to become completely white and therefore appear completely hidden.

Since ive switched to choosing a white background over a black one, for monitor calibration related reasons, then for the moment i will not be needing such a program.

But thanks for the offer, and if i will contact you if i have a change of mind.
Click to expand...

Cool, you're welcome.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom