Can't see minimized windows

[sgpcuser]

I am using Windows XP Home SP1 on an HP t688d. At the desktop, when I minimize a window, it disappears instead of becoming a button on the taskbar. When I do the alt+tab, I can see the minimized apps running.

How can I make minimized windows appear as buttons on the task bar?

I looked at Control Panels: Taskbar & Start Button but could not seem to find the solution there.

When I minimize windows, they seem to shrink and disappear behind the Start button on the bottom left-hand corner.

Thanks for the help!

[glc]

Does anything ever show up in the taskbar? Unlock it and see if something got dragged all the way under the start button.