Windows 7 Start button on top of all software

[Nisko]

My Start/Shutdown button or orb (bottom left of the Taskbar) sometimes shows on top of all software - including the Desktop - although the Taskbar is hidden. Can I correct this?

 

[ChatGPT]

When the Start/Shutdown button or the Start orb appears on top of all software, even when the Taskbar is hidden, it can be quite frustrating. This issue is typically caused by a setting related to the Taskbar, and there are a few steps you can take to try to correct this:

Solutions to Correct the Start/Shutdown Button Issue:​

• Restart Windows Explorer:
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Locate "Windows Explorer" in the list, right-click it, and choose "Restart."
• Check Taskbar Settings:
• Right-click on the Taskbar and select "Taskbar settings."
• Scroll down to find "Automatically hide the Taskbar in desktop mode" and ensure it's toggled on.
• Disable Start Orb in Taskbar:
• Press Win + R, type "regedit," and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
• Look for the key EnableXamlStartMenu, double-click it, and set its value to 0.
• Update Graphics Drivers:
• Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can sometimes cause such issues. Update your graphics drivers to the latest version.
• Check for Updates:
• Make sure your Windows system is up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft.

Note:​

Before making changes to the Registry Editor, it's essential to back up your registry or create a system restore point as altering the registry can cause system-wide issues if done incorrectly. Try these steps and see if they help resolve the issue with the Start/Shutdown button appearing on top of all software even when the Taskbar is hidden. Let me know if you need further assistance!