My start taskbar, desktop icons and all my windows are opening exceeding the right edge of my screen (too wide). Have XP - have I changed something in error? No change to resolution size - no new hardware. I can drag back the window edge, but it reverts to too wide the next time I open. Have tried system restore to no avail. Thanks... Phil

Where are these quick start tiles that you speak of? Do you mean the ones next to the start button in Windows XP? If so, you have probably added a new item there recently and run out of space or shortened the toolbar or it has been deleted.

Is there a ">>" after your last icon? If so, click on it and I bet you'll find what you're looking for. In this case, you can either delete another unwanted icon or make the Quick Launch toolbar bigger. To make it bigger, just drag its edge to the right. If you can't see any edge, right-click on a blank area of the taskbar and deselect Lock the Taskbar. When you've adjusted the size, you can lock it again.

If it has been deleted, either look for it in your recycle bin or create a new one as shown for Windows XP since you didn't specify your operating system.

Right-click on the desktop and then click New, Shortcut. When it asks for the location, type www.gmail.com and click Next. You are now asked for a name so type Gmail. You can now drag this icon onto the Quick Launch toolbar. A copy will remain on the desktop, which you can keep or discard. If you lose another icon and you get a ">>", read above.

in windows 7 right click on the desktop and select Personalize. Then click display on the left. Choose small, medium or large.

in windows xp;
Shrinking Icons in Windows XP

• 1 Right-click on the desktop. A drop-down menu will appear on which you will click on "Properties."
  
• 2 In the "Display Properties" box, click on the "Settings" tab.
  
• 3 Slide the scale in the "Screen Resolution" box to the right to shrink the icons (and everything else that appears on the screen).
  
• 4 Click on "Apply" and then click on "OK."
  
• 5 Click on "Start" and then right-click on an empty space until a box that says "Properties" appears. Click on "Properties."
  
• 6 In the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" menu, click on "Customize."
  
• 7 In the box that says "Select an icon size for programs," click on "Small Icons."
  
• 8 Click on "Apply" and then click on "OK" to adjust the size.
  

Shrinking Icons in Windows Vista

• 9 Right-click on the desktop. When the drop-down menu appears, run the mouse-pointer over "View" and click on "Classic Icons." This will shrink the icons if they are set to either "Large Icons" or "Medium Icons."
  
• 10 Right-click on the desktop again and click on "Personalize."
  
• 11 On the "Personalize appearance and sounds" screen, click on "Taskbar and Start Menu" on the left side bar.
  
• 12 In the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" menu, click on the "Start Menu" tab.
  
• 13 Click on "Customize."
  
• 14 Find the box that says "Use large icons." If it is checked, uncheck it and click on "OK." This will shrink the Start Menu and Taskbar icons.
  

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_4855250_make-windows-icons-smaller.html#ixzz2ifeSGGtj

Which operating system do you have ?
The Window's taskbar organizes open and running programs, provides a quick way to access application shortcuts, and gives easy to access to important computer functions and utilities via the system tray. Most users of Windows center their workflow around the Window's task bar for its convenience and ease of use. With the clock function automatically enabled, users can add the date to their task bar while increasing the space for more application shortcuts.

Add The Date To The Taskbar In Windows XP/Vista Right-click on your Window's taskbar and click "Lock the taskbar" option to remove the check mark next to it and unlock your taskbar. If there is no check mark next to it, do not click it as your taskbar is already unlocked. Move your cursor to the top edge of the Start menu and wait for it to change into a double arrow. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag your mouse upwards until the taskbar physically changes in . When it does, it will add the day and the date under the time. Add The Date To The Taskbar In Windows 7 Right-click on the Window's taskbar and select "Properties" from the resulting menu. Click the check box next to "Use Small Icons" to disable the option. The icons will get slightly larger and the date will appear under the time. Click "Apply" followed by "Ok" to save your changes and exit the window.

Step 1:
Has your Windows taskbar suddenly moved to the side of your desktop screen or even to the top? This can be very disruptive to your daily computing, which may mean a loss of productivity at work. Your taskbar could have moved because of a glitch in programming or an inadvertent mouse click while you were focused on something else. The latter is more common and is usually the result of an unlocked taskbar.

Older Windows Operating Systems Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP and Windows Vista all utilize similar solutions for this problem. For the quickest route to returning the taskbar to the bottom of the screen, first place your mouse pointer over empty space on your taskbar (space not occupied by an icon or a button indicating an open program) and right-click. Look near the bottom of the menu that appears for the "Lock the Taskbar" listing, and make sure there is no check mark next to the listing. If there is a check mark, it means the taskbar is locked and cannot be moved, so click on the listing to deselect (and unlock) it. With your mouse pointer again over an empty space on the taskbar, click and hold the left mouse button and then move the mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen. When you release the left mouse button, your taskbar should have moved. As long as the taskbar is unlocked, you can also vary its height. Hold the mouse pointer over the upper edge of the taskbar until it becomes a double arrow (pointing up and down). Then click and hold while you drag the upper edge of the taskbar to the you desire. Once you have the taskbar where you want it, remember to lock it again by selecting the listing on the right-click taskbar menu.

Another option is to visit the Microsoft Windows website and download and run an automatic "Fix it" program, which should take care of programming issues. Windows 7
There are three options for moving the taskbar in the Windows 7 operating system. The first option involves right-clicking on an empty space in the taskbar and then navigating to the "Properties" menu (look near the center of the menu) to set the location of your taskbar on your screen. This menu also allows you to change or establish a number of other default settings relating to your Start menu and taskbar. The second option is exactly the same as the first process given for the Windows operating systems previously mentioned. And again, to prevent the format you have established from changing, lock the taskbar by right-clicking on an empty space of the taskbar and selecting "Lock the Taskbar" from the menu. The third option is a bit more involved and requires downloading registry files (files ending in ".reg"), saving them to your desktop and then double-clicking on them to merge them with your operating system. The files can be deleted after use.
Microsoft online support
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/253679

Sympton

You cannot see the taskbar (which contains the "Start" button) anywhere on your desktop.

Causes

1. The taskbar may be hiding at the bottom of the screen after being accidentally resized.


2. If the presentation display was changed, the taskbar may have moved off of the visible screen (Windows 7 and Vista only).


3. The taskbar may be set to "Auto-hide" (Windows XP with Service Pack 2 only).

Solutions

1. Put the mouse pointer on the bottom border of your screen.
   
   
   • If the pointer turns into a double-arrow , click and drag upwards.
   • If your taskbar isn't hiding at the bottom of the screen, try moving the mouse to the right, left, and top edges, looking for the double-arrow.


2. Press the Windows logo key and the P key on your keyboard to bring up the presentation display mode options.
   
   
   • Make sure "Computer Only" is selected.
   • Use the arrow keys to toggle between options and Enter to select the correct display mode.


3. Press the Windows key on the keyboard to bring up the Start Menu


• Right-Click on the taskbar and select Properties.
• Toggle the 'Auto-Hide the taskbar' checkbox and click Apply.
• If it is now checked, move the cursor to the bottom, right, left, or top of the screen and the taskbar should re-appear.
• Repeat step three to return to your original setting.

The desktop screenshot might need reducing

Click start "Control Panel."

Click "Display" and then select the Settings tab in the Display Properties window.

Use the slider bar under in the screen resolution section of the applet to change the resolution and click "Apply."

The screen repaints at the new resolution.

Click "Yes" to keep the resolution, or answer "No" at the prompt to revert to the original settings.

The taskbar is a central user interface component within the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system.

Located along the bottom of the screen by default, it includes the "Start" button, provides one-click access to all open programs and contains a collection of utility icons and the system clock in a section called the Notification Area.

Windows 2000 gives you the ability to adjust the behavior of the taskbar in several ways.

After you know where to find the proper menu item, performing this task takes only a few clicks.

Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select "Properties."

Click the "General" tab located along the top of the resulting dialog box.

Check the Always on Top box if you want the taskbar to appear above all other items on your screen.

Check the Auto Hide box if you want the taskbar to disappear into the bottom of the screen when you move the cursor away from the taskbar.

Check the Show Small Icons in Start Menu box if you want to enable this behavior.

Check the Show Clock box to show the system clock within the Notification Area at the right edge of the taskbar.

Check the Personalized Menus box if you want the "Start" menu to show the items you use regularly and hide the items you don't.

Click "OK" to confirm your changes.

They take effect immediately.

Hope this helps

In your display settings you set it to display larger than the maximum size of the monitor it supports. for a netbook. it is might be around 1024x576 depending on your model. it can also be 1024x600.. Go to your display settings in control panel and click on display or right click on your desktop and go to preferences. you can adjust your display settings there.

A.

1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Point to Arrange Icons By.
3. Click Show Desktop Icons.

B. To re-create the Show desktop icon yourself, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type notepad in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Carefully copy and then paste the following text into the Notepad window:[Shell]
   Command=2
   IconFile=explorer.exe,3
   [Taskbar]
   Command=ToggleDesktop
3. On the File menu, click Save As, and then save the file to your desktop as "Show desktop.scf". TheShow desktop icon is created on your desktop.
4. Click and then drag the Show desktop icon to your Quick Launch toolbar.

This sounds like corrupted Windows and will require a software reload, however you might try this to make things easier in the mean time... (written for XP)
Right click in the taskbar (usually at the bottom of the screen). If 'Lock the Taskbar' is checked, click it to uncheck. Next, click 'toolbars' and 'Desktop'. This should put a new toolbar in your taskbar called Desktop. You should be able to push this all the way to the right. Now when you want to access the desktop Icons, they will be available at the double arrows on the right of the word Desktop. I keep mine this way all the time so I can access stuff on the desktop even when it is covered with open windows.

You have only increased your taskbar size, don't worry...
Right-click on an empty part of the taskbar, and ensure the "lock the taskbar" is unchecked. Next, position your mouse right on the top edge of the taskbar, your mouse should change to two black opposing pointing arrows. Hold left-click, and drag the taskbar down.
This will reduce the taskbar back to the way you're used to.
Hope this helps, and please rate this answer.