Raucous
Member
Hello and thanks in advance for any help offered.
I updated to Windows 11 (preview) about 3 months ago on my new build, and everything was hunky-dory, but about a month ago I ran a "driver search and update" type program (don't judge) and since that point my taskbar has been corrupt. I rolled back windows to an earlier point, but it didn't effect the issue, I've been on and off troubleshooting it ever since, but haven't managed to fix it, so I'm seeking greater knowledge.
My bar currently:
- Runs vertically up the left side of my primary screen
- Does not display start button or pinned apps (which should be centred)
- Windows float behind it
- The network and audio tray sits on top of the notification tray, preventing me accessing the apps and overflow section
I'm pretty sure the driver search and deploy app I ran has just set a key wrongly in the registry but sadly I didn't backup registry before running the app. I've spent the last 3 months installing software on this machine and configuring it so I'd rather not take the nuclear option.
So I'm searching for suggestions on keys to reset or remove to try to reset the task bar back to scratch.
I know a picture speaks a thousand words so I've included one, though mostly it just shows an absence of the useful stuff
Thank you kindly,
I updated to Windows 11 (preview) about 3 months ago on my new build, and everything was hunky-dory, but about a month ago I ran a "driver search and update" type program (don't judge) and since that point my taskbar has been corrupt. I rolled back windows to an earlier point, but it didn't effect the issue, I've been on and off troubleshooting it ever since, but haven't managed to fix it, so I'm seeking greater knowledge.
My bar currently:
- Runs vertically up the left side of my primary screen
- Does not display start button or pinned apps (which should be centred)
- Windows float behind it
- The network and audio tray sits on top of the notification tray, preventing me accessing the apps and overflow section
I'm pretty sure the driver search and deploy app I ran has just set a key wrongly in the registry but sadly I didn't backup registry before running the app. I've spent the last 3 months installing software on this machine and configuring it so I'd rather not take the nuclear option.
So I'm searching for suggestions on keys to reset or remove to try to reset the task bar back to scratch.
I know a picture speaks a thousand words so I've included one, though mostly it just shows an absence of the useful stuff

Thank you kindly,
- Windows Build/Version
- OS Build 2248, 1000
Attachments
My Computers
System One System Two
-
- OS
- Windows 11 Insider Preview (10.0, Build 22458)
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Self built
- CPU
- i9 -10900X
- Motherboard
- Asus WS X299 Sage/10G
- Memory
- 32GB Corsair Dominator 1600MHz quad channel
- Graphics Card(s)
- 2x RTX 3090FE SLI, 1x RTX3070
- Sound Card
- Onboard (Realtek)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3x ROG 2k g-sync displays in surround
- Screen Resolution
- 7680x1440
- Hard Drives
- Sabrent Rocket 4 1TB (OS)
Sabrent Rocket 2TB (RAID cache and hungry apps)
4x 6TB mechanical drives in RAID 10
- PSU
- Corsair AX1600i
- Case
- Lian Li O11D XL
- Cooling
- tl;dr Exotic
- Keyboard
- Cherry Mechanical - Brown switch with dampner
- Mouse
- Razer Naga
- Internet Speed
- ~20Mbps down, 4Mbps up - Priority traffic flow
- Browser
- Chrome Version 94.0.4606.61
- Antivirus
- Malwarebytes 4.4.6
-
- Operating System
- Windows 10 Pro 19042.1237
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Self Built
- CPU
- i7-3770K
- Motherboard
- Asus Sabertooth Z77
- Memory
- 16GB Corsair Vengeance Dual Channel 800MHz
- Graphics card(s)
- 1x RTX 3090, 1x RTX 3070, 1x RTX 3060
- Sound Card
- On board (Realtek)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 3x Dell 2408WFP
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1200 x3
- Hard Drives
- 4x Samsung 128GB SSD 2.5" in RAID 0
1x Samsung 120GB SSD M.2
1x Samsung 240GB SSD 2.5"
1x Crucial 240GB SSD 2.5"
1x WD 1TB HDD 3.5"
1x WD 2TB HDD 3.5"
1x Seagate 1TB HDD 3.5"
1x Seagate 2TB HDD 3.5"
- PSU
- Enermax Platinum 1200
- Case
- Corsair Obsidian 450d
- Cooling
- tl;dr Exotic
- Mouse
- Synergy kvm (Razer Naga)
- Keyboard
- Synergy kvm (Cherry brown switch)
- Internet Speed
- ~20Mbps down, 4Mbps up
- Browser
- Chrome Version 94.0.4606.61
- Antivirus
- Windows Defender