XP taskbar locks out ???

I have found that my taskbar in XP PRO disappears frequently...
It usually happens after I have opened explorer or netscape...but also when I open other programs...I can still use <alt> + <tab> to switch between applications and I can still right click on the desktop to get display properties...IT does't make a difference if the taskbar is set to autohide or not...I tried both...

However, I can't get the start button to work or bring back the taskbar...I push the start key in windows or <ctrl> + <alt> + <esc> an nothing happens...The computer is not locked everything else works, even shortcuts...but only on the desktop.

The only solution I have found to get the taskbar back is to change my theme in XP. So now I have two identical themes that I switch between when this happens...

Can anyone suggest anything to fix this? I am quite annoyed by this little bug. This is my only WIN XP PRO problem that I haven't been able to solve myself...

THANKS

The exact same thing has happened to me before. I recently downloaded all the updates (and there are a lot) for XP, and I haven't had the problem since. I don't know if that had anything to do with it though, I might've just been lucky.

Thanks PCGIRL, I too have installed ALL the updates. I am kind of anal when it comes to that...

It hasn't helped though...