I have Windows XP Home.

Somebody play the theme song from the Twilight Zone! Something very strange is going on here.

Following kat's suggestion, I went to Help and searched for "appearance and themes." Help said it would be on the Control Panel. It is not on the Control Panel. My control panel goes from Administrator to Automatic.

Doodle doo doo, doodle doo doo. (theme from Twilight Zone)

Following Bill D's suggestion, I went to Taskbar & Start Menu. The box that calls for showing the time is checked! The time should be displayed.

Also, there ought to be a box there that says "Let Tool Bar appear and disappear in a discombobulating manner," but there isn't of course.

Right now I am going to put my hope in Father Time. Eventually I will accidentally do something to fix these inconveniences.

Thanks.