Icon size in Notification area on XP Pro

[NorthernScott]

I've just got a new machine running Windows XP Pro and somehow I've managed to make the icons in the notification area on the bottom right of screen about twice the size as they should be, also the clock doesn't just have the time now - it also has what day it is underneath it. The icons on the quickstart menu on the bottom left are also twice as big now. And the icons on Internet Explorer at the bottom on the status bar are are big to.

I'd have thought it would be easy to change this but going into the options on the notification area for example only gives you options to turn clock on/off or to make icons inactive/active. I've played for ages to work it out but no luck. Nothing mentioned in the help file or even online on the microsoft site. I have asked people on other less specific forums but no luck. Our office IT man couldnt work it out either. Another person in the office has just mentioned it might be something in the Accessibility options (i.e. for people with bad eye sight) but I don't recall going into them.

If it's any help they are only changed on my profile. If I log on as my dad or brother their icon sizes are fine. I'm the Admin on the PC if it makes any difference.

Thanks for any help.

[LooseChippings]

Right Click an empty area of the Taskbar > Properties > Start Menu > Ensure Start Menu is Checked > Customise > General > Check 'Small Icons' > OK > OK

[NorthernScott]

Think I've already tried that one, it really does seem as simple as that but is not so. I'll double check when i get home (on work PC at moment with win 98) and let you know.

[lj50]

Is the taskbar twice the normal size. If it is right click on an empty space on the taskbar uncheck lock the taskbar put the arrow on the edge of the top of the taskbar until you see the two up and down arrows and drag the top of the taskbar down until you see just the clock and your usual icons. Then right click on an empty space on the taskbar and recheck lock the taskbar. I hope this is what you are looking for.

[NorthernScott]

The taskbar is the normal size, I've already tried that one. It is showing but wont reduce any more. If you raise it then the date i.e. 11/12/2003 also shows along with the day and time.

This is starting to really annoy me. I've used Windows 98 for years and have just recently got XP - I know all the obvious usual things to check but nothing seems to work

[lj50]

Can you remember what date this started? If so did you try doing a system restore.

[LooseChippings]

Try this ...

Right click a clear area inside your Quick Launch toolbar > View > Small Icons

[NorthernScott]

I've got it sorted!!

I opened the display properties box and on the appearance tab changed it to "Windows classic style". When applied it changed the icons in the quick lanch menu and notification area back to their normal size. I then changed it back to windows xp style and it of course went back to that syle except this time the icons remained small. Why this happened I've no idea but I've sorted it at last!

In response to LooseChippings comment "Right click a clear area inside your Quick Launch toolbar > View > Small Icons" -
I tried this except they were already on small (except were big!). When i changed it to large the icons got even bigger (their normal large size). When changed back to small they went smaller (but still big). This option only applies to the Quick lanch menu, it doesn't affect anything in the Notication area therefore obviously wasn't the problem. You do not get this same option in the Notification area properties anyway, you can only hide inactive icons or turn the clock on/off.

If it's any use I should have previously mentioned that when the icons were this abnormal size they weren't of good quality, i.e. stretched or pixelated. This may open up a new theory from someone?

Sorted now anyway

Thanks for everyones help, I'd kind of given up trying to find out until I found this forum and starting trying things again.

[bosneger]

The correct answer to you question is rather hard to find. But i found it.
I self had this big icon issue in my quicklaunch bar. After trying your tip with xp style and classic style the icons remained big.

The trick is when you have your taskbar locked you can't change all the hidden stuff
Uncheck lock taskbar and rightclick in empty space somewhere in the quicklaunch area. When done correctly you will see some extra options and menu to change size and textlabels.

Is this worth an easter egg?

[RubbishIcons]

Originally Posted by NorthernScott

I've got it sorted!!

I opened the display properties box and on the appearance tab changed it to "Windows classic style". When applied it changed the icons in the quick lanch menu and notification area back to their normal size. I then changed it back to windows xp style and it of course went back to that syle except this time the icons remained small. Why this happened I've no idea but I've sorted it at last!

Thanks mate, even though you'll probably never read this as you posted it nearly 4 years ago...

Anyway this fixed my problem too.

In my case, I know what made Windows do this stupidness - I just upgraded my motherboard, and without new drivers the USB wouldn't work, which meant I had no mouse.

In an attempt to enable mouse cursor control by keyboard, I opened the Accessibility 'Wizard'. As soon as I did this, the icons in the quickstart went just like yours - big, but not as big as the 'View > Large Icons' setting. It also made the icons in the notification area the same size, _and_ the icons in the application bars that appear on the taskbar for each running program. Basically, it made Windows look really, really rubbish (Yes, even worse than Windows always does look!)

Even though I cancelled the 'Wizard' (pah, if this is a Wizard, then I'm Harry Potter) the icons were left at this silly size.

Just thought I'd add this in case it helps anyone else (although I'm loathe to attract anyone to such a spam-riddled site as this one)