Windows 7: taskbar window issue

Hello, this is my first post. I´m having trouble with the taskbar window "icon" size - it is set to "small icons", but somehow Windows 7 changed it to a "squared" icon only, with no label. I tried a lot of things but nothing works.
Here´s the screenshot:

image 1: "long" icons with labels. this is how it was supposed to be, and this is how it was until yesterday (this image I found on Google)
image 2: square icons with no label (this is my screenshot)
(remembering that this is not the quick launch bar, it´s the taskbar)

ps: it is already set to "never combine"

Please help me fix this.
Thanks.

Welcome to the Seven Forums
Right click on the Taskbar go to Properties go to Taskbar Tab use the dropdown menu and use Never combine and Apply
Jerry

thanks, Jerry.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is already set to "never combine". This is why it's intrigating me.

Have you tried changing it to 1 of the others applying it then going back again?
Jerry

Yes. No success..

Try Option two SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker it will not harm anything.
Jerry

Hello again, Jerry.
It found no errors. But I had to restore, no success because I´m having exactly this problem:

1- Left navigation pane missing
2- Unable to restore system

This is really frustrating.

ps: the restoration to 16 december solved the taskbar window issue.

Glad you got the taskbar back.
Jerry

In explorer. Press Organize->Layout and check Navigation pane.

Thaks Kado, but doing this did not solve the problem.

Well, after an intensive Google search, I found out that my problem was caused by two modifications I´ve made in my computer: 1- registry edit to remove libraries folder; 2- explorerframe.dll edit to install Windows 7 themes.

System restoration did not solve the problem, system file checker also didn´t. So I had to reinstall Windows 7.

Everything is ok now, but one lesson learned: NEVER, never mess with system files to change themes or anything else. I prefer to use a horrible-baby-blue original Windows 7 theme that works than a beautiful custom theme full of bugs.