Windows 7 - Desktop navigation pane disappears

frequently my navigation pane at the bottom of my desktop disappears. it usually happens when i leave the laptop running. i can't seem to go to system restore since it only lets me go back to the previous day. this has been going on for over a week and i do not know how to resolve the issue. i have searched the internet to find solutions but have not been able to do so. to resolve the problem i have to bring up the task manger and end explorer. then i have to run explorer again for the navigation bar/pane to appear. anyone know how to resolve this. i am running windows 7 ultimate 32-bit

thank you everyone in advance

Hi vietle, and welcome to Sevenforums.

As in navigation pane, to you mean the taskbar, with all the programs on there?

If you can recreate the problem, please try this tests:

Try pressing the Windows key and tell us if the start menu pops up.

If not, to get the taskbar back, Go to task manager (Ctrl + Shift+ Esc). Go to the 'Applications' tab. Click the 'New task...' button. Type in "explorer.exe" (without the quotes) and press enter. Tell us if the taskbar comes back up.

yes all those procedures work.
i think what i am referring to is the bottom toolbar icons. sorry i'm probably incorrect on what i call it. right next to the windows icon on the bottom left hand corner and i several quick launch icons in the taskbar. if the computer sits idle for a long time somehow all the icons disappear including when i have a browser open. the only way for me to make it appear again is by ending the explorer app and running the explorer.exe app again.

I have had the same problem. Explorer is crashing as you have noted. I don't think there's a fix.