The Task Pane was introduced in Excel 2002 (version 10.0), so if you're
really using Excel 2000, you won't find it in your version.
If this is happening in Excel 2002, you may have a hidden workbook that
opens automatically as Excel starts up (e.g. Personal.xls), so the Task
Pane closes, despite the Task Pane setting. You can change the Registry,
or add a macro to the workbook that's opening automatically.
There are instruction for a macro in the following MSKB article:
Task Pane Disappears When You Start Excel
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826837
Or, you can force the Task Pane to stay open by making a change to the
Registry (make a backup first!):
1. From the Start button, choose Run
2. Type regedit then click OK
3. Click the + sign to the left of HKEY_CURRENT_USER
4. Open Software, Microsoft, Office, 10.0, Common, and click on General
5. Choose Edit>New>DWORD Value
6. Type the name for the DWORD: DoNotDismissFileNewTaskPane
7. Press Enter to complete the renaming
8. Choose Edit>Modify
9. Type 1 as the value and click OK
10. Close the Registry Editor
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