Mellowed--
I assume you don't have an earlier version of Office with a shortcut bar on
the box which can cause this, but try this:
To run the Microsoft Office 2000 Shortcut Bar automatically when Windows
starts, follow these steps:
1. Close the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar.
2. Click Start, point to Settings and click Taskbar & Start Menu.
3. On the Start Menu Programs tab, click Remove.
4. Click the plus sign (+) next to StartUp to expand the programs list.
5. Click Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar and then click Remove. Click Close
and then click OK.
This removes the shortcut to the earlier version of the Office Shortcut Bar
and keeps it from starting automatically when you start Windows.
6. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Office Tools and click
Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar. When the Office Shortcut Bar runs, click Yes
when the following message appears.
Would you like to configure the Office Shortcut Bar to start
automatically whenever Windows is started?
The next time you start Windows, the Office 2000 Shortcut Bar appears.
This may also help:
http://www.cramsession.com/articles/files/office-shortcut-bar-1292003-0757.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/203078/EN-US/
CH