i'm running xp off (pro??) oddly enuff my taskbar was not working so i went
to the start menu and brought up programs/microsoft office tools/shortcut bar
and it brought it back for me, you can also back door it by using explorer or
my computer and hit the programs folder and go into the office folder, i dont
remember which folder it is (1003 or 1033)anyway just go thru and find the
shortcut icon, click on it and it should ask you if you want it to start up
always (same as in the first option)
if that does not do it, you can try a system restore , or what i would most
likely do is just reinstall office, i would not uninstall it, it may even ask
you if you want to repair the install, that's tempting and again all up to
you but i would just reinstall it over the current install and then go get
your updates again, let me know how it goes, good luck