OS:XPsp2

Problem:
The quick launch thing is taki up all the space on my taskbar.The problem here is,every time I open a file or folder or minimize it,it dosent show up in the taskbar and I have to keep usin the alt+tab to do ANYTHING.Here's the blunder.It wont get any smaller and every time i CLOSE the quick launch toolbar,my start menu dissapears.What I think I should do is set the start menu and the taskbar settings to default.But I dont know how to.