If I have a textpad window open and I click on the taskbar textpad to minimize it, it disappears from the taskbar and can't find a way to restore the window. Task Manager shows the task executing. If I kill it I loose the work. I'm using XP SP2.
Have you got "minimize to the taskbar status area" checked in the General section of the textpad preferences? If so it may be going there and getting hidden because of your taskbar "hide inactive icons" settings