To sort your keyboard out:

click START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL

find your list of options (like below) and select REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS and a grey box should appear (like below)

Make sure its showing "English United Kingdom"


As for the task bar not working, could be a number of things, without looking at your pc will be a bit harder to sort.... you could try and download Taskbar Repair Tool Plus click on utilities on the right hand side and its the first link