ms browser lock symbol disappear

Have ie 6.0 and the toolbar (i think it's a toolbar)
that displays the lock symbol and url of a link i pass the 
mouse over keeps disappearing.
I set it to display (and have now forgotten how)
and that toolbar will stay for a few days or weeks, then suddenly
no longer displays. 
the ms ie help only tells me what the symbol means, but not 
how to display it. 
Once i get it set, is there a way to lock the settings?
<frustrated>
jim