System Tray: Sound, Battery, Wireless Network icons missing

Hey guys/gals, title tells all. For some reason all of these icons stopped appearing in my system tray.

Not sure if it helps, but another funny development when I am using Windows Explorer is that everytime I open a folder it opens a new windows (even thought I have the Folder Options selected to do otherwise).

 

Right click on the right side of the taskbar, click properties, and check the boxes under system icons. Also, with the other windows opening, check your folder and view options.

 

^ If that doesn't work, try this:

http://www.colincochrane.com/post/2007/10/Windows-Vista-Disappearing-System-Tray-Icons-Fix.aspx

 

I feel like such a n00b...

The odd thing is how the crap did this happen?

I'm typically pretty savvy on this sort of thing, I figured it was some sort of corruption somewhere...it may be, the "Snipping Tool" stopped working as well.

Thanks, the icons are back, but the windows are still opening up even thought options are to open the selected folder in the same window.

 

Just in case anyone was following this thread re: new folders always opening up in a new window regardless of which settings I select, here is a solution:

In short, I think something beefed my registry somehow, perhaps a program that didn't uninstall correctly.

Ciao