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    System tray missing status icons

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Freelancer332, Jun 9, 2008.

  1. Freelancer332

    Freelancer332 Notebook Evangelist

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    For some reason, my computer isn't displaying the "network" and "volume" system icons anymore...
    I right clicked on the taskbar to check the properties and it seems now that my volume and network checkboxes are grayed out...therefore unselectable..

    This is the first time I've encountered such a problem and I've had this laptop with vista for over half a year

    Any ideas?
     
    Freelancer332, Jun 9, 2008
    #1
  2. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    Did you install some software recently? I would say System Restore if you know a point that it worked, and can go back without losing something else. Otherwise scan for viruses/spyware. Are your sound and network devices functioning properly? I would check in the network connection's properties as well as the sound device properties to see if something's awry.
     
    ttupa, Jun 9, 2008
    #2
  3. niGht kiD

    niGht kiD .. beach boy ♫

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    niGht kiD, Jun 9, 2008
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  4. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    orev, Jun 10, 2008
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  5. Patatina

    Patatina Newbie

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    Had such a problem once but rebooting helped me :)
     
    Patatina, Jun 17, 2008
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  6. Blemish

    Blemish Notebook Consultant

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    yeah , I have experienced this problem as well and it seems pretty common. before you try and follow the complicated solutions, try and reboot first. Then after rebooting, see if you can enable them again by rightclicking your taskbar and going to the settings.

    That worked for me.
     
    Blemish, Jun 19, 2008
    #6
  7. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Right click on the start, select properties, select the notification bar, and check the appropriate icons.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 19, 2008
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  8. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    The problem is that sometimes these checkboxes are disabled and you cannot re-enable them without fixing the registry and rebooting.
     
    orev, Jun 19, 2008
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  9. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Then run ccleaner, that will also repair the registers.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 20, 2008
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  10. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    This has nothing to do with a corrupt registry or some random bits that some program left behind when you uninstall. That's all that ccleaner handles. The problem here is caused by a bug in Vista which you can work around by changing these settings in the registry.

    Contrary to popular belief, the registry is not some magical thing that once you clean it all problems are fixed.
     
    orev, Jun 20, 2008
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  11. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Which bug are you talking about? I have Vista and I do not suffer this issue.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 21, 2008
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  12. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    The bug is sufficiently described by the OP. If you don't have it, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
     
    orev, Jun 21, 2008
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  13. jeepman

    jeepman Notebook Enthusiast

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    This may not help anyone, but i have had the same problem many times. Editing the registry will get your icons back. The problem is that some of these services, while booting, time out, and the icons do not appear on the notification tray. Have you noticed your systems booting slower than normal?? As it turned out, I had MSN viruses that my antivirus program never detected. (Even though I have never used the msn messenger, so i don't know how I got them.) After running impfix.exe, my problem was cured. All I can say is that my vista laptop boots MUCH faster, and these processes do not time out, and I have not had the problem since. It cured mine. If anyone decides to try this, let me know if it worked for you. (to find impfix, just google it..)

    jeepman
     
    jeepman, Sep 11, 2008
    #13