Wictor Wilén

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) - SharePoint 2010 | Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) - SharePoint Server MVP | Author

Missing icons in Windows Vista Notification Area

Posted at 2007-03-20 11:09 by Wictor Wilén in Windows Vista with 53 comments.

Numerous times my Windows Vista has been missing icons in the Notification Area (when did Microsoft stop calling it System Tray?). The icons that has been missing is normally Network, Volume and Power.

In Windows Vista you can easily enable these three notification icons, as well as the Clock, in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog, accessible by right-clicking the Start icon and selecting properties. But the problem is that I can't enable these icons when they disappear after starting Vista - they are disabled.

A reboot solves the problem and the icons are back and I can once again enable or disable them.

Have you noticed this and do you have any idea on how to solve it?

Comments and trackbacks

# Yes by Mark

I have noticed this - I experience it occasionally, a reboot does not alway solve the problem.

# yes by nich

i noticed this today, and found this site. so at least i know im not the only one experiencing the problem

# Same here by ba_rt

Hopefully someone that has a solution will drop by. I have this problem on a Dell laptop, do you guys also have laptops?

# Possible solution by ba_rt

http://antemeridiem.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/missing-system-icons-in-windows-vista/ Don't know if this will fix it permanently, but worked for me after reboot.

# Never mind by ba_rt

The fix does not work.

# Laptop by Wictor

I have a laptop, but it also appears on my desktop.

# Unable to make volume icon reappear by bir-vt

I tried right-clicking on Start and then clicking on Properties, but can't click on Volume - it is grayed out. I have a Dell laptop (Inspiron E1705) and I am running Vista Home Premium. Anyone have a suggestion?

# Re: unable to make volume icon reappear by Wictor

I think this is a bug in Vista. Any of the three icons disappears at totally random and different times. Guess we all have to wait for a service pack. I have not seen it mentioned in any documents of SP1.

# Totally! by Shane

Yeah, I have this same problem on my Acer laptop, which has Vista Home Premium. Hopefully someone can figure it out. It's frustrating!

# Workaround? by Jack

There's a workaround on MS's support pages now. Haven't tried it yet... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945011

# Possible solution to the missing icons in the Vista Notification Area by Trackback

Finally there is a possible workaround for the missing icons in the Vista Notification Area, see my post from march 2007. The workaround is documented in KB945011 - "System icons may not appear in the...

# Re: Workaround by Wictor

Thanks Jack, but it does not solve it permanently though.

# unknown icon by Leslie

There is an icon in the notification area that I can not figure out what it is. It is a grey square that my be a picture of a monitor with a red circle and line through it

# Well thanks :D by Bernie

I reebooted my coputer and i was able to enable the icons again. Why does this happen? I dont know. How to fix it? I dont know either. I know one thing for sure: Windows Vista SUCKS!

# Problem remains in Septmber 2008 by Cyrus Lesser

This is really disgraceful that SP1 did not fix this very well known bug. It occurs less often than it used to, but definitely still a problem - genrally caused by Sleep/Hibernate/Docking/Undocking cycles that Vista was supposed to tolerate well but usually doesn't, at least not the x64 version of Ultimate.

# Re: Problem remains by Wictor

Can't agree more. How hard can it be? Especially since these three icons is handled in a special area of the notification area. (Why that annoying space between these three and the rest of the icons!)

# Happens to me after.. by Kalpesh

Happens after waking up the vista from sleep mode and no fix yet.

# Same here by rome mele

Having the same problem here. Can't figure out what the hell is wrong with my Laptop... Vista is gettin me pissed off. :(

# Find the solution here... It worked for me. by Rome Mele

Click on the link and find the solution... http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/clean-up-past-notification-icons-in-windows-vista/#comment-60243 :)

# Find the solution here... It worked for me. by Rome Mele

Click on the link and find the solution... http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/clean-up-past-notification-icons-in-windows-vista/#comment-60243 :)

# I hate vista by bill

This and other basic problems have ruined my experience of my new Acer laptop. Disgraceful that a product with so many idiotic basic problems was allowed to retail. Solution? Bin it, and never buy anything by Microsoft ever again. I can't wait until they are sued.

# Regedit Hack Then icons appear by Prt

Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify In the Details pane, click the IconStreams registry entry. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes. In the Details pane, click the PastIconsStream registry entry. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes. Exit Registry Editor. Restart the Explorer.exe process. To do these, follow these steps: Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC. On the Processes tab in Windows Task Manager, click the explorer.exe process, and then click End Process two times. On the File menu, click New Tasks (Run), type explorer, and then click OK. Exit Windows Task Manager.

# Re: reg hack by Wictor

Yes, I've seen this one. Unfortunatley it just temporary fixes it. Issues still remains (even after SP1, but not that often) /WW

# Re: Regedit Hack Then icons appear by Ella

After doing that and restarting explorer.exe, I had to right-click on my taskbar, go to the "Notification Area" tab, and find the now-ungrayed out Network and Volume icons, which I could now check. I guess I should expect this problem to happen often though, based on what I'm reading here. I'm tired of encountering new Vista bugs. It looks pretty, but XP never gave me a problem.

# annoyed by extremely angry

i have the same problem, i have a dell inspirion laptop and i have been pissed off!!! every time this happens to me does anyone know how to fix this permantely every other time i turn on my laptop the volume, battery, and network icons are missing i'm so sick of this. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I THROW THIS LAPTOP OUT THE WINDOW!!!! not kidding around this is serious

# Icons 64Bit Vista by cl

The problem with the notifications icons comes back. You realize it when you get the Power icon and the battery icon looks empty. This means that the Network and Volume icons are typically disabled. Logging off and back on seems to take care of the problem, it is very annoying since this is a rather basic function.

# Notification Area Missing Volume-Network Icon by Mrsson

This has reolved it many thanks, after simple reboot i right clicked Start-up / Properties / Notification Area again and the System Icons feature was once again working and i could enable the icons which i hadn't been able to do before. Nice. But i do hope this is not a repeating issue

# reboot by Trinytrog

Restart vista, then right click on notification area and selecting properties worked for me. thanks for the help.

# I am also getting same problem by Matrika Prasad Koirala

I am also getting the same problem in Windows VISTA ultimhate X64. Some time it works after restarting the computer but some times not. This is the sucking problem.

# Missing icons in Windows Vista Notification Area by Marty

I have also experianced this problem several times. I have found a quick fix is to do a system resore to a point when I know that everything was working. In fact, when things are working as they should be I often make a restore point to use at sometime in the future.

# instant solution, not permanent though by fredbred

Hi, I just experienced it. i solved it by starting the task manager kill explorer and start it from the task manager. when it loaded again, everything was back. its just quicker then reboot, but same effect if would think.

# volume restore by LYNN

I followed the directions ..right click on task bar..click on properties...click on notification..and can't click on volume? Can anyone help? Thanks

# Fredbred's worked by Elliot Ingram

Thanks mate very useful!!! BTW to start it again go to file/new task and type "explorer.exe" I had to think about it to start explorer again :P Dont know about permanent yet, but i would presume its all ok after a reboot which people are sayin :/ thanks anyway (Y) :D :D

# The MS Site link solved it. by Auyon

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945011 Thanks.

# Disappearing system icons by Ramesh

I am facing the same problem and it is really strange that there is no permanent solution to this!

# Disappearing system icons by DELL_guy

paste these and run: http://tinyurl.com/9js4hj http://tinyurl.com/7f3t55 http://tinyurl.com/8adja4

# Disappearing System Icons by Alexandar

The icon was enabled to be clicked but I didn't take any notice. Thank you!!

# Disappearing System Icons by Bhanu

i did as us ay but doing that the taskbar disappeared...now what to do

# Disappearing System Icons by Stevieleigh Ramsay

Im a 13year old girl looking into IT, i have a 'ASUS' Laptop, With an Updated version of vista, ultimate or something, I just wondered why my Normal icons like 'My computer' and 'recycle bin' suddenly disappeared, Im only young and dont know very much about computers, can you help, i would be very greatful :)!

# Kill explorer and restart (RUN) explorer.exe by Paul W.

It works. It sucks that you have to do this, but it does work. Thanks, fredbred!

# Missing Icons in Notification area by Mike H

Muchas Gracias to Fredbred for the info about the fix for this annoying Vista anamoly. It is a simple enough fix that it makes this problem less vexing. And when you work with a bunch of computer illiterates like I do , any simple fix is a godsend...........

# This is a timing problem by Mircea Dunka

It's a timing problem during startup. Restarting explorer.exe solves it. As prt said, you can delete the registry keys from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify , but this will only clear the "hidden icons" and "previous icons" lists. Until this is fixed, you can only restart the explorer process, either by restarting the computer (:)), either by logging off, either by using the task manager.

# no icons in notification area by Ed

To solve this problem go here... http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/notification-area-icons-missing-in-vista/

# no icons in notification area by Paul

This link does provide accurate information to fix this problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945011

# Volume, Network, Power ico missing by Prateep

I am also facing same problem after automatic updating Java.

# Fredbred is the man!!!! by flexipino

this subject has been bugging me for a long time.

# Quick-Temporary solution by John Ezetta

Hi. Fredbred's advice was great. I will say again for those who missed it. Open task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC), got to Processes tab, find "explorer.exe" and End Process. Then go to File, New Task(Run...), type explorer.exe and click ok. It's waaaaaay quicker than reboot. too bad it's not a permanent fix :'(

# volume nd connection icon dissapear by dhan

is it the problem of vista only or in other operating systmes as well? i always have this problems i did it many time it works for certain time. after some times the same problems occur.

# Netwok, power, volume icons in notification area by Luiz Moita

Shame on Microsoft and his bad work! They have the greatest business in the world B.Gates has the greatest fortune and they remain awfull professionals. How is it possible all this coments and not only one satisfactory solution from the bloody Microsofot ! I've tried all the information on line and in the computer and all the answers ARE WRONG !!! They simply don't work. How in the hell can Y get the stupid icons of power, volume and Network back into my notification area ?????????????

# The Fix! by Kerry

Using a REG File Download NOTE: This method will enable or disable a System icon. This method will work for all Vista versions. 1. For the Clock Icon - A) To Disable the Clock Icon - Disable_Clock.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD B) To Enable the Clock Icon - Enable_Clock.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 2. For the Volume Icon - A) To Disable the Volume Icon - Disable_Volume.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD B) To Enable the Volume Icon - Enable_Volume.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 3. For the Network Icon - NOTE: To make sure that this icon works properly you should also have the Services Network Connections, Network List Service, Network Location Awareness, and Network Store Interface Service set to Started and Automatic. For how, see: How to Disable or Enable Vista Services with an Advice Guide A) To Disable the Network Icon - Disable_Network.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD B) To Enable the Netwok Icon - Enable_Network.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 4. For the Power (battery) Icon - NOTE: This will remain grayed out unless your computer is a laptop or has a UPS battery backup connected to it. To create a Power Options shortcut, see: How to Create a Power Options Shortcut in Vista A) To Disable the Power Icon - Disable_Power.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD B) To Enable the Power Icon - Enable_Power.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop. 6. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge. 7. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up. 8. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted. 9. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop). 10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

# The Fix by Kerry

Here's the Link - http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/106787-notification-area-system-icons.html

# It Worked by Find Slogan Here

It worked awesomely Thanks

# Microsoft help by Microsoft help

Notification icons appear in the notification area in the bottom-right corner of your computer screen.These icons include volume, network and power.If your notification icons are missing on your Windows Vista machine,you can restore them by making some changes in the system registry..

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