Windows Updates changes system tray icons

R

robertjc

Member
Whenever I do an Autoupdate, there are often slight changes to the system tray icons. Or, they are in a slightly different order.

Today, WU gave me an update for the display adapter; afterwards, my networking icon disappeared! (But I was still connected okay.) I went to the properties for Notification Area (Taskbar and Start Menu Properties) and the Networking checkbox was unchecked. I checked it. I've also had times when the Networking checkbox was completely grayed so I couldn't check or uncheck it.
 

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System One

Welcome
Most people update in the wrong way, causing problems, crashes and freezes.
Most time those updates require restarting the computer and if you have them set for upadate automatically, the restart can cause conflicts
May I suggest change your automatic update settings to notify and on the Second Tuesday of the Month (patch Tuesday) install only one or two at a time. Never mind the small concern that you have, you may be avoiding much bigger problems.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html
I have helped many who have had major problems, by setting update to automatic.
Patch Tuesday is Almost here, try it then and let us know.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I just loaded/installed the new WU updates, and restarted. Once again, the networking icon disappeared - when I went to the properties box, Network, Clock and Volume were all gray and unchecked.

Then I rebooted and they were no longer gray, I checked them and everything went back to normal.

I see no reason for WU to change these system tray icons. I also don't know why those boxes would ever be grayed.
 

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Did you install only one or two at a time?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
The problem is not serious enough to make changes to the registry. Any changes that you make will take effect immediately.
Anytime you change regisitry, I feel that you should feel qualified (you said you do not), should make a system restore point and back up the registry.

If a registry fix is the required remedy, may I suggest that you try to overlook the problem, and just try to fix when necessary. If it can be fixed by way of the registry (I assume that it can due to the article) that would be about the only fix.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I would think, in this case, the amount of time it takes to shut down and reboot. Killing explorer.exe is much quicker and efficient, if it serves the same purpose
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hello!

I have this problem occasionally. Looking at those solutions you have posted, all are a short term, one time fix. You can either kill and restart explorer.exe, restart your computer to automate this process, and it looks like the registry fix is overkill and not required. I think that it is a Vista bug, and there is no preventive solution yet discoved.

Richard
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
I just had the same problem that I had in Feb. This time, it was NOT right after a Windows Update. The Networking icon simply didn't appear at all. I did nothing unusual the time before.

This time I didn't have to check the Networking thing in Notification Tray. This time, I just rebooted and the networking icon came back. Any ideas besides the ones already in this thread?
 

My Computer

System One

Additional info:
I have a Vista SP2 home computer and a DSL modem, that's it.
There is always a volume icon next to my clock, usually with the blue curves near it. But when I was having this problem, this volume icon had no blue curves near it.
When I mentioned Notification Tray, what I meant was Right click on Start > Properties > Notification Area tab.
 

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System One

robertjc said:
Whenever I do an Autoupdate, there are often slight changes to the system tray icons. Or, they are in a slightly different order.

Today, WU gave me an update for the display adapter; afterwards, my networking icon disappeared! (But I was still connected okay.) I went to the properties for Notification Area (Taskbar and Start Menu Properties) and the Networking checkbox was unchecked. I checked it. I've also had times when the Networking checkbox was completely grayed so I couldn't check or uncheck it.
Click to expand...

Run this tutorial :
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/106787-notification-area-system-icons.html
Go to Option Three > pick the reg file download that you need and follow the instructions from #5 to #9.
Make sure you restart afterwards to finalize the download.

Note : SAVE the reg file on desktop, you'll need it again.
The Volume, Network and Power icons have the habit of disappearing now and then.
It will be faster and simpler to use the reg file on the desktop instead of fishing for the tutorial again.
 
Last edited:

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