Searched ITRC in general, and YES. This sounds like a problem MANY people have experienced, but No Solution. Especially missing the Battery Icon, Volume Icon, etc etc intermittently.
I have tried all the obvious and "logical" steps but nothing works.
Interestingly if you LOG OFF and back on, instead of Restarting/Shutdown, everything in the system tray loads up properly.
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Mike, the SystemTray (also called IconTray) is one of the really weak points in XP. It's behaving totally crazy and there's no logics behind the behaviour. It has been almost driving me mad.
The Audio icon is just one issue, the battery icon another. Main problem on my side, however, is the "Remove hardware safely" icon. I urgently need it every day using a notebook with multibay devices, extra HDD in the docking station, USB devices and many more.
I had been after this for quite a while until I found a workaround. Logging Off and On again alone does not do the job if the tray has gone really corrupt once more.
My solution: 1. Delete the related entries in the Registry.
2. a) Either Log Off and On thereafter, or b) in the Task Manager delete the process "Explorer" and then start "Explorer" as a new task.
Deleting the entries in the Registry can easily be done using a REG-file (attached). Usage: Save the file with any name of your choice with the extension REG (f.e.: TrayNotify.reg"). Then doubleclick on the file to run it. Confirm that question on applying the changes to the registry.
This will clear the section in the Registry and on leaving and re-entering the system (or deleteing the Explorer process and re-starting it) will enforce that the system will re-collect all of the stuff belonging into the SystemTray.
HTH Rainald P.S. After endless searching and experimenting I also find a great workaround for "Remove hardware safely". I can post it if you were interested
Ah, the workaround is working. Thanks very much for the tip! If you don't mind, can you post the workaround for the Remove hardware safely Tip as well. Thanks.
Mike, thanks for the success report. Glad to see that the trick is of use for you too.
As to the "Remove hardware .." It took me a verrrrry long time and discussions in several online-forums and newsgroups until in a discussion in the Armada forum we found a solution.
I. Basics Main problem was to detect which programm has to be run for starting the applet.
It is HOTPLUG.dll It can be executed through RUNDLL.exe using the parameters shell32.dll, Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll
You may try it out from Start| run: "%windir%\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll" (without the quotes).
II. Way to use it easily 1.) Create a link on the desktop a) Desktop, right-click, -> New -> Link
b) In the applet - as "Target:" enter the above quoted string (without quotes); - enter a name for the Link (f.e. "Hotplug" or "Remove Hardware"). The Link will appear on the Desktop.
c) Change the link's properties (right-click, Properties): - for "Excute in:" enter %windir% - change the icon (using button), navigate to the "Windows" folder, select "hotplug.dll there and pick the icon from there. Sve the settings
Now you can use the tool from the desktop.
3.) Put the link on the "QuickStart" list: Just drag the link from the desktop to the "QuickStart" section of the TaskBar. Thereafter it will appear on the list of program on the QuickStart list and will alway be within reach.
Hope this helps Rainald P.S. I attach my LNK-file. Maybe its gets over and works
Aha, I finally get to download the attachment. The last time, I tried a couple of times but the attachment wasn't there. So, I never came back to ITRC to get the file.
Now that I have the .lnk file, the remove h/w icon shows up! it's working super!
Many thanks for this and also the sys tray issue. It would be nice if you have a .lnk file like this one, to make all the icons in the sys tray appear....
Thanks a lot for your reply, Mike. Nice too see that my link for removing hardware is of use for you too. The rabbits are bit much, however. Difficult to feed them all <gbg>.
You're right. It would be nice to have tool for clearing the systemTray if it gets crazy once more. It coul possibly done with a script but - different to the old DOS days where I was rather good in writing BAT-solutions, I have never worked with Windows Scripting :-( :-(
So writing it is above my head. Would have done it otherwise long ago ...
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