Getting msg box from Windows Controller: Shell_notifyIcon_NIM_add failed

Question

Please, what is this error message.  I click the x and it goes away and computer seems to operate fine, but I'm tired of seeing it!

Joanne Hamann, · Answer

Please state the exact error completely.

ribbitribbit · Answer

I tried and got no help... perhaps you know something special about how to search in GOOGLE?

osprey4 · Answer

Try putting this error in Google.

ribbitribbit · Answer

Joanne, I have described what happens as best I can. When I turn my computer on, then select the user (me) there are just two users, as the computer opens up everything, virus protection, connection to isp, printer, volumn, etc... It seems that when it has done that it comes up with a dialog box about 2x3 which says Window Controller at the very top with an "X" (to mark) on the right hand edge. The message is "Shell_notifyIcon_NIM_add (space) failed". I click the X and it goes away and everthing seems normal. I have tried the above error message as a search in both your and Microsoft's support screens, but nothing really specific is listed. Thanks for your insights! JM

Message Edited by ribbitribbit on 03-10-2005 12:15 PM

Message Edited by ribbitribbit on 03-10-2005 12:16 PM

ribbitribbit · Answer

Please tell me how to find out what is 'set to load at startup'  I have looked for a startup folder but can't find one...  as you have discerned I am not too great at this.  Thanks for your help.

fireberd · Answer

I tried google and didn't come up with anything either. Which is very unusual as google will almost always come up with something.

Since you have two users, does this come up with the other user, too? If it only comes up on your login that may help you to try and isolate what it is.

JRosenfeld · Answer

Googling for Shell Notifyicon failed turns up several hits.

It is telling you that it failed to create an icon in the system tray for some app set to load at startup, possibly because the link between that app and its system tray icon is broken..

An example given in

http://www.tech-archive.net/Archive/WinXP/microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize/2004-12/1058.html

refers to a Umax scanner.

If you don't have that scanner, you could try to identify the app by selectively disabling those apps you do have set to load at startup that place an icon in the system tray. When you disable the one that is broken, the error message should no longer appear. Once identified, you could check whether reinstalling the app would fix it, or maybe there could be a patch for it. If you can identify the app, post back.

Or maybe you know what NIM stands for? Googling for NIM turns up many possibilities, but you must know what apps you have installed.

Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 03-10-2005 07:49 PM

JRosenfeld · Answer

ribbitribbit,   The system tray (or notification area as Microsoft likes to call it) is the right hand end of the task bar, where the clock is. Some applications, when loaded at startup, put an icon there (not all do). Have you noticed whether one or other no longer shows up? if so that might give a clue Otherwise, you can do the following:   Click start, run, type msconfig, click OK. That will open the system configuration utility. Click on the startup tab. You will see a list of all the items that load at startup.   You can find out what each item there does by looking it up in   http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html (type the item in the search box)   You can also see in the command column of the startup tab what file the item executes on startup (if you can't see the whole command, widen the column by placing your cursor on the right edge of command and drag to the right). that will help you to identify the associated software.   Looking through the list of startup items and identifying what they refer to you may be able to narrow down to a few likely candidates (for example items that refer specifically to putting an icon in the system tray).     It's a bit tedious, but I suggest the following:   uncheck one (that stops it from being started). restart your PC. You will get a message saying that you have restarted in selective mode and msconfig will open. If the error message still occurs, go back into the startup tab, put a check back against the item you unchecked, uncheck another one, restart. Do this until (I hope) you restart without the error message showing up.   At the end of that diagnostic process, if you find it leave the guilty item unchecked, check the box in the message about starting in selective mode and restart; that will bring you back in normal mode without msconfig starting again, and that startup item will not be loaded.   You will then know which application or software is causing the problem, which is the next thing we need to know to fix it properly.   PS Whilst identifying your startup items, you may well find some that you don't really need anyway; if so, you can uncheck those as well. Many apps think that you want them or some part of them to be loaded at startup, but if you don't that just unnecessarily uses system resources). The web page I gave gives suggestions as to whether something is really needed or not.     Message Edited by JRosenfeld on 03-10-2005 10:01 PM

ribbitribbit · Answer

WOW I can't believe you would spend so much of your time to give me such detailed instructions (with the cookies on the low shelf, too!)  I have printed your reply and will work on it.  Thank you!!

ribbitribbit · Answer

WOW I can't believe you would spend so much of your time to give me such detailed instructions (with the cookies on the low shelf, too!) I have printed your reply and will work on it. Thank you!!

For fun... I'd like to use a frog to go with my on-line name in this forum... how do you change the picture?... clearly not a high priority!

Message Edited by ribbitribbit on 03-10-2005 05:16 PM

JRosenfeld · Answer

At the top of the board, click preferences, then icons, click on one of the folders and see if it offers one you like; if not try another folder. I think there is a frog in the animals folder. I've not tried this myself (happy with the default) but I think that's how it works.

ribbitribbit · Answer

Again, thanks...  have found Castlecops and am working on solving my initial question! and for the 'for fun' hint.

Windows General

Getting msg box from Windows Controller: Shell_notifyIcon_NIM_add failed

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