icons disappeared from the notification area

Question

Dimension 8200, 2.4 Ghz Processor, 1 Gig Ram, 120 Gig hard drive, Windows XP Pro.  The hardware icons have disappeared from the notification area of the task bar.  The icons are (so far), the volume icon, the safely remove hardware icon (external hard drive and external DVD burner) and the twin computers that talk to each other when I am on the internet.  The clock and any open software icons work just fine.  Have re-formatted and re-sintalled a fresh copy of XP twice, the icons last for a couple of days, then disappear.  When I go into volume properties, and put a check mark in the box 'place a volume icon in the task bar', then restart the computer, still no icon.  In the taskbar/start menu properties, 'hide inactive icons' is unchecked.  Dell techs have been unable to determine the cause so far (two weeks and counting- trouble ticket # 39732610).  Any one have any ideas or have run into this yourself?

MKO · Answer

This problem is not a big deal, Windows automatically cleans the icons from the screen by default. (so nice when software starts to think for you) Just right-click the start-button and select properties. Select the taskbat tab and look at the bottom of this window (and uncheck this option).

Sometimes you have to use the modify button to select the auto-removal-option for each icon, works on my system (D8300 XP Pro).

Good Luck.

Message Edited by MKO on 05-28-2003 10:18 PM

godawgs · Answer

Go here. Scroll about 3/4 of the way down the page to the 'Notification Area-Icons Missing' section and see if the info there helps.

wkjones50 · Answer

Thanks MKO and GODAWGS for the info and for trying.  Unfortunately, neither one fixed it.  I spent another 2-1/2 hours on the  phone with Dell Technical and no luck there either.

yodapas · Answer

I was just wondering if you were ever able to solve this problem as I am having it now?

Windows General

icons disappeared from the notification area

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