QuickSet missing from taskbar

Hello.

I've had a very similar problem with my Dell Inspiron 1545 for most of the time I've owned it, using both Windows Vista and Windows 7.

In my case, the QuickSet application does launch during startup, but just like you it's missing from the Taskbar. I know it's running in the background because the executable file "quickset.exe" shows in the "Processes" tab in Windows Task Manager.

Here's the interesting part: should the Windows Shell (represented by the "explorer.exe" program) close on my system, either manually or due to a system error, the QuickSet icon does reappear on the taskbar after the shell reopens. Even the [Windows] + X key combination brings up the QuickSet window, which doesn't work when the program is not present on the Taskbar.

To find out if QuickSet is acting up the same in your Dell Vostro, try the following procedure (save all open documents and close all open applications before you begin):

1. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL, then click on "Start Task Manager". The Task Manager window will pop up.

2. Click on "Processes",  scroll down the list and look for "quickset.exe". If it isn't there, then the Dell QuickSet might not be installed properly.

3. If you find "quickset.exe" among the running background processes, select "explorer.exe" in the same "Processes" list then click on the "End Process" button below and click "End Process" again on the alert window. Everything but the Task Manager window and background picture will disappear from your desktop. This is normal.

4. Go to the "File" menu and select "New Task (Run)".

5. Type "explorer" (quotes removed) in the field and click "OK". The Taskbar, desktop icons and sidebar gadgets should pop back up.

6. Close Task Manager and look for the "QuickSet" icon either near the Taskbar clock or by clicking on the "Show Hidden Items" arrow there. If it's there, then you share the same problem as me: QuickSet is running but some other Windows process is preventing it from fully activating itself during the startup process (my suspected culprits include my antivirus software and some component in the Windows Action Center).

This obviously isn't a solution, but it's a starting point. My hope is that we can either find a workaround together or get enough attention here in the forum to find a clever member to help us both.

Good luck.

Terry B was kind enough to look at our QuickSet troubleshooting situation and suggested a solution which I'm posting here for prosperity. Thank you for the assistance, sir. I'll give it a try and let you know.

Hello Emilo

I would check to see if Quickset is listed in the programs list and see if you are able to bring up quickset at all. You may be able to find a check box that will put the icon back on the task bar.

Otherwise there is msconfig.  Click on start and search for msconfig.  Disable the startup and services tabs. When working on the Services tab be sure to check hide all microsoft services is checked.  Then look to see if quickset is listed in either group and check those again.  Basically you want quickset running but nothing else.  Then restart  the system and see if quickset returns to the task bar.  If it does then you can use process of elimination to find what specific program or service is causing the problem.

TB 

I am checking with both of you to see if you what you have found out if anything.  Have you been able to use msconfig to uninstall and reinstall Quickset?

TB

I'm experiencing the same issue with a Vostro 3450, any news on this?

Please Terry B, help me solve this. I already tried what you suggested without any luck!

fggs

You can find Quickset for the Vostro 3450 from the following link

Download the file and don't run it. Save it on your desktop.  Then go into control panel and programs and features and look for Dell Quickset.  If it is listed uninstall it and restart the computer.

Once back into Windows install the downloaded version of Quickset.

If there are any problems doing any this, then you can try msconfig and look for anything that mentions quickset and disable it.  Then try uninstalling and installing Quickset.  Remember to return msconfig back to normal startup when finished.

If this fails,  I don't have any registry hacks to clean uninstall Quickset.  If Quickset doesn't show as installed or you are unable to uninstall it, at that point I can only suggest running a system restore with a restore point saved just prior to losing Quickset functionality.  If no System restore points are available then I can only suggest running a PC restore or some other method to reimaging the drive if you have to have quickset.

TB

Thanks for your response Terry B!

  It is installed, it shows in msconfig, but the tray icon doesn't show up. I've restored several times, with different combinations like installing Quickset before drivers, after drivers, before Windows updates, after Windows updates, which doesn't change anything.

  Unfortunately, I already tried the version you posted and also the version that came in Resource CD.

  No matter what, there's nothing in Start menu to open Quickset, I have to manually browse through Windows Explorer. Also there's no checkbox to put it in systray, at least none that I could find.

  I've also posted about this in Microsoft Answers and they claim it's Dell's application fault and not Windows.

  I can see that Quickset is working, but again, the tray icon doesn't show up as expected. Can you please talk to the developers to see if we can debug this issue somehow? At least to see if it's Windows fault or Dell's...

  Many thanks to your response!

If all else fails then I can only suggest that you perform a PC restore or a manual reinstall of Windows.  This isn't an issue with Quickset a a whole, but can happen if registry keys in Windows are not cleaned out.  Or if there are missing Quickset files.  I am afraid that this is an issue specific to the Windows installation on your system. As i said in the my previous post if the problems continue, it will likely take reimaging the drive on your system to resolve.

TB

Thanks again for yor quick response Terry!

Anyway, I forgot to say that I reinstalled my system completely at least 6 times before posting the first time, always removing and recreating partitions, formatting etc.

I tried a 32 bits and 64 bits version of Windows 7 Ultimate which I own, and also tried about 3 times with Windows 7 64 bits Home Basic that came with my Vostro.

Should I try low level format and reinstall with the cd that came with my laptop?

I wish I had tips to try, do you have any laptop that you can install Windows 7 64 bits or 32 bits and QuickSet 11.0.15 A04 to see if it's reproducible?

I really appreciate your effords trying to fix this!

Test

Thanks Terry!

I wonder if there is a correct order to install Quickset, or at least a recommended order, because the version you posted was the first version I tried, then I tried the one in my Resource CD (which is 11.0.10 A02) in another Windows install.

Both doesn't show in systray. The 11.0.10 A02 version would APPCRASH with ntdll.dll when open manually. The version you posted doesn't APPCRASH but doesn't show the icon either.

Can you suggest a step by step?

Like:

1- Remove all partitions

2- Create a new one and format it

3- When Windows installation finishes install Quickset first

I wanna test exactly the way you say, then we can confirm it's a bug or whatever. I wish Dell had a bugtracker or a bug report system, so we can investigate things like this...

Also, do you have Quickset installed in your laptop? Which version? Which Windows? Does it show up in systray?

Many many thanks for your help!

Fggs

It sounds like you have done everything.  Manually reinstalling Windows formatting the main partion should have removed any corruption.  Once Windows has been reinstalled, install Dell Notebook System software, and the chipset drivers, then the rest of the drivers.

When you install Quickset, does it look like the installation completes correctly.  If it does finish, look in your programs menu, do you have a Dell folder.  Check it and see if quickset is listed there.

I am curious, are you able to bring up Windows Mobility Center and if so what options do you have available?

TB

Thanks once again for your response Terry!

Before testing what you suggested I can already say a few things: The installation of Quickset completes correctly but I don't see any Dell folder in Programs menu.

I'm able to bring up Windows Mobility Center and it has Dell options, but for that I have to browse manually to C:\Program Files\Dell\QuickSet\ and double-click quickset.exe.

I'm gonna reformat again right now and install Dell Notebook System software from Resource CD (Resource Media), then Chipset Drivers I've downloaded from Dell's website using my Service tag and the Quickset you posted, just that, I think it's enough to test or do you think I should install anything else? After that I'll report back what happened.

Hi Terry, I've just reinstalled as you said. First I installed Dell Notebook System software from Resource CD (Resource Media), restarted, it created a blank Dell folder inside C:\Program Files (x86\, nothing about Dell in Programs menu.

I continued and installed Intel Huron HM67 chipset driver, restarted, then installed the Quickset you posted, restarted, no change, nothing in Programs menu and no icon in system tray.

I then decided to update Dell Notebook System software to the version in Dell's website, so I installed Wifi driver (which also has Bluetooth driver integrated), restarted, downloaded latest Dell Notebook System software, installed, restarted, still a blank Dell folder.

Let me know if you need anything else or any test you want me to do, I really want to fix this issue!