Disappearing tray icons

[Confused]

A few days after a reboot the icons in the tray area start disappearing and I cain't get them to come back.

For instance when I last rebooted my InCD icon was in the tray, now it is gone. If I click properties and select customize it shows there in the Past Items section but I cain't launch InCD from there or get it back in the tray. There are several icon affected such as my ATI quick launch also.

I run AVG and have updated and done a scan with no virus found. I have ran Spybot several times with no spyware found.
Charlie

[RJ]

If you're running Windows XP:

Rightclick on taskbar, select properties, and uncheck the checkbox at the bottom. It should say something like "Hide inactive icons".

RJ

[Confused]

That isn't what I'm talking about RJ. The icons have disappeared. When I click the properties and select customize they are in Past Items. I have always kept them hidden and get to them by clicking on the left arror by the clock.

If I uncheck the Hide inactive icons the remaining icons (ones that haven't disappeared) show but the others such as InCD don't come back.

They are moving from Current Items to Past Items. When they do that I cain't get them back or launch them from there. Makes it kind of hard to launch InCD.
Chas

[mikezel]

I had this problem a couple of days ago. I found a number of solutions on the net, but this is what worked for me.

All you have to do is place a shortcut to systray.exe in your startup folder. In XP, systray.exe is located in c:\Windows\system32. The startup folder is located at C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Start Menu\Programs.

If this doesn't work for you, I can try and explain some of the other solutions I found.

Hope that helps
Mike

[Confused]

Thanks Mike. After a lot of searching in MS data base I found a reference to the problem and solution offered was to lock the taskbar. I've rebooted now, have the icons back and have locked the taskbar. If this doesn't resolve the problem I will try your fix.
Thanks
Chas

[fudtone]

I thought systray.exe was for the volume control only.

[mikezel]

Not sure fudtone, but it seemed to solve the problem for me.

Chas: Glad to hear you got it sorted out, although i have always had my taskbar locked, so that couldn't have been the cause of the problem for me.

I read that it often happens as a result of the automatic logon of Windows, and disabling this was one of the suggested fixes. It also suggested to disable the services for Universal Plug and Play, and SSDP Discovery.

Mike

[Confused]

Originally posted by mikezel Chas: Glad to hear you got it sorted out, although i have always had my taskbar locked, so that couldn't have been the cause of the problem for me.

Don't know that I have it fixed yet. The icons would normally start disappearing after couple of days from a boot. I will see what happens. I may have to try your fix in the future.
Chas