I have been experiencing a problem where my system tray icons just disappear on me. If I do CTRL+ALT+DELETE, I see the program is running but I can't seem to access it.

I was reading a few of the posts in the database and came across an earlier post. Somebody suggested visiting www.dougknox.com. I visited the site, but was unable to find a specific file or program that would help me to resolve this problem.

Any ideas???

what programs are disappearing?

There are 10 types of people in the world, those who know binary, and those who don't.

Yousaf, Do you mean that your open programs aren't showing up minimzed in the Taskbar or are you referring to the icons next to the clock in your system tray?

Tufenuf

Tufenuf....

I am referring "to the icons next to the clock" in my system tray. Certain programs load up and their icons are supposed to stay in the system tray (which they usually do), however lately as I use the PC they start to disappear one by one.

I've got a feeling it has to do with my RAM being brought down as I use the PC more and more. But why is this happening, and is there some sort of a fix for it?

Yousaf, Right click your Start button, choose Properties, under the Taskbar tab uncheck "Hide inactive icons", click Apply/OK

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Tufenuf...

It's not that....I checked the setting first. Apparently it's some sort of a glitch. I've read a few posts and was directed to www.dougknox.com but can't find the actual program or file to fix it.

Yousaf, Right click your Start button and under the Taskbar tab click the Customize button then under the Current Items double click each item and under the Behavior column change them to "Always Show", click Apply/OK.

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I tried your second peice of advice, however the "Customize" button is greyed out.

Any other ideas? Please....keep 'em coming, I'm running out of ideas here. :)

Yousaf, You may want to go to the link below and download & run the "Hide or Show All Inactive Icons" .vbs file which is under "Notification Area".

"To use the VBS Files: Download .vbs file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double click the vbs file. You will be prompted when the script is done.

NOTE: If your anti-virus software warns you of a "malicious" script, this is normal if you have "Script Safe" or similar technology enabled. These scripts are not malicious, but they do make changes to the System Registry".

Hide or Show All Inactive Icons Fix

The site is very trustworthy and is probably the best Windows XP site on the Internet.

I'm also running out of ideas.

Tufenuf

Tufenuf...

Isn't this program designed for the TASKBAR???

I'm confused because my problem is with my System Tray Icons. Or are the two related? Before I download and install it....what's the relation between the Taskbar solution and the System Tray Icon???

Yousaf, The System Tray is part of the Taskbar as is the Quick Launch. That fix may work and if it doesn't I'm out of ideas.

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Well, I've downloaded it and installed it, and so far it seems to be working.

Hopefully it'll keep working. Thanks boss!

Yousaf, I hope that the problem is corrected for you and Thanks for posting back.

Happy New Year,
Tufenuf