Systray Annoyance

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This can be set using xteq x-setup.

Navigate to the WinLogon subkey. Right click in the rigt half of the windiw, choose new->DWORD value. Give it a name (RunLogonScriptSync). Then double click it and give it a value of 1.

Binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal and any other base 1 are all the same.
 
Well, I appreciate your attempt!!! Heck of a lot better than Microsoft's reply "Go ask the guy who built your computer... Gateway!" Or Gateway's suggestion "If you go back to an earlier date, and it works, fine... If not, we haven't a clue!"
 
XP Pro icons randomly not displaying in systray.

I also have a problem with XP (Pro in this case) randomly not displaying systray icons. I have been mucking around with it for weeks and have not got any success whatsoever.

I am using XP Pro SP1 (the SP1 update made no difference to the above problem).

One thing I have noticed, however, is that when I turn my computer on there will nearly always be some systray icons missing. If I then Log Off (NOT restart) and log back on as the same user (or different user for that matter), all the icons that are supposed to display in the systray do without fail. Go figure!

Seriously, though, this might give someone out there more of a clue as to what the problem might be.
 
Hello,

i have the same problem with my win xp pro for a month or so and i get verry silly of it. i didn't find any explanation for it. couldn't microsoft get a patch for it?
logout en relogin and all my icons are there.

Greetz
 
Since I reinstalled winxp, I have this problem also. This is the first time its happened to me, and I've done many installs. I think reinstalling would fix it, but I'd really like to find out why it happens. It does seem to be connected with the way in which windows boots up and loads drivers, services, etc. As mentioned, logging off and then back on will cause the systray icons to reappear, thereby showing that the issue is with loading at windows startup, rather that corrupt files or configuration settings. I'll post back if I stumble on a solution that works consistently. Microsoft don't even acknowledge the problem as searching their knowledge base turned up nothing.
 
I have noticed this on a number of systems, seems that it may be the order that things are being started at startup, maybe some of them take too long so it gets skipped or something, I'm not sure. In most cases these systems have a lot of services starting with Windows, and usually have a lot of system tray icons to load. Usually a few of them will fail to load. The only fix I have found is to cut down on the number of services that start with Windows, then turn on the things you need after Windows loads. Many times when I was looking into this for clients, I found out that they never used many of the things that were loading and didn't need some of the services that are started at startup.

I have found some cases where minimizing the number of startup services did not completely fix the problem, there would occasionally be one or more icons that failed to show.

My advice is to look through, see what you don't need, stop those things from loading, see if it fixes the problem. If not, try stopping some that you could maybe start after Windows loads, like IMs and such. It may not work for everyone, but it does work in some cases.
 
Thanks for all the replies

The many replies I received re: systray icons loading erratically was great and thankyou for your replies. It's nice to know that I'm far from the only one with this annoying problem.

As far as reducing some of the programs/services that load at startup might be one solution, but unfortunately I quite often skip from one to the other so this is not an option. Basically it's a convenience that I've got used to; but only after I log off, then back on again.

I also have looked through Microsoft's web site and true, it isn't even recognised as a problem.

All I have to say is this, Bill Gates, "We consumers pay enough for your stinking monopilised software, so how about fixing it. OK, so you don't recognise it as a problem. Probably the only reason you don't is because some component(s) in windows is not quite up to the task of loading the programs/services because it has a timeout problem and would cost too much to redesign. We will all wait with baited breath for when you release a secretive patch; probably included in one of your infamous Security Patches."
:mad: :confused: :dead:
 
I tried reinstalling (upgrade) winxp to see if things would fix themselves, but no, the same issue occurs. It's not a common issue, and I've only had this problem once, and I've done dozens of installs. I reformatted and reinstalled and everything was fine this time. Looks like this is the best bet for anyone suffering from this issue, as there appears to be no other solution available at this time.
 
I've worked on hundreds of PCs, many with XP, and I can say I've never seen this problem... Including my own computers here which I know I've had several dozen of installations of XP on. :)
 
I've also installed XP many times, including several times on my own machine, and have never come across the problem. Lucky for me, the problem exists on my machine, not one of my clients, as they would not respond very well to me telling them to simply log off and then log back on.

Hopefully, someone out there will stumple across the solution.

Basically, I've given up trying to fix it for the time being. Every time I start my computer I log off and then back on. Only takes about 20-30 seconds to do, but it's still very annoying nonetheless. :rolleyes:
 
To Nic,

I might have to consider a re-install, but I will have to purchase an upgrade of XP with SP1. My original XP disk goes right back to when XP was first released which would involve lots of downloading from Microsoft to get everything back up to date.

Additionally, if I do this, I would like to do a completely clean install (reformat the hard drives, etc...), but am NOT looking forward to getting all my applications back on and set back up. This was the main reason for me seeking a solution on this forum that didn't involve a re-installation.
 
Just download the sp1 update from microsoft. You can even slipstrean the service pack into your original files and burn a winxpsp1 cd from it, so you don't need another copy.
 
Hi, everyone. I looked everywhere ont he web and this forum seems to be the only one that is addressing my exact issue.

I have the same problem on my pc. I should be having about 7 icons, but only 4 come out with the other 3 swapping between each use.

I have installed Windows Xp many times before, and in fact reinstalled it after this problem occurred, and it's still there. I was wondering if anyone fixed there problem, or did they just reinstall Windows and everything was fine?

Thanks for your help.
 
You need to format your drive and then reinstall windows. That's the only way that works.
 
Nic, when you are giving ridiculous advice, at least put the :p in the end so that some gullible new member doesn't go and actually do what you tell them to..
 
Originally posted by Nodsu
Nic, when you are giving ridiculous advice, at least put the :p in the end so that some gullible new member doesn't go and actually do what you tell them to..
If you have a solution that works, then by all means post it here.

I was actually serious about formatting and reinstalling windows, as that is the only way that works, as far as I know. I haven't spotted another solution (that actually works, and not just temporarily) in this thread, so what does that tell you?

Feel free to shed some light on this issue if you can, because I don't see the point in telling someone to jump through several hoops, only to end up having to reformat, and reinstall, windows to get rid of the disappearing systray icons. I have suffered from this issue myself, and formatting and reinstalling was the only fix that worked (for me). :)
 
thanks for your post here nic. however, i have tried reformatting. i'm on my third install. and this problem has showed up all 3 times. it's only shown up this time from prior installs. i'm thinking that you should install the things that need to be in the systray before you update to sp1. as i've only see it this time if i update sp1 before i install my programs. that is the only difference i can think of from this time and the prior installs.

oh well, i've spent 3 days installing programs and don't want to do it all over again. maybe in half a year when i decide to reformat the computer again.

let me know if you guys find another solution.
 
Sorry to hear about your continued problems with systray icons. There is very little info on the web about this, and there may be many factors that contribute to the problem. The issue is certainly not understood, and solutions that appear to work for some users (so they claim) will often not work for others.

I personally have only experienced problems about twice, and only with winxp. Reinstalling (with formatting) solved my issue in both cases, so I really cannot think of anything else you can try. Windows XP Sp2 is due out around December, so we can only hope that this new service pack fixes this issue, but don't hold your breath.

If you do notice anything interesting during your attempts to fix the issue, then please post here, as maybe we'll be able to spot some potential clues with this problem, and hopefully provide better advice for other users in the future.
 
I was actually serious about formatting and reinstalling windows, as that is the only way that works, as far as I know. I haven't spotted another solution (that actually works, and not just temporarily) in this thread, so what does that tell you?

And I'm quite sure that the systray annoyance is gone after a fresh install since you don't actually have any apps living in the systray.

Format and reinstall is certainly a solution to about 99% of Windows problems, but it is not what people are asking for.
Actually we could get rid of most of the stuff here in "Windows OS" section by making a sticky post saying "Format and reinstall"

I actually know someone who reinstalled Quattro Pro (a whopping 5 floppy install) because he turned on the Scroll Lock and couldn't move around in the cells any more.
The thing is, you shouldn't go shooting flies with cannons just because you are clumsy enough not to be able to do it with a swatter.
 
Originally posted by Nodsu
And I'm quite sure that the systray annoyance is gone after a fresh install since you don't actually have any apps living in the systray.

Format and reinstall is certainly a solution to about 99% of Windows problems, but it is not what people are asking for.
Actually we could get rid of most of the stuff here in "Windows OS" section by making a sticky post saying "Format and reinstall"

I actually know someone who reinstalled Quattro Pro (a whopping 5 floppy install) because he turned on the Scroll Lock and couldn't move around in the cells any more.
The thing is, you shouldn't go shooting flies with cannons just because you are clumsy enough not to be able to do it with a swatter.
I agree, and those are wise words that you say. I wouldn't suggest a format and reinstall, if there was another way, but as yet I have not found another way to solve this problem.

I don't want to waste anyone's time by making suggestions, which will simply delay the inevitable (i.e. to format and reinstall) and I simply cut to the chase. If anyone does find a sure way to solve this problem, then they will have many happy users (myself included) that will be very gratefull for their efforts. :)
 
So this problem will appear just out of the blue? From what i gather by reading the posts it can happen after a fresh install or further down the line.

Sorry i can't help any of you on this subject. I myself only have one icon in the systray (InCD icon so i can burn cd-rw cd's, and i will disable it's startup once im done burning my backups), and have never had this type of problem.

Could it be a possibility of certain combo's of apps screwing around? Example, install certain burning apps combo's and next you know you're cd drive's not working in any of them.
 
Originally posted by Negative_Pulse
Could it be a possibility of certain combo's of apps screwing around? Example, install certain burning apps combo's and next you know you're cd drive's not working in any of them.
Yes it could be, I have pretty much ignored this thread since it got stupid, but thats a real possiblity unless its been brought up somewhere between the 8th reply and this 49th or whatever this one will be.
Just as general advice I'd say for everyone that has more than 3 or so things in the systray to just go to msconfig and start disablign things, do it systematically if you aren't sure. Then if things don't work go back and allow those things that you just disabled to start back up. Play with your OS a little bit, thats really the best way to learn, and somethign as simple as the startup tab in msconfig can't hurt your system, you can always check them again if things don't work properly.
 
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