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System Icons Missing from Taskbar

Anonymous
2009-04-13T19:11:40+00:00

On my laptop, next to where the time is displayed, should be 3 different icons. Volume, network, and power. I don't know what has happened but these icons are now missing. I have gone into Taskbar and Start Menu properties to get them back, but under system icons, the only clickable icon is the time. The other three are greyed out and i can't click them.

What has happened to my computer? and how do i fix it?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-04-16T07:53:40+00:00

    Hello G0lDchymera,

    Thanks for using the Microsoft Answers Forum

    Enable System Icons via Local Group Policy Editor

    1. Run GPedit.msc to start Local Group Policy Editor.
    2. Expand the tree to go to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.
    3. Change set the state value to Disable or Not Configured for the following group policies to enable showing or displaying of the icon in the notification area.

    Clock: Remove Clock from the system notification area

    Volume: Remove the volume control icon

    Network: Remove the networking icon

    Power (battery) Icon: Remove the battery meter

    1. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
    2. Restart Explorer, Log off and log on again, or restart computer to make the change effective.

    If the above step does not work then I have another option below in the form of a kb article that also offers a hotfix for this problem.

    System icons do not appear in the notification area on a Windows Vista-based computer until you restart the computer

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940267

    Judd

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2009-08-01T15:54:59+00:00

    The volume, network, and power icons disappear periodically on my Dell Latitutde D820 running Vista Business (latest service pack)

    My solution does NOT require reboot:

    Obatin Process Explorer

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

    Right click on Explorer.exe, and click Restart

    (same as Process menu selection, then Restart)

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-04-17T09:50:20+00:00

    thank you!

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-04-15T21:40:14+00:00

    I know where and how to enable these features. It is Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. My problem is under the notification area tab, it won't let me enable the features. The box I'm suppose to check off is greyed out and blocked and I don't know why. How do i fix that?

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-04-13T20:48:42+00:00

    Hi!

    If you wish to have these icon next to your clock you need to enable them in there respective tool in the controllpanel...

    Hop this info helps you...

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