Solution For Missing Icons In The System Tray-Windows Vista Home Premium.
A few nights ago, Windows went through a scheduled update. As usual, once the installation was complete, I rebooted the system to find all icons, with the exception of the anti-virus program, missing. First things first-Windows Vista, at least the Home Premium version, isn’t as user-friendly when it comes to navigating to the information needed. Yes, Microsoft provides the “Help” and “Search” features, but most of the time you don’t find the answer.
Windows Vista differs from XP when it comes to showing or hiding icons in the system tray. With XP, going to the service itself, (example, going to the sound options and checking “show sound icon in system tray), would solve problems with missing icons. Vista makes this process simple, (or so I believed).
Showing/Hiding Icons In Notification Area
- Right-Click the Taskbar.
- Click “Properties.”
- Find the tab “Notification Area”-click on the tab.
- Choose which icons to be displayed in the system tray.
- The first and most important step: either backup your registry or create a System Restore Point in case something goes wrong.
- Click -Start > type “regedit” in the search box. You’ll see regedit appear at the top of the Start Menu. Click on it.
- If you have your system permissions set to ask if Windows is allowed to open-click “Continue”.
- Navigate to, (and you’ll have to do this manually, search did not work for me), key ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \TrayNotify’
- Delete ‘IconStreams’ and ‘PastIconsStream’
- Right click the Task Bar, choose Task Manager > Processes > Click explorer.exe to highlight it and click “End Task”
- Keep Task Manager open, go to Applications and on the bottom right corner you’ll see a button that says “New Task”
- A pop-up box will appear, in the field type “explorer.exe and click ok.
Here is a screen shot of what the Notification Area under Properties looks like:
The problem after the Windows Update, however-all boxes except the clock were grayed out-I could do nothing. After searching through Windows Help and online I finally found the solution. Now, if you’re not comfortable with going into your registry and deleting values, then the easiest fix would be to go back to a System Restore Point. The problem with this-Windows is going to update again unless you turn auto-update off-which isn’t a good idea if a critical update is available. The solution was found on How To Geek and I’ll give them credit because I was pulling my hair out.
How To Change The Registry Settings
When these steps are finished, Windows Explorer reboots itself, (without rebooting the computer), and either the icons will reappear, or you can go back to the Task Bar > Notification Area and choose which icons to show.
We all know Microsoft “tries” to make their operating systems user-friendly, unfortunately sometimes it’s the small things that take the most time to fix.
Haven’t you seen the new M$/Mac commercials? Vista is out and everybodies heading back XP because it actually works right.
Yeah, I agree on the point that Windows Vista (I’m on Home Premium) is not as user-friendly as I thought it would be. Let’s hope something’s done in Windows 7.
blue: I’ll admit- I like XP much better. Like I’ve said before- Vista is pretty to look at but as far as being user-friendly, it isn’t at all.
pujutengineered: I think Microsoft should have just improved upon XP and not created an entirely different OS. They screwed up on Windows ME and Vista- can’t wait to see what they do with Windows 7 lol
Thank you very much for summing it up here, had the exact same problem and this fixed it right away!
Thanks! Works on vista home premium too!
Thank! Works fine!!!
Just to say Thank You!!
Worked perfectly. In my case, the network and power icons were gone after a system restore.
Thanks again!
thanks a lot. worked perfectly. vista
Worked perfect, thanks!
Worked perfectly for my vista home premium…I still get why it happens? Easy step thru directions
thanks a bunch!
Thanks so much!
Thank you for the help. The instructions were easy to follow.
Thanks.
Worked for me too on home premium.
Just randomly dissappeared this evening, all but clock!
Finally got em back!
Thanks alot,
Matt
Forogt to mention though, i am extremely experianced, although i think anyone could do it!
Always tinkering vista/xp and stuff, and build my own pc’s….
Matt
First class old chap. Did what you said and worked a treat. Many thanks.
i have a missing taskbar that i can’t get it to show what ever i do…can anone help? you can get me by ms on louisnoname@gmail.com….anyone pls?
my OS is vista home premium.
After plowing through numerous links from Google, finally this works like a charm. I will bookmark this and save the text in file as I am sure this disappearing “sound byte” will happen again. Windows Home Premium, hah.Thank you so much.
Well, I keep deleting the iconstreams from the registry,but in a few days, the problem is back. I have ran every anti virus and spyware program and my system is clean. I read that Microsoft was aware of this problem, but how can i fix this permanantly?
Had the same problem twice on both Vista user profiles. Thanks for the help. Why can’t MS just fix it in a patch?
Worked Perfectly! Thank you so much for posting this!! I lost my notification icons after Vista SP1 Update. Stupid Vista, Srsly.
Thanks very much. I almost went gaga trying to find a solution. You’re a STAR!
nice one sir such a very nice reference….
Excellent! Thankyou very much.
Thank you very much for your help. In fact, thanks are due also to Yahoo.com search which lead to you. I lost the sound and internet icons in the system tray after an update on a home premium version. But due to your step-by-step guide, I was able to fix the problem and get the lost icons back. Lots of thanks.
Thanks a lot! Mine is working perfect..
Found the link through Google. Nice tips, and keep up the good work.
Just a note for everyone who has this as an ongoing problem - this is indicative of a corrupt User Profile. To test this, set up a new user account, and if the problem persists there too, you need to reinstall Vista.
Just so you know
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW I LOVE YOU BETH!!!!