Resolved SysTray icon keeps "hiding"

Hi all,

My Anti-virus Systray icon keeps hiding when not in use. I have checked the Systray Properties and checked "Always show ". However, every time I restart the 'puter, the setting doesn't stay for this icon. (Avast v.8)

Is there a reg tweak to force Windows to stop reverting to "Hide when inactive "?

 

Hi Steve,

Uh, I responded to your post just hours and hours ago "” and it's not here

Anyway, I've already done that. I've even unchecked it, shut down the computer, restarted, checked the "Show tray icon ", shut down and restarted and while it's always been there, it keeps getting reset in Systray Properties" to "hide when inactive ": It does not stay set to Always Show. That's why I asked if there is a reg tweak to make it stay at Always Show?

The link is for Win8 and a different version of Avast.

 

Hi Pete,

Yes, I have. It always hides unless I goto properties and manually reset it to Always Show. I don't want to have to do this every time I start my 'puter.

 

Try Doug Knox's repair tool.

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

 

Hi Whiskeyman,

I have that tool — thank you. But the "problem" still exists that when I reboot the 'puter only the one icon changes to "Hide when inactive ".

 

Just a thought - have you used the "Restore Defaults" when in Taskbar > Properties > Customize ?
Here's another link from Avast forum. Avast Icon not in Systray in Windows XP :
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=89828.0 Neil.

 

I don't know if this will work. Back up you registry. Start\run\regedit\H_KEY_CUTTENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CuttentVersion\Explorer\TrayNotify. Delete IconStream and Past Icon Stream. Exit registry. Right click taskbar open Task Manager \Processes highlight explorer.exe and end the process. While still in the Task Manager go to File New Task run and type in explorer.exe Click Ok. Wait for explorer to restart(Desktop icons and taskbar to reappear). Restart the computer.

 

@ Neil,

What will that do?

@ lj50,

I already did the Delete Icon Streams — but no joy. Plus. I've got 2 Explorer.exe(s). Should I kill both of them (I know one is for Explorer, and one is for "Open folder in a new window ", but I don't remember which one is which).

@ Whiskeyman,

By the by, I forgot to mention that when I ran the repair tool, all the SysTray icons were reset to "Always Hide" and my "Show Desktop" program disappeared. I had to start it, then go into Properties to reset all to "Always Show ".

Sheesh - what a pain for just one icon!

 

JP, there is a newer version of Avast out now. I just upgraded to version 9 a few days ago (XP and Windows 7).

I also found this fairly recent article on Avast's web site concerning their disappearing icon, too...

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=133438.0

EDIT: Is it possible that you are using a file cleaner that is cleaning out your tray icons cache? Not sure if you use it, but CCleaner has such an option, and I leave it unchecked.

 

Do you know what folder is open and can you close it? Do you have two explorer.exe running at once under the Processes Tab. You shouldn't have a problem stopping both as long as you stay in the task manager and go to File New Task run and type in explorer.exe and then click Ok. Just wait for explorer to restart again before you restart the computer.

 

@ James,

v.9 was the reason I rolled back to v.8 — too many problems (even after multiple reboots). I won't run v.9 until there's some patches or something. v.2014 is even worse that v.9. I use CCleaner, but it's an older version (2.20.0.920). I've run it every night before shutting down for years and this has never happened before - I don't even see a Tray Icons anywhere. besides, I only use CCleaner for cache, trash, cookies, and index.dat files and ATF Cleaner. Neither of these two programs have ever interfered with the SysTray settings.

@ lj50,

I'll give it a shot and post back the results.

 

I can't remember that far back (I am using the latest version of CCleaner), but on mine it is located near the bottom of the left column under *Advanced*. I mistakenly had this box checked, and it was playing havoc with my tray icons.

 

Okay.

 

Hi lj50,

I did exactly as you said and — no joy. The only thing in "TrayNotify" is: (default) - reg_sz - (value not set); and BalloonTip - reg_DWORD - 0x00000005(5).

Now, on every reboot, all the SysTray icons are always reset to "Hide when inactive ".

I did a sfc /scannow and still no joy. I saved the "PastIconsStream" and "IconStreams" when I deleted both in the registry.

What now? Should I merge these two values\entries back?

 

All that should have happened was the removal all past icons and reset the notification icons so you would have to select what each individual icon's action. They all should have been reset to Always Show. I had that same problem years ago in Win XP Pro and that's the procedure I used and it worked. I have it written down in an XP registry book that I have. Did you restart the computer if so try going back into the registry. Icon streams and past icon streams should have been recreated upon restart.

 

Yes, several times. Still no joy because with each start up or reboot the icons are reset to "Hide when inactive ".

Nope! The only things in TrayNotify are the two in my post. No IconStream or PastIconStreams were created.

 

Yes merge them back.

 

Hi all,

Reboots and hard shutdowns made no difference as neither of the two "Streams" were recreated.

Grasping at straws, I decided to delete the PreFetch folder thinking maybe something was in there and, lo and behold, after a hard shutdown, the "Streams" came back!!!

I haven't a clue as to why clearing the PreFetch folder made any difference, but it did.

Anyway, thanks for your help, guys — it's resolved!