Active/Inactive Icons Disappearing

I'm really curious about this.

I've noticed on 2 of my systems that the icons that sit by the time on my task bars seem to disappear every so often and the only way to get them back is to reboot the computer(s).

The way this happens is the desktop or whatever program you are in seems to refresh (The entire screen disappears), taking about 2-3 seconds (even the task bar disappears) then when it comes back the icons by the clock are gone. Those are the only icons that disappears all others remain.

It doesn't seem to affect any programs or XP itself that I've noticed but I am really curious why this is happening.

All systems, and computers are fully upto date and the only other problem they have is every once in a while they hang during shutdown (this very seldom happens).

Any info would be appreciated......

BTW "Hide inactive icons" is turned "off" on one system and "on" on the other and they are not networked.....

 

Have you clicked on that little arrow that points to the left, just to the left of where they should be? They will then appear briefly. Xp does this by default, it doesn't mean that the programs they represent aren't running.

 

On the system with inactive icons hiddenm yes I have clicked on the little arrow... and they do not appear.. on the system with the icons in view, well there is no arrows....

so yes and no... I did think of that before and thought that might be part of the problem until my g/f told me it does it on another system aswell (this other system does not hide the icons.