Explorer.exe And Notification Area Internet Icon

[Kevsim]

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2.

I have a D-Link Modem/Router which is working OK between my Desktop and Laptop computers.

When the Desktop boots the Network monitor (2 TV icons) show in the notification area and then the Internet monitor (2 TV icons) show in the notification area.
This was working OK until about 2 weeks ago, now only sometimes does the Internet monitor show.

If I select Task Manager/Processes then Explorer.exe, End Process then File New Task Explorer.exe, the Internet monitor appears.

I would appreciate some advise as to why the Internet monitor does not show after booting and why I have to shutdown and restart Explorer.exe.

I have scanned for Viruses, Spyware, Adware, Malware and used System File Checker but the problem is still happening.

kevsim

 

[JPJeffery]

Start by checking the Start Menu settings:

[ol]
[li]Right-Click on the Start button and choose Properties[/li]
[li]Make sure the 'Taskbar' tab is selected[/li]
[li]Untick 'Hide inactive icons' if you want to always see ALL icons OR click on 'Customise'[/li]
[li]If you chose 'Customise' click on the icon(s) you want to always see and select 'Always show'[/li]
[li]OK your way back out.[/li]
[/ol]

JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, or photo, or breakfast...and so on)[/small]

 

[kjv1611]

When you setup your network, did you install any applications that came with your router? I know at least some D-Link routers come with a trial version of Network Magic, and it might put some icons down there. I've only tried it once before - at least 3 or 4 years ago - just to see what it was. Otherwise, I've just removed it when seen, b/c nobody has ever bought it (that I've noticed anyway). I suppose it isn't a bad program, but most people just don't need it, and the folks who do are usually better off doing it all without a 3rd party app holding their hand.

Here's a link to the "Essentials" version:

http://www.purenetworks.com/product/essentials-features.php

Of course, I may be remembering the wrong application, seeing as this one is listed on the Cisco site, a competitor for D-Link, especially now that they own Linksys.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Network Magic's icon in the task bar, at least on my system, is a little green house on a yellow background, not a TV.

(By the way, I find that it is a fine program for managing a home network and has no issues with my D-Link router)





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[kjv1611]

Maybe it's changed a lot since I last messed with it. Is it freeware now, or is it trial/shareware?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[JPJeffery]

I thought the OP was just referring to the usual Windows network connections you can optionally set to show in the System Tray...

JJ
[small][purple]Variables won't. Constants aren't[/purple]
There is no apostrophe in the plural of PC (or PST, or CPU, or HDD, or FDD, or photo, or breakfast...and so on)[/small]

 

[kjv1611]

Yes, I do believe that's the case. Well, I'm not 100% sure, but I think I may have been reading a different thread, but posting in this thread... guess I had 2 open. B/c it could be mildly related, but not directly.. Or, maybe a mouse ran across my keyboard, yeah, that's it.



--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Lemon13]

mark "notify when connection has limited or no connection" under properties of the connection

M. Knorr

MCSE, MCTS, MCSA, CCNA

 

[linney]

Anything here?

How To: Fix Missing System Tray Icons at Windows XP startup

http://www.tech-pro.net/howto_013.html

Systray icons missing

http://winhlp.com/node/16

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

321213 - Icons in the Notification Area May Disappear If You Use High-Contrast Color Themes

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321213&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[Kevsim]

I thank you all for the advise.

I have tried all the suggestions but none have worked.
The only icon I am having problems with is the Internet Icon, it now does not load on bootup unless I select Task Manager/Processes then Explorer.exe, End Process then File New Task Explorer.exe, the Internet monitor then appears.

I would appreciate any further suggestions.
kevsim

 

[linney]

Have you tested with "Safe Mode with Networking"?

Have you tried another user in Normal Mode?

If you want to use System Restore to go back 3 weeks, if that is not too far to reverse, you could try that. System Restore will give you an "Undo" restore point if you want to return to the present.

 

[Kevsim]

linney,
When I start in Safe Mode with Networking and log on as myself, no Notification Area icons appear, when I right click and select Customise Notifications, they all show as Past Items.
If I log on as Administrator no icons appear.

If I long on as my self in normal operation the Internet Icon does not appear.

Logging on as another user, virus protection and sound icon appears.

Could not go back far enough for System Restore.

kevsim

 

[linney]

Did you check while in "Safe Mode with Networking", and in Normal Mode with another user logon, that the "Show Network icon" was actually ticked in the Properties of the Connection for the relevant user?

See if you can isolate any third party interference in Normal Mode by using the Clean Boot options previously posted.




Taskbar Icons
thread779-821607


Just some links that point to the relevant Registry location. I wonder whether backing up the keys then deleting them and rebooting to allow Windows to recreate them would serve any useful purpose. The last of these three links might give a clue as to why stopping Explorer and then restarting it causes the icons to appear?


"Hide inactive icons" is greyed out in Taskbar Properties

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/traynotify.htm

How do I clear past items from the Customize Notifications dialog box in Windows XP?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q283084

Inactive System Tray Icons

http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/33803-inactive-system-tray-icons.html

 

[Kevsim]

linney,
Unless the Internet Icon is showing in the Notification Area, the Internet Connection does not show in Network Connections so can not select Properties.

When the icon is showing you can go to Network Connections, right click Internet Connection then a window Internet Connection Properties shows and the “Show icon in Notification Area when connected is ticked".

kevsim

 

[Kevsim]

linney,
The icon is now appearing, so far so good.
I used the Link "Inactive System Tray Icons".
I had done this before EXCEPT I did not shutdown Explorer.exe BEFORE rebooting, I did AFTER rebooting, this was my mistake.

I do not know if this is a coincidence, but I have had a few errors of "Explorer is shutting down" and when shutting down the computer there is a message for around 2 seconds "Unclean Shutdown".
kevsim

 

[linney]

If that message persists you can try these suggestions.

I see lots of recommendations here for programs like -

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

 

[Kevsim]

linney,
Have already done the ChkDsk at least 3 times.
When running Run Box by typing Sfc /Scannow, it keeps asking for me to insert the SP2 disk.
I put in the original XP Professional installation disk (which contains SP2)but it keeps asking for "Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD Now".
I read where to avoid this issue was to copy the i386 file to C:\drive and change the following registry keys.

Copied i386 from XP CD to C:\i386.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Setup SourcePath C:\.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SourcePath C:\.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Setup\ServicePackSourcePath C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles

Hope this may assist.
kevsim

 

[kjv1611]

Here's some other options:

First one:
1. Uninstall your network adapter in device manager.
2. Right-click on any item in device manager, and select "Check for new hardware" or whatever it says for that idea.
3. Let it install, give it a while, and see if different..

This one assumes your card is an add-in card, not onboard:
Second one:
1. Uninstall your network adapter in device manager.
2. Turn off the computer (Shut down Windows)
3. Find a philips head screw driver
4. Open the side panel of your computer case - so long as it isn't one where you gotta remove the whole 2 sides and top or something like that... then just open whatever you have to to get to the network connection.
5. Find your network card - just look for the card where the network cable is plugged in.
6. Unscrew or undo the mechanism holding it in place.
7. Pull the network card from its socket.
8. blow or wipe away any dust found on it.
9. Plug the card back in.
10. Put the screw or retainer or whatever back in place to hold the network card..
11. Close the case back.
12. Restart Windows.

I've had odd situations with various PCI cards that seemed to not work correctly, even though everything showed right in Windows. Then if I just "reseated" the card, it all fixed right up. With it being a network card, uninstalling and reinstalling sometimes fixes it as well... and sometimes it takes a combination of the two. The good part is doing all this won't hurt anything so long as you're more careful than a wild donkey cut loose in a den of lions or snakes or something.

Also, if that doesn't work, and you have another card you can try, try it.

And here's another thing. If your network adapter is "onboard" or directly on the motherboard, you can still open up your case, and make sure, just to see, that you don't have any busted or bulging capacitors on the motherboard. Those can cause all sorts of weird things at times, though I don't recall that causing this sort of issue before.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[linney]

The fact that it is asking for SP2, does that mean you haven't gone with SP3 yet? Installing the latest ServicePack might be a solution, if you haven't already installed it?

 

[Kevsim]

kjv1611,
Thanks for the information, however the icon problem now appears to be fixed.

linney,
I thought of installing SP3 but was hesitant as this could cause issues with other programs.
With the registry keys changed to look at "C" drive, when I try to run SFC and the XP CD is not in the drive, I receive the error message "The CD you provided is the wrong CD". "Please insert the Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 into your CD-ROM drive".
I do this, the above message goes away and then I keep being prompted to "Retry".
I press the button and it goes for a while and asks again and so on.
There is CD drive activity during the SFC run.
Do you know of any other registry keys that I should change?
I would appreciate your opinion.
kevsim