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When you start your Windows Vista computer, the Volume Control icon may be missing from the Notification area. Also, in the Taskbar properties – Notification tab, the checkboxes for Clock, Volume and Network may remain grayed out.
Simply logging off and logging on to your user account helps in most cases, if this is not caused by a Policy setting. Alternately, you may try terminating and restarting Explorer.exe to see if that works. If that does not help (and your computer is not part of a domain), use the instructions below to unlock the Notification area icons.
Registry Fix
Download trayicons.reg and save to Desktop. Right-click on the file and choose Merge. Click Yes when prompted for confirmation.
Note that the previously mentioned REG file removes the following Registry-based Policy values in your system:
- HideSCAVolume
- HideSCANetwork
- HideClock
- HideSCAPower
Additionally, it clears the IconStreams & PastIconsStream values as suggested in Microsoft KB945011.
Important: After running the .REG file, you need to terminate and restart Explorer.exe for the change to take effect.
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terminating and restarting Explorer.exe worked. Thanks a bunch !
Eureka: I have tried 1) auto_fix.reg 2) micrsoft_fixit.msi 3)manual reg repair and 4)AUC (Automated User Control) toggling all methods require restarting explorer or rebooting. If your problem is as serious as mine you need to repeat these actions on every second reboot.
A gentlemen wished service pack 2 had fixed this. A little light came on and I unistalled and then reinstalled service pack 2. I have had 5 reboots with no problems. Therefore this seems the most robust repair if this is a reoccuring problem.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your computer came factory installed with SP2 you may not uninstall it.
Sincerely,
R, Manley