Stupid Computer Question

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 02:20 PM

Ok, I know this is stupid but I can't seem to find what happened. On my computer the small bubble with the arrow that hides the inactive icons in the Notification area has suddenly gone away. I had this happen once before and can't remember what I did to get it back. No virus, Trojan, or spy ware caused it. I think it may have just came back after a day or so but am not sure. And it was there and working earlier and this time when I booted up it is gone and the icons are showing. No big deal, just wondered if any of you have ever had this happen and it you would tell me what you did to get it back. Everything works ok, I just kind of like them hidden when I am not using one of them.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #2 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 03:02 PM

Ron,
Right click on the task bar and see if the "Hide inactive Icons" is checked. If not, check it and it should fix it for you.

Cobrabill · #3 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 03:14 PM

Ron-it might be a loose connection between the keyboard & chair.

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 03:20 AM

Joe,

That was the first thing that I did. I had this happen once before and can't remember what I did to get it back. I could use System Restore but I don't use that computer much and it's last restore point was over a month ago which means I would then have to sit while it updated my virus and any other later updates such as Windows. Everything works great, the icons just stay in sight like they used to on Windows 95/98, so it isn't worth the bother.

Bill, I am firmly attached to the keyboard. Not even using a wireless one.

Ron

wtm442 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 04:26 AM

Time for a new eyeglass prescription!

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 04:36 AM

Problem solved. I just used the System Restore and set it back to an earlier date. I just hate to do that as I don't use that computer a lot and I always have to spend an hour while it updates everything. And it has always had a minor error in it that when I went to the Microsoft Site said I could remove it using their tool but they recommend just leaving it as it doesn't affect anything. When you do a System restore, it does it ok but when you click ok at the finish you get this encountered an error message even though it has restored it to that time. I have looked in the Event Viewer and this error occurs every time I turn the computer on and sometimes when I do some things. Maybe someday when I am really bored I will see if I can get it out but since it doesn't hurt anything I just haven't wanted to spend the time messing with it. I even gained some free disk space with the restore as I cleaned out the whole restore after everything was working and set a new system checkpoint for this morning.

Ron

bomelia · #7 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 08:46 AM

Joe Wicked was correct.

Right click on task bar, click properties, check or uncheck "hide inactive icons"

Mike (for future reference)

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 08:57 AM

Mike,

See my post above when I answered Joe. That was the first thing that I tried and it didn't work. Also unlocked the Task bar, turned computer off and then back on and did it that way. If I take it off using that option it will put it back, but the two times it has just vanished on its own, that option would not get it back. The first time I messed with it for three days trying before I just used the restore.

Ron

Ronbo · #9 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 09:56 PM

Properties, notification area, click "customize" and hit "restore defaults"...

This area also lets you decide what is displayed in the notification area and when.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:08 AM

To all that have answered my thanks. Ronbo, I also tried that and it never restored the bubble. It was there when I shut the computer off and then was not when I next turned it on.I had this happen once before and I had to do something weird to get it back but never wrote it down and just can't remember what it was. So I just used a restore point, which I don't much care for, but it is still working this morning so I guess whatever happened is gone. No big thing as I just use that computer for my photo work mainly. I think there are only two icons in the bar except the clock and Virus ones.

Thanks again all,

Ron

Joe Wicked · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:21 AM

Ron,
The only other thing I can think of is the system registry. I had a virus on my work PC that changed the properties for Hidden files The valid settings were 0, 1, or 2 and it changed it to 3. This caused me to not be able to see hidden files on the PC no matter what I did. The virus was of course hidden and I could not get rid of it. Once I knew what it was, I could get rid of it. Maybe something, not necessarily a virus, changed or corrupted that value.

Ron61 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:30 AM

Joe,

I ran the registry cleaner and also edited it and all values were ok. I also checked it after using the system restore and they are the same. That computer never is on-line except my home page for e-mail and once in a while to CC if I have a PM listed in the e-mail. Anyway it is working and was working ok without the bubble showing, so it must be a glitch in the program that has shown up twice in the 4 years I have had it. I use this computer for 99% of my on-line messing around as it is old enough that I have all the CDs to format and reload it. That one has the Raid 0 setup and I have formatted and reloaded it once just to see that it worked and it seemed to but I like this one best as I can choose which features I want to reload and on the Raid 0 you have everything the company put in reloaded and then spend half a day taking out the junk you don't use or want. I was just curious if anyone else had ran into that problem and couldn't fix it with the option on the task bar or by checking the registry.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #13 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 04:51 AM

Hmmmmm, I am curious to the cause. If it wasn't the operator settings and the registry wasn't corrupted, this is weird. I will likely mull it over trying to figure it out today. I run into weird stuff all the time at work and it is good to know how to fix it when something comes up.

It is always awesome when your boss spends half a day trying to fix something and you come in and are done in seconds. I keep a log of weird issues and their fixes for this reason. One of my coworkers gets pissed when he spends days on something and then I come in and it is done. He has changed his tactics to just ask me before he spends time on it.

My philosophy on it is the sooner I get it running the sooner production is running again. So lets get it done and get out of the way.

Ron61 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 05:00 AM

Joe,

I do the same thing with weird problems that I find but for some reason I never wrote this one down in my log. When I was working I had a large loose leaf notebook almost full of weird things I had found as we then used 7 different types of computers and each had their own weird quirks. I may try to duplicate this when I am messing with that computer and if I figure out what I did I will post it to you.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #15 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 05:40 AM

Ron,
Here is something for you. We have trouble using any Dell PC with our programs. The programs seem to work on any PC except a Dell. Go figure that one out. My theory is it is in the Bios. Windows configuration does not seem to matter. I have taken an HP and a Dell and loaded windows with the CD with all default options. The HP will work and the Dell will not. This is one that I have not gotten the solution for. I have spoken with Dell and the only thing I got from them was that they do write their own Bios. They will not talk with me for the most part as I am not the customer. Samsung just doesn't buy Dell to solve the problem, but a lot of our customers do.

Ron61 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 06:06 AM

Joe,

That is strange. I have a Dell Laptop, but am not using the same programs that you run. But so far everything that I have loaded into it to try has worked ok. It has XP Home on it as I have the XP Pro on my other computer and thought the Home version would be all I need on the Dell. I don't hardly ever use it any more.
Do you get any error messages or anything that could be used to track the problem or just what kind of failure does it have?

Ron

Joe Wicked · #17 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 07:57 AM

The program are internally produced programs used in the repair process for the phones. The problems range from will not open to exiting at random times to lockups to computer crashes.

Ron61 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 10:06 AM

That is strange that they will work on every other brand computer. Can you find out if there is something in Dell's Bios that the others don't have? If they wrote their own they have probably added something in that is different. I don't ever use the Dell Laptop that I bought a year or so ago, but if you would like I could send it to you and you could then call Dell and tell them you are a customer and maybe they would help you.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #19 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

That is strange that they will work on every other brand computer. Can you find out if there is something in Dell's Bios that the others don't have? If they wrote their own they have probably added something in that is different. I don't ever use the Dell Laptop that I bought a year or so ago, but if you would like I could send it to you and you could then call Dell and tell them you are a customer and maybe they would help you.

Ron

I just got back to this thread. I have already tried that Ron, but thanks. They will tell you that they wrote their own bios, but will not give it out as it is proprietary information. I can see where they are coming from, and they will (for a fee of course) evaluate the tool and make a custom Bios that will work with the tool, if they determine it is the bios that is causing it. It doesn't make sense for us to pay them to do that when HP and all others so far work.

Ron61 · #20 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 12:29 PM

Joe,

I have to agree. If all others will work why waste time and money trying to get a custom BIOS from Dell? Just use the other computer brands.

Ron