yet another XP quirk

Vampyromaniac · Aug 30, 2004, 03:19 AM

well what is it now, you might ask.

the Task Manager is supposed to have a tray icon, that shows CPU usage right?
well, mine doesn't seem to want to show up most of the time. each time I open Task Manager, the icon is there in the tray only once in a while. I have no idea what is causing this, is it normal for XP?

tried Google, no help found about this.

OK, just in case this matters:
I have the Windows Classic look running, not the "Luna" stuff.
I have "hide inactive icons" on, and have tried "always show" and "hide when inactive" for the task manager icon

thanks for any ideas

**dj_stick** · Aug 30, 2004, 04:53 AM

it should only be there when the task manager program is open, as soon as you close it it disapears

RIV@NVX · Aug 30, 2004, 05:09 AM

Most probably just a stupid random bug, that occasionally happens in Windows... I once had soundcard device names screwed up, and nothing but reinstalling Windows helped.

PangingJr · Aug 30, 2004, 07:53 AM

with the Task Manager icon. XP displays a notification icon when an event
occurs. after a short time, Windows puts the icon in the background to simplify that area.
if you check "hide inactive icons" then the XP will do that,
i never have this problem maybe becos i always uncheck this option, so try with the option uncheck.

mkk · Aug 30, 2004, 08:11 AM

I've noticed this phenomenon many times. Here it seems that if one starts task manager when windows is relatively freshly started then it will stay in the tray when minimised, with the "hide when minimized" option ticked. And it will stay there forever. But if one quits the task manager after having the system on a long while and then tries to do the same then it very rarely shows up in the tray at all. If you like to have it there most of the time, try putting a link to it in the startup folder. (C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe)

Edit: Hmm, now even a system reboot did not help. It always did before so maybe something has changed with SP2, or there is some other factor at play.

Vampyromaniac · Aug 30, 2004, 11:13 PM

first, let me clarify what is going on again.
I know the icon is supposed to be there while task manager is running, and gone when you close it.
The problem is, most of the time I start Task Manager, and there is no icon while it is running.
I have two separate partitions of XP right now (full installs, not Ghosted), and they both have the problem.
And I forgot to mention, both are SP1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Net

after a short time, Windows puts the icon in the background to simplify that area.
if you check "hide inactive icons" then the XP will do that

Yes, I know this too, but the icon doesn't show up to begin with, and it's not there when I click the << to reveal hidden icons.
I'll test with "Hide inactive icons" disabled, and get back to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

I've noticed this phenomenon many times. Here it seems that if one starts task manager when windows is relatively freshly started then it will stay in the tray when minimised, with the "hide when minimized" option ticked. And it will stay there forever. But if one quits the task manager after having the system on a long while and then tries to do the same then it very rarely shows up in the tray at all. If you like to have it there most of the time, try putting a link to it in the startup folder. (C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe)

I'll try experimenting with what you said, and see. At least I know I'm not the only one

I don't need the thing there most of the time, I just like to be able to Minimize it to the tray, but without the icon there, I can't.

Thanks for the replies, guys

Vampyromaniac · Aug 31, 2004, 02:42 AM

so I've disabled the Hide Inactive Icons option, been through several reboots since, but still doesn't work right most of the time.

also, it's totally unpredictable as far as when it will work. did a reboot, the TM icon showed, then closed it after a while, and opened again, no icon. reboot, opened, no icon. two more fresh boots, no icon.

funny thing, I tried just now three times, no icon. opened an IE window, tried again, icon showed up. closed TM, opened again, no icon. closed/opened again, icon showed. opened/closed again a few times: no, yes, no, no, no, yes, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, yes, no.....

it works very seldom, and at random times.

does it work normally for everyone else?

PangingJr · Aug 31, 2004, 03:35 AM

there's a problem like this in the past, many ppls had this prob, actually.
i just never read it before. will PM you the info then you'll have to check it out,
i've not read it yet, can't do it, very long read but maybe there is a solution there. let us know..

mkk · Sep 1, 2004, 08:41 PM

It has improved here, so that it at least always shows up properly at windows startup. Seems to show up in the tray much more oftenly at other times as well, but still not quite 100%... Unfortunately I cannot say exactly what did it, but the improvement had something to do with my going over the system processes thoroughly and disabling everything I didn't need to have running or even on manual so to let it run when asked for by something else. I made at least a dozen changes and I'm not feeling like backtracking all of them to see if there was a single one that made the difference, but just in case anyone could use my current rules for the windows processes as a comparison I made a screenshot-list of them. I marked the non-windows processes by a thin strike-through line.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s_sept_02b.png

Just a note. I wouldn't recommend anyone to follow that setup blindly, as quite a few things that people could use are disabled.

Vampyromaniac · Sep 1, 2004, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Net

there's a problem like this in the past, many ppls had this prob, actually.
i just never read it before. will PM you the info then you'll have to check it out,
i've not read it yet, can't do it, very long read but maybe there is a solution there. let us know..

thank, mate. I'll read through all that, and see if I can find anything, and let you know

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

It has improved here, so that it at least always shows up properly at windows startup. Seems to show up in the tray much more oftenly at other times as well, but still not quite 100%... Unfortunately I cannot say exactly what did it, but the improvement had something to do with my going over the system processes thoroughly and disabling everything I didn't need to have running or even on manual so to let it run when asked for by something else. I made at least a dozen changes and I'm not feeling like backtracking all of them to see if there was a single one that made the difference, but just in case anyone could use my current rules for the windows processes as a comparison I made a screenshot-list of them. I marked the non-windows processes by a thin strike-through line.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s_sept_02b.png

Just a note. I wouldn't recommend anyone to follow that setup blindly, as quite a few things that people could use are disabled.

yeah, I've got my Services tweaked a bit, too. Different amounts on the two boot partitions, I'll post them later.
I'm thinking this might be linked to the Themes service

pr0digal jenius · Sep 2, 2004, 12:51 AM

vampy...do you happen to have the hacked uxtheme.dll file or the original one?

if you have the hacked one it may idneed be the themes as you said....if not, I guess read what Net sent you and hope the PC Gods are in a forgiving mood

Vampyromaniac · Sep 2, 2004, 01:30 AM

hehe
no, I have done any skinning or theme-ing, running the Windows Classis scheme, and everything's original.

PangingJr · Sep 2, 2004, 10:19 AM

find anything in those msges that i sent?

Vampyromaniac · Sep 3, 2004, 01:09 AM

boy, there's a lot to read, I have to wait until tomorrow, I will have time then

PangingJr · Sep 3, 2004, 01:41 AM

okay, i've to understand the prob and if it's too complicate to resolve this prob, then i'll try to get a workaround for it..

i'll repeat these so i can get the pic, correct me...... you open task manager by hitting < Ctrl -Shift- Esc > or < Ctrl - Alt - Del >
the TM opens in normal window, now at the point you see the TM button on task bar ?... But you don't see its icon on system tray (task bar's notification area - by the windows clock) ?

and the problem is .... when you hit the TM's minimize box, it won't minimize to task bar nor the notification area.. no matter what you have tried.. the only way to re-open the TM is to hit those keys again ??
and you want to see its icon to show either on the task bar or by the clock so you can reopen it with your mouse??.

Vampyromaniac · Sep 3, 2004, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Net

i'll repeat these so i can get the pic, correct me...... you open task manager by hitting < Ctrl -Shift- Esc > or < Ctrl - Alt - Del >
the TM opens in normal window, now at the point you see the TM button on task bar ?... But you don't see its icon on system tray (task bar's notification area - by the windows clock) ?

correct. TM taskbar button is there, but TM systray icon is not there most of the times I start TM

Quote:

and the problem is .... when you hit the TM's minimize box, it won't minimize to task bar nor the notification area.. no matter what you have tried.. the only way to re-open the TM is to hit those keys again ??
and you want to see its icon to show either on the task bar or by the clock so you can reopen it with your mouse??.

it will minimize to the taskbar if I don't have the Hide When Minimized option checked, but not to the systray when I do have the box checked.
I want it in the systray, so I can get to it without "starting" it again, and I don't want the taskbar button there when it's minimized.

PangingJr · Sep 3, 2004, 02:31 AM

TM's icon in the system tray... sometimes show, manytime it won't show... randomly ? ....annoyance ?
i can imagine that. hmm how to fix this.. later.

Vampyromaniac · Sep 3, 2004, 02:46 AM

yes when I start TM, most of the time it doesn't show. only once in maybe 5-15 times launching TM, it will show. it's completely random.

PangingJr · Sep 3, 2004, 03:38 PM

...not sure but i think this'is current bug, no workaround.
only if you don't mind installing a 3rd party program like ...
4t Tray Minimizer (Free) - http://www.4t-niagara.com/tray.html

or something like PS Tray Factory (Not free) - http://www.pssoftlab.com/

i've tested the 4t Tray Minimizer, its works okay on XP's classic theme, but not so good on the luna.
( you use classic theme anyway ).
i'm still running a test system and i'll have to start over anyway,
so this up to you, if you like to use and test the program.

Vampyromaniac · Sep 3, 2004, 03:50 PM

thanks, I'll give it a shot if I don't find anything in your link

PangingJr · Sep 3, 2004, 04:55 PM

hope you find some good info about this there

... MS knows about this problem as i saw when i read a couple of msges on very first posted ones..

Nacht · Sep 3, 2004, 05:10 PM

well now my task manager doesnt show who is running each process! whats with that!?!?

PangingJr · Sep 3, 2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nacht

well now my task manager doesnt show who is running each process! whats with that!?!?

i'd reinstall windows
or
maybe just reformat it might be viruses...

mkk · Sep 4, 2004, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by