Windows 10: Apps in system tray not launching

I have an Acer Predator laptop model PH315-51 running Windows 10 64-bit (1903). Please bear with me as I explain the background.


I'm not sure when this problem started happening, but it could well be early August - because that's when a Windows update broke my Train Simulator game (the 64 bit version). It simply crashed when launching with no error message: When the shortcut is clicked to launch, it showed the splash screen for a few seconds, I could see it in the taskbar and the cursor has that rotating time circle. The splash screen shortly thereafter disappeared, the program disappeared from the taskbar, the rotating time circle disappeared, and nothing happened.


When I removed the KB following this post, it worked for a while, before another barrage of updates came later in the month and the old problem returned. This time I wasn't sure which KB caused it. I am still waiting for the solution for this from the game developer.


Now this may or may not be related to the above, but I noticed at least two apps that launched during system startup and sit in the system tray are exhibiting the same symptoms as the game - when I right click on the icon in the system tray, and left clicked on the menu option to open it, the cursor shows the rotating time circle for a few seconds, then nothing happened. The programs did not launch. They are the Dolby Audio program and Acer Care Centre program.


I need to open the Dolby Audion program to change my sound settings - and I haven't been able to do this because of this problem. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling my Realtek HD audio drivers, to no effect.


Please help.

:)

 

Task Scheduler - launch program hidden in system tray


If the program doesn't have such a setting. automating that is difficult.

There are programs that add buttons to title bars or allow you to rt click the title bar and choose such an option, but that's not relevant to your need to launch it automatically.

This was discussed here, using an Autohotkey script:
Need script to always start program in system tray - AutoHotkey Community
but I would regard that only as a pointer, not a reliable solution.

There were older programs that did this:
(I can't post the link - it does something very odd when I do)
It's on lifehacker.com


Windows only: Freeware application Trayconizer turns any application into a system tray application in just a few steps. Unlike other previously mentioned minimize-to-system-tray apps like TrayIt or 4t Tray Minimizer, Trayconizer starts applications in the system tray from the moment you run them. To use it, you need to tweak the shortcut you're using to launch the application (right-click shortcut and select Properties) by adding the path to Trayconizer in front of the app like so: C:\Path\To\Trayconizer.exe C:\Windows\Notepad.exe. Trayconizer is freeware, Windows only, requires no install, and consumes a paltry 2MB of RAM.

 

Lost clock and calendar from system tray after update on September 25, 2016

Hi,

There are several reasons why this issue happens. To help you resolve this concern, we suggest that you adjust the height of the system tray. Kindly follow the steps below:

• Right-click on the system tray.
• Make sure that the Lock all taskbars
  option is unchecked.
• Try positioning your cursor at the top edge of the system tray until you see a vertical line with arrows at both tips.
  
• Hold the left mouse button down and drag the edge of the system tray upward to expand it.

Let us know if you need further assistance.

 

WINDOWS DEFENDER IN SYSTEM TRAY

Hi Peggybiebl,

Hope this will address your query.

Follow the below mentioned steps:

* Click Start,

* Type Windows Defender into the search space and select the
Window Defender from the list to launch the same.

* Keep Windows Defender open on desktop.

* Now Right-click on System-Tray(I.e. On time/date) and select
Customize notification icons from context menu

* On right Select which icons appear on the taskbar under
Quick actions.

* Then search and toggle the Windows Defender to On

Going forward you can see the Windows Defender in the system tray.

Hope this will address your query.