Windows 10: Win 10 system try not showing all apps until Explorer.exe is restarted

Win 10 home
Version 1703 OS Build 15063.540
All available updates applied.

Here's the deal.
I have been seeing this issue for some time now and this is the first time I am serious about trying to do something about it.

I have a number of application that SHOULD appear in the system try (AKA Notification area.).
I can "see" them via the Task Manager.
And if I attempt to run them they actually work.

But they don't all show up in the system try until I bring up the Task Manager, end explorer.exe and restart explorer.exe.
Then, they all appear.

This issue only seems to happen if I restart my pc.
Once the pc is running, the icons never disappear.

Settings \ Personalization \ Taskbar \ Select which icons appear on the Taskbar.
The applications that don't seem to appear are all listed, and the are all turned "On".
I also tried turning on the "Always show all icons in the notification area", but that didn't change anything.

I run malware bytes, defender and a number of other tools so I am reasonably sure my pc is free from virus and malware.

I have also, uninstalled some of the apps in question and reinstalled them without relieving the issue.
So, I'm also pretty sure the issue is NOT with the apps themselves.

I'm very confused and wonder if I might ask for some ideas as to what I might do in order to NOT have to restart Explorer.exe whenever I restart my pc.

Ray in Wisconsin

:)

 

Icons for running apps, not appearing in the system tray (notification area) unless explorer.exe is restarted

Win 10 home

Version 1703 OS Build 15063.540

All available updates applied.

Here's the deal.

I have been seeing this issue for some time now (couple of months) and this is the first time I am serious about trying to do something about it.

I have a number of applications that SHOULD appear in the system try (AKA Notification area.).

I can "see" them via the Task Manager.

And if I attempt to run them they actually work.

But they don't all show up in the system try until I bring up the Task Manager, end explorer.exe and restart explorer.exe.

Then, they all appear.

This issue only seems to happen if I restart my pc.

Once the pc is running, the icons never disappear.

Settings \ Personalization \ Taskbar \ Select which icons appear on the Taskbar.

The applications that don't seem to appear are all listed, and the are all turned "On".

I also tried turning on the "Always show all icons in the notification area", but that didn't change anything.

I run malware bytes, defender and a number of other tools so I am reasonably sure my pc is free from virus and malware.

I have also, uninstalled some of the apps in question and reinstalled them without relieving the issue.

So, I'm also pretty sure the issue is NOT with the apps themselves.

I'm very confused and wonder if I might ask for some ideas as to what I might do in order to NOT have to restart Explorer.exe whenever I restart my pc.

Ray in Wisconsin

 

BlackScreen appearing when rebooted after installation of windows update 1511 build 10586.494

If you can see Task Manager you can go into Details and confirm that explorer.exe is not running; then that would explain all your other symptoms. You could try restarting explorer.exe using TM's File, New... command.

Typically the reason that explorer.exe would not be working is that it would have crashed, probably as a resulting of another incompatible system product's interference. You could try booting in safe mode to see if explorer.exe would still crash then.
That would be a first step in a clean-boot diagnosis.

i tried rebooting through safe mode(through msconfig), explorer.exe doesnt start in there too..

i dont know which product is incompatible with the system though...

 

If you are having issues that continue to get worse, your best way to solve is a clean install of Windows 10. As you continue to make changes to various areas, you are just making the problems develop more problems.

 

I would try a repair install first. If that doesn't work then try a clean install. Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Hi there, Ray from WI. *Smile

After searching the Net, I find this is not a prevalent problem for 10. I found this method in various places, but the Registry entries aren't quite the same. I dual boot and am going to experiment with this in my other OS later just for grins if you care to wait.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...indows-vista-o

You may want to try these:

Use DISM to Repair Windows 10 Image Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

Run SFC Command in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

Have you any Restore points to go back to by any chance?

Create System Restore Point in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

System Restore Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

I see Winuser just posted a good suggestion as well.

 

Hi, do you notice any difference
a. in Safe Mode
b. if you create another user for test purposes

i.e. is this related to some 3rd party program?

If you see them same in both (a) and (b) as now, then suggest an in-place upgrade repair install as mentioned above which keeps all programs and data and most settings.