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Question

Can't use the right corner of task bar

Jul 6, 2019 9:11AM PDT

The problem is the area where the sound, wifi, notification, and other icons are located. I can hover over and right-click them and they respond, but clicking on them does nothing. I can't view notifications, change wifi connection, or adjust volume without going into settings. The rest of the task bar works fine.

I've restarted windows explorer (several times), restarted my computer, closed Norton Security (which I thought may be causing an invisible popup), and made sure all my drivers are up to date.

It's such an oddly specific problem, but it's a huge nuisance that's surprisingly hard to work around. I don't like bothering people on forums, but I couldn't find anyone else with the same problem. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Just In Case They're "Off", Have You Checked This Setting?
Jul 6, 2019 12:12PM PDT

RIGHT click on the taskbar, choose "Taskbar settings", then scroll to the "Notification area" section, then the "Select which icons appear on the tasbar" and make sure "Always show all icons in the taskbar" is set to ON. Once that's done, scroll down through all the icon settings and enable all those you want showing. (If any are OFF that you want "ON", then you'll have to temporarily turn OFF the "Always show all icons in the taskbar" to enable them.)

Just checking....

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Icons turned off
Jul 6, 2019 1:23PM PDT

Thanks for your answer, but those aren't the problem. I can still access those by hitting the "up" arrow, or turning all icons on like you mentioned. The Wifi, sound, time, and notifications (Window's default icons) are still stuck.

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Answer
I've noticed these to fail when
Jul 6, 2019 1:38PM PDT

" restarted windows explorer " may be a clue here. I've found the systray items to go non-functional if I end task or start up windows explorer.

When that happens to me I try logging out and back in and of course rebooting.

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Log out and reboot
Jul 6, 2019 1:59PM PDT

Yep, tried both. Still no luck.

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Sorry that didn't work out.
Jul 6, 2019 2:24PM PDT

I will share that my systray on my office laptop did that but Windows was in the middle of an update so I used the shutdown and update to make it finish then all was well.

At the office with dozens of machines we don't see this issue often and when it does happen a reboot or letting WU finish seems to correct it.

How modified is your W10? You mention Norton but what else? Registry cleaners or such?

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Win10 Mods
Jul 7, 2019 11:06AM PDT

Not modified at all, really. Norton is the only program I have which has any file or registry cleaning features that I know of, I don't run any other security programs. I've rebooted and made sure the OS is up to date several times now.

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Ouch.
Jul 7, 2019 11:14AM PDT

I wish folk would stop using registry cleaning. It tends to break things in odd ways and as W10 changes, Norton might break something unintentionally. I won't get a lot of detail about that so in your case since you used their cleaner you need to post this in their forum now.

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Not finding a lot of others with this issue. But
Jul 6, 2019 2:45PM PDT
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SFC
Jul 7, 2019 11:03AM PDT

Thanks for sending that link, this guy had the exact same problem I do. I ran SFC, which didn't find any errors, restarted, and then created a new profile which had the same problem.

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One more idea.
Jul 7, 2019 11:12AM PDT

SFC works and the Windows 10 is very stock (no Norton or other desktop modifications.)

Grif and others (me included) have found CHKDSK /F or all drive letters to help at times. Grif writes long about that but as you completed the SFC I'll pause here and mention where I'd go next. REMEMBER that I assume you want to avoid a Windows 10 reset. My next stop would be Bleepingcomputer because of how many hijack situations happen today. Bleepingcomputer.com uses an entirely different approach and other tools that we don't here. The downside is the time for a reply can be a while but it's great stuff there.