Odd behavior of Windows 10 recently...

Hi. Bat

My name is Gabriel S. I hope to help you today.

To do this, we have to go to the Windows 10 configuration page from the Start menu and enter the Personalization option. Once there, we select the Taskbar option from the left side menu and then we have to look for the Notification area section in the right panel. There we will be able to find two links or options, Select the icons that will appear in the taskbar and Activate or deactivate system icons.

If we select the first one, a list will appear with all the icons that can be displayed in the notification area of ​​the taskbar, which is that area that is between the clock and the main area where we can anchor our favorite applications. From this list, we can indicate whether or not we want each and every one of the icons to be displayed using its own switch.

If we enter the second option, then we will be able to activate or deactivate the system icons that are displayed on the taskbar. It is from here where we are going to indicate that the clock, the volume control, the touch keyboard, the location, the activity center itself, etc. are hidden.

Greetings…

I have done both of what you suggest but the icon still appears on startup. I allow only a few apps of my choosing to appear there. Is there perhaps a registry setting that will stop this VERY ANNOYING behavior?

Ways to check:

PowerShell: [System. Environment] :: OSVersion. version

WinVer from CMD.exe

Using these commands you can check if there are any errors in the version that is currently updated.

Another way to check this problem is to look for the output of these two PS commands:

get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost

get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana

Now the fastest resolution is to revert to a known good setting. This can roll back the update, resetting the computer to default values (where there is an option to save to delete user data) or restore from backup. No method of installing startup appx files is supported. The results are often problematic and unreliable.

I fail to see where your latest response addresses the problem. I do not want to do a restore. I ask again... is there a registry setting that you know of that will fix this problem?

Hi Bat -

I'm Kevin B. Independent advisor and a Windows user like you. I do apologize for the inconvenience that you experiencing right now, let me help you sort things out.

What icon does it display, did you get the name of the icon?

We need to identify what icon is being displayed on your system tray and what it does to know which registry value we can modify. Also, please try to perform the below steps and check if it will resolve the issue.

Method 1: Remove Startup Folder entries
- This folder contains all applications and shortcuts that will open/run during startup. Removing the content might resolve the issue that you have.

1. Press the Windows Key + R then type shell:Startup then press enter.
2. Folder will open, make sure to remove unfamiliar startup applications or contents on that folder.

Method 2: Perform Clean Boot
- This process will eliminate 3rd party application running in the background of your computer along with services that are not needed to run windows. If there's any conflicting 3rd party application that causes the issue on your computer, this process will stop it.

1. Open the run box by pressing the Windows Key + R and type msconfig
2. System Configuration Utility box will open and by default you are on general tab.
3. On the General tab, click the selective startup and make sure that load system service and load startup items both have checked mark.
4. Click on services tab
5. Put a check mark on Hide All Microsoft Services > This is a very important part as if you miss to click on this, computer might not boot properly or permanently and will end up on clean installation.
6. Once Hide all Microsoft Services have checked mark on it, click on Disable All
7. Click on the Startup Tab and click open task manager. This will open another window which contains all your startup applications on the administrator account.
8. Disable all application that you're not using. You can simply just click on them and select disable.
9. Click OK , Apply and close the configuration utility

Method 3: Perform system restore
-This process will take your computer settings back to an earlier point in time where computer is working fine. If there's any changes made on your computer that removes the service, system restore should be able to fix the issue for you. To perform system restore please follow the steps below:

1. Open the run box by pressing the Windows key + R and type rstrui.exe
2. Once system restore windows open, normally it will suggest a restore point (sometimes it doesn't) if it does, select the 2nd option and hit next
3. Select your desired restore point date and time and hit next and finish.

Windows will going to restart your computer to initiate system restore. System restore might take several minutes to complete depending on the current speed of your computer and the changes it will made. Applications and updates that was installed on the computer prior to the date selected will be removed. It is important that when system restore starts, process must not be interrupted.

DISCLAIMER:
System Restore is a recovery tool for Windows that allows you to reverse certain kinds of changes made to the operating system. System Restore is used to return important Windows files and settings—like drivers, registry keys, system files, installed programs, and more—back to previous versions and settings. Being said all applications and changes made prior to the date selected will be removed and needs to be re-installed if its needed.

Feel free to reach back if you need further assistance

Hope this will help and have a bless day!

Thanks.
Kevin B.
Independent advisor

Method 1: Remove Startup Folder entries...

  >> There are no new items in the startup folder. All items have been there for years.

Method 2: Perform Clean Boot...

  >> Icon still shows up in system tray after clean boot.

Method 3: Perform system restore...

  >> I don't want to do a system restore.

This is the icon. When I hover the mouse pointer over it nothing pops up like all the other icons in the tray. When I right or left click on the icon, Windows file explorer opens.

This is my system tray. I have used these items for years.

Hi Bat -

Thanks for the reply. Since the Cleanboot did not resolve the issue, this could mean that the icon is not a 3rd party application running in the background of your computer. This could be a driver showing on the system tray notification.

In order for me to identify which application or driver causes the issue can you take a screenshot of the icons under taskbar in the settings of your computer.

1. Right click on the blank space on your taskbar and select task bar settings
2. Click on Select which icon appears on the taskbar
3. Take a screenshot of the icon that shows on your taskbar on the list so we can check

Regards,
Kevin B.

I should apologize for not mentioning at the beginning that the icon is windows file explorer. I did mention that in my last post along with images of the icon & system tray. It is not a 3rd party app nor a driver icon. Here are the settings you requested above:

Hi Bat -

Thanks for the response and the screenshot of the settings. Base from the screenshot the Windows Explorer is turned off. Since system restore is not an option for you, let's try to perform in-place repair instead.

In-place repair/upgrade or repair reinstall is a process of re-installing Windows without touching any of your applications or personal files. In this way if there's any data corruption, damaged system files or missing system files on your computer, this repair will fix or repair them.

To start we need to download an ISO file of Windows 10 and save it to your computer. Please follow the instruction on the link below to create an ISO file

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402819...

After the ISO is created, follow the instructions on the link below created by PaulSey, Microsoft Agent, on how to perform repair install on your computer.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

This process will take some time to complete so you need to be very patient in waiting until the process completes. Once done , restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Feel free to reach back if you need further assistance

Regards,
Kevin B.

I'd rather not do this either. Guess I'll just live with it until Micro$oft decides to either fix it or quit screwing around with windows. Thanks for the input.