Safely Remove Hardware icon is missing fron the taskbar in XP

[yukichigai]

I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but somehow the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon stopped showing up on my folks' computer. It's not just hidden -- in fact the entire "hide inactive icons" taskbar feature has been disabled -- it's actually MIA. I've tried every setting I could think of but I can't get it to come back, or at least to stay back. I tried toggling the Icon Remover program over at safelyremove.com; it brings the icon back, but it won't stay after I restart the computer. Unplugging and re-plugging USB hardware doesn't bring it back either. I have no clue what's causing it or how to fix it. Suggestions?

Oh yes, to reiterate: it's not hidden on the taskbar, it's actually missing. Yes, I checked the hidden icons. No, it isn't there.

 

[ivwshane]

Did you install or do anything to your system recently (spyware scan counts).


Does your device manager show any ? marks?

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: ivwshane
Did you install or do anything to your system recently (spyware scan counts).


Does your device manager show any ? marks?

In order:

Not that I'm aware of, but I can't be sure. (I'm not over at the folks' place much)

No.

 

[ivwshane]

Try running this command:
%windir%\system32\RUNDLL32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll

There is several possible reasons for this.

http://www.google.com/search?q=safely+r...client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial

 

[yukichigai]

The command brings up the "Safely Remove Hardware" window, but the icon doesn't return.

I've Googled that same text before.

 

[ivwshane]

I know but there were so many different variables that could cause this issue that I figured it would be easier for you to read suggestions from people who had the same experience instead of me asking questions and then responding

 

[corkyg]

If you find the answer, post it. Most threads on this subject ask how to get rid of the damned thing.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but somehow the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon stopped showing up on my folks' computer. It's not just hidden -- in fact the entire "hide inactive icons" taskbar feature has been disabled -- it's actually MIA. I've tried every setting I could think of but I can't get it to come back, or at least to stay back. I tried toggling the Icon Remover program over at safelyremove.com; it brings the icon back, but it won't stay after I restart the computer. Unplugging and re-plugging USB hardware doesn't bring it back either. I have no clue what's causing it or how to fix it. Suggestions?

Oh yes, to reiterate: it's not hidden on the taskbar, it's actually missing. Yes, I checked the hidden icons. No, it isn't there.

Dumb question: You do actually have a hot-swappable or removable storage device plugged in, yes?

 

[Markbnj]

If you recently disabled write caching on all the potentially removeable storage devices, Windows may have decided it doesn't need the system tray applet anymore.