Windows 7: System Icons...ARGH!

Hi There

Im running Windows 7 Home Premium, my system icons are all greyed out (apart fromclock) and will not work/turn on.

I have been trying everything on various websites but to no avail. I have:

- Restored system icons in configuration
- tried Windows qucik fix download
- deleted 'iconstreams' from registry

and numerous other attempts but i'm completely lost. I dont know when my batteries about to run out until its too late...i cant see lists of available networks with wireless as my network icon doesnt turn on or off...volume doesn't work.

Any help would be most appreciated!! Im going insane!!

Please help!

When did it start and why do you think it may have started? Installed any new programs lately? I think I would do a full scan with your antivirus and probably scan with malwarebytes too. System restore might bail you out if you can go back to a time before this happened. Another option may be to run the system file checker, sfc / scannow. Failing that you may have to boot from your windows 7 DVD and do a repair.

May you post some screenshots of those icons ? Have you applied any customization program like iconpackger or alienware lately ? If so , The safe and easy way to get rid of it is a Repair Install .

There is some technique to restore icons manually , Icons - Change Using Resource Hacker , but it would be extremely laborious for all the system icons

@ alphanumeric...

started about 6-8 weeks ago, only programmes i installed are games really. I turned off notifications from 'action centre' and after that...it all happened. I have Norton and have scanned many times thinking it was avirus etc...no help. No system restore available and I have run SFC scannow and it did actually find some corrupted files but could't fix them.

I'm beggining to think that windows 7 dvd may be the only option.

@ Arc...

please see attached for pic. I have no customisation software installed, I will try to restore manually and see how i get on.

Now it's clear ... those are'nt the system icons but notification area icons . If you click on restore default icons behaviors link, what happens ?

When I click restore defaults it does nothing...no change at all!

Ok then follow the tutorial System Icons - Turn On or Off . I think it should solve the issue .

You could try this

Notification Area Icons - Reset

@ Arc...

Done this, they are greyed out. I cant use the drop down bars to adjust them. They are just greyed out and I have no control over them. I defalult icon behaviours and nothing happens. Regardles what I do within the customisation area....they dont 'ungrey' so i can control them.