Taskbar context menu items not going away.

[cjmarshall]

Hello!
This morning I launched the Task Manager via right-click context menu on the taskbar.
After clicking the Task Manager the menu items went away as per usual but the single "Start Task Manager" item remained. It occupies a top level status, i.e. it is on top of all other windows, I can still see it now.
image link

This has happened to me several times, also from the tray, and I usually have to solve the problem by rebooting but there has to be a solution.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

 

[MilesAhead]

Have you tried right clicking on the desktop and hittig Refresh? I can remember this happening to me on older Windows flavors. I don't remember any "fix" for it though. You could try anything that purges the desktop, system menu or other Explorer cache. But that's just a guess.

 

[andrew129260]

This happens when explorer.exe fails to register that the context menu has gone away. The temp fixes are to end the explorer.exe process, restart the computer or quite simply right clicking the desktop and choosing refresh.
It is correct that older windows versions have this problem more frequently than new ones.

I would suggest running ccleaner and under the advanced section:
-Choose menu order cache
-tray notification cache
-window size/location cache

Doing those 3 fixed the issue for me when it kept happening to myself.

 

[cjmarshall]

Refreshing the desktop does nothing, it's part of a different process.
Killing explorer.exe does not work either.
I was hoping that I didn't have to reboot every time this happens.
Might be time for a clean install of Windows.

 

[MilesAhead]

I would try cleaning the caches as suggested before doing a radical fix. It only takes a couple of minutes to try the easy way.

Other than that try Windows Annoyances. This must have come up before. I tried to search but I'm stuck with a sticky mouse at the moment and any navigation is difficult.

 

[cjmarshall]

Cache cleaning did nothing, it still remained.
I finally rebooted to get rid of it.
I'm working towards backing stuff for a clean install now

 

[cjmarshall]

I was about to do a clean install today when some stuff came up delaying the process when it happened again.
I then found this solution (http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/263529-33-residual-menu-items-stay-screen-monitor).
I can't attest to its validity since it happens randomly and I am unable to produce the effect at will on my laptop and unchecking the options doesn't produce an immediate effect.
Still going to do the wipe soon but hopefully this can help someone else!
Cheers!

 

[MilesAhead]

When you say "this solution" what do you mean? It might be a work-around for someone with the same issue if you post what you did.

 

[cjmarshall]

thank you for the heads up, I forgot to add the link.

 

[andrew129260]

From the OP link:

1. Click on Start Menu or From you desktop shortcut.
2. Right Click on My Computer
3. Select Properties
4. Click on Advanced Tab
5. Click on Setting for the Performance Section
6. Click on Custom

There are three items. You might only need to uncheck one of them, which I will tell you in a minute but I did all three. Trust me, you'll be happy.

Uncheck the following:
Fade or Slide Menus into view (optional)
Fade or Slide ToolTips into view (optional)
Fade out menu items after clicking (MUST)

Click ok twice and you will no longer have the problem.

This makes complete sense. Can't believe I didn't think of this.