Solved Windows update symbol strange behaviour

[bugs6]

Hi,
the windows update symbol would not show up in the notification area although "show symbol and notification" is activated. The symbol is visible only when some update is available. All other symbols are working as they should. Until yesterday there was no problem at all. I looked into some threads and tried out some hints but nothing worked.
Thanks for help,
Bugs6

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Hello bugs6

Did you try this - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html.

Afterwards remember to go back and re enter your preferences for show icon/notifications etc

Danny

 

[bugs6]

Hi xxxdannxxx,

I tried it now, with the result that this icon is no longer listed in the preferences for show icon/notifications any more.

But before that, I found out that when toggling from "show only notifications" to "show symbol and notifications" there was a balloon tip telling me that this symbol were not "activated" but would be shown when activated again. Unfortunately, it did not tell me how to "activate" this symbol. Any idea?

Best,
Bugs6

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Hi bugs6

Don't panic that's normal.The process you followed cleared all the icons and reset them(you will notice you now only have a few in preferences) The windows update icon will show up next time there is an update due, then you will be able to set your preferences.If you have updates waiting you can force it to show itself by running windows update if not its a waiting game until you are due one.

Danny

 

[bugs6]

Hi xxxdannxxx,

would be fine. Can I force it by de-installing some update already done?

Best,
Werner

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

If you cant wait then yes that would force it to show, reboot after un-installing,then check for updates close the page and wait for it to pop up in the system tray.
A little over kill in my opinion,you may cause more problems un-installing and re-installing updates but its up to you.

Danny

 

[bugs6]

It was just an idea. OK I'll wait and give you feedback, positive or negative.
Thanks again,
Werner

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

It was not my intention to put you off. I understand you just want to see it working. If you decide to go ahead and un-install an update just choose something small and innocuous that's unlikely to cause you any issues.
At the end of the day it's your machine

Danny

 

[bru]

As Danny says it will show up. For me if I bring the computer out of sleep WU usually runs a check within a few minutes and the icon will be back. Or after a restart. Or just wait .

 

[bugs6]

Hi Danny,
I do not feel put off, don't worry. On the other hand, you are right, I want to see it working. Working again, to be correct, since it did work before an I don't know why it stopped to do so. Well then, I uninstalled a small update and while the update agent was searching for it again, this symbol indeed reappeared and I could, and still can, configure it to "show symbol and notifications". But, alas, once the update was finished, the old situation too was back, which means, the symbol is gone when toggling from "show only notifications" to "show symbol and notifications" there is a balloon tip telling me that this symbol is not activated but would be shown when activated again.
Is there any registry entry controlling this? Of course, as long as the update service is working and will show up when something will have to be done, all right. It just rankles me not to know what is going on here. Maybe I did something which caused this problem so I would like to find a lasting solution for it.
Thanks for writing again if you have more ideas, or someone else following this thread.
Best,
Werner

 

[bru]

Isn't it not showing because there are no pending updates? The next time there are updates it will show and stay in the tray until you install them.

I don't think it is supposed to stay there if there are no pending updates. In other words it sounds as if it is behaving properly.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

No your misunderstanding.That update icon will only show if there is an update.If all icons showed all the time the system tray would be a mess.Only "active icons" (anything that's running or needs attention) will show no matter what preferences you have set. You have the option to show or hide the icons but if the program is not in use yet they wont show until activated.


I Hope this explains things for you

Danny

 

[Teerex]

I'm struggling to understand what you view to be a problem, so I'll fire a blind shot - the windows update notification icon is by design not supposed to be hanging around in the tray all the time. It is designed to show up for a short period from the detection of an available update, through installation, and after reporting that the update was succesfully installed, it should disappear until the next update process.

 

[bugs6]

Hi Teerex and other helpers,
this sounds reasonable, but there is a "but", so Teerex I explain the problem in more detail: First, before this icon disappeared, it was there, even without updates pending. Second, if icons would show up only when sth needs attention, the option "show symbol and notification" would make no sense because this would be the option "only show notification". To make my problem clearer: The notification area has two parts, one which is visible all the time and one which is hidden and may be opened by clicking on the ^ symbol. I am concerned with the latter one. All those icons which I set to "show symbol and notifications" are visible in the hidden part as long there is no notification – except the Windows update symbol. This one is not shown either in the hidden nor in the visible part of the notification area. But "show symbol and notification" does not mean "only show notification" but "show it in the hidden part of the n. area as long there is no notification". In other words, for the Windows update symbol the option "only show notification" is working properly, but the option "show symbol and notification" is not working. One can live without it, that's true, but anyway it is a function not working and I do not like that.
Greetings,
Bugs6

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Hello again bugs6

Let me try and make this clearer for you. Firstly, if the update icon was on your system tray all of the time previously then that's not normal behaviour, it normally shows only when there is actions pending.

1) Hide Notification=The icon will never show in either part of the system tray, the visible part or the hidden^part.


2)Only show notifications=The icon will display in the system tray if there is actions pending.If there is no pending action to take it will either 1)Sit in the ^ part of the system tray if the process is running 2)Not show at all if its not been used but will show if there a notification.

3)Show icon and notification =The icon will show in the main part of the system tray permanently but only if the process is running.

Think of it like this, what's the point in having an icon displayed if the process isn't running.

Hope this helps

Danny

 

[bugs6]

Danny,

ok then, I understand everything is working properly and I mark the thread as solved. Thank you so much for your help and, not least, patience.

Best,
Bugs6

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Danny,

ok then, I understand everything is working properly and I mark the thread as solved. Thank you so much for your help and, not least, patience.

Best,
Bugs6

No worries Bugs6

Danny