Show hidden icons chevron missing some individual icons…

taid · 23 Sep 2019

Hi,

I seem to remember the show hidden icons chevron at the bottom right of the screen always showed a shield shaped icon with a tick confirming there was no security problems. If there was a problem the tick changed to an exclamation mark (I think I have the description right). Now the show hidden icons chevron has a ‘Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media’ and a MalwareBytes icon, nothing else, the security icon is missing.

I’ve right clicked on the task bar - selected taskbar settings – selected which icons appear on the taskbar and the Windows Security Notification Icon is selected. I have the ‘Always show all icons in the notification area’ deselected.

Would appreciate any help...

dalchina · 23 Sep 2019

Hi, I believe you're referring to the Windows Defender Notification Tray Icon

Try using the task manager and check the startup is not disabled as shown here:
How to Remove Windows Defender Icon on Windows 10 - Appuals.com
(reverse of Method 1)

For more possibilities read on.

taid · 23 Sep 2019

Dalchina -thanks for your reply
>>> I believe you're referring to the Windows Defender Notification Tray Icon<<<

I’ve had a look in Task Manager – Start Up but it’s not just disabled – its not listed…
I’ve followed the various ways that your link suggests to re-enable it – but I can never find it listed…

The Windows Security Notification icon is there and is enabled.

Thanks again.

dalchina · 23 Sep 2019

Sorry, I'm confused. You say you see this:

Windows Security Notification icon

which is the one I thought you said you didn't see.
Hide or Show Windows Security Notification Area Icon in Windows 10

Please post a screenshot highlighting what you believe is the problem

This is what I see:

Are you running any other AV?

Do you see these in this folder?

taid · 24 Sep 2019

>>> I'm confused <<<

Sorry about that, I'm not being very clear.
The icon I no longer have showing in the show hidden icons is the shield with the tick, which you highlighted in your mail.

The files I have in the Defender folder are similar to yours. The various security features seem to be running ok, it's just the actual notification icon that is missing.

Thanks.

dalchina · 24 Sep 2019

Hi, check for this in your registry:

taid · 24 Sep 2019

Dalchina,

My registry appears to have the same entry...

Sorry I omitted to mention earlier that I'm running Malwarebytes with a ~weekly ESET on demand a/v scan.

dalchina · 24 Sep 2019

I did ask about other AVs a while back. I can't say exactly what effect that may have on Defender. I have Avast (free) running too.

There was a period when the tray icon was not present- perhaps earlier this year- then it suddenly reappeared.

Look in task manager, Details tab

Can you see that process running? If I kill it, then the tray icon disappears.

If I double click it in C:\Windows\System32 - the tray icon appears.

Berton · 24 Sep 2019

I did ask about other AVs a while back. I can't say exactly what effect that may have on Defender. I have Avast (free) running too.

Conventional wisdom has always been that having 2 or more antivirus programs running at the same time can cause issues since their definitions can be in conflict with each other. It doesn't hurt to have 2 or more installed but have only 1 automatically running at a time. The automatic version can be closed and other versions manually run if suspecting a problem.

As for Notification Area icons, right-click the Taskbar, choose Taskbar settings then scroll to Notification area and click on the first choice, make selections there.
Attachment 248669

dalchina · 24 Sep 2019

Thanks- that was covered in my link
How to Remove Windows Defender Icon on Windows 10 - Appuals.com
in my first post, assuming taid checked it appropriately - we dont have any screenshots of settings on taid's PC to prove that though.