Quick fix for disappearing system icons

Did you ever have your network icon, your battery icon, your volume icon or all missing in your Windows Vista? And when you right-clicked on the task bar, properties, then the Notification tab and you find the three options were missing? Don't worry, because I've got a fix for you!

Press the Windows orb(The Start button), then type "regedit" and press enter. After that, navigate to and select HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify. Then, delete both IconStreams and PastIconStream in the right pane. Now open up the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the "Processes" tab, select "explorer.exe" and click "End Process". The task bar disappears. After that, open the "Applications" tab and click "New Task..." at the bottom-right of the window. When a window pops up, type "explorer.exe" and press "OK".

By now, the missing icons will appear in the task bar where they originally belong.

This information is from http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-9956695-68.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20 and http://www.colincochrane.com/post/2007/10/Windows-Vista-Disappearing-System-Tray-Icons-Fix.aspx

BB Flashback Express

This software lets you record your screen without interupting what you are doing on the PC. After you stop the recording, it will automatically save it to a place in your hard drive in its own format, fbr. It will also ask you if you want to play the video you've recorded. You can also convert the recordings into two formats, avi and flash video. Another version of this software, which is known as BB Flashback, has more features like putting some words in the recordings and saving them into more formats, like wmv and exe. However, you will have to pay more to buy BB Flashback.


System requirements:
-Windows XP/2000/2003/NT/Me/98

Price:
US$39

Download at...
http://www.bbsoftware.co.uk/BBFlashBackExpress/Home.aspx

MSN Web Messenger

This is a messenger that dosn't need you to install any extra software on your computer. You can chat with your friends there and let other people chat with you. Note that every message you send, it refreshes the conversation window. It also refresh the page to see who is online. This messenger is perfect if you are using a shared computer or you don't want to download Messenger.


System requirements:
-An Internet browser, running in Microsoft Windows
-An Internet connection(56Kbps or faster recommended)
-A Microsoft .NET Passport. If you have a hotmail.com or msn.com account, you already have a Passport.
-Popups enabled for this web site if you are using pop up blocker software like the MSN Toolbar

Price:
Free

The website is...
http://webmessenger.msn.com/

Windows Internet Explorer 7

If you download Internet Explorer 7, you will be impressed by just the look of it. You can download toolbars and ActiveX controls from the internet. You can also download add-ons (not all is free) to have more features in the browser. Most websites support this browser. You also can have tabs to not having a new window opening and causing a lot of Internet Explorer windows to pop out.

System requirements:
-Windows XP SP2/XP Professional x64 Edition/Server 2003 SP1/Vista
-233MHz or higher
-Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) - 64 MB RAM/XP Professional x64 Edition - 128 MB RAM/Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) - 64 MB RAM/Server 2003 Service Pack 1 ia64 - 128 MB
-800x600(SVGA) or higher with 256 colours
-CD-ROM drive (if installation is done from a CD-ROM)

Price:
Free

Download at...
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx

RealPlayer 11.0

With this software you can easily record videos streaming on the internet. After you've downloaded this software, just go to the page containing the video and a "Download this video" button will pop out on top of the video(Note that you cannot download videos that have copyright protection authored). Press the button to download. It will save the video in .flv, which Windows Media Player cannot play. It also plays .3gp, .mp4 and many more files. The plus version lets you convert videos into more formats. It also lets you access to some additional features. it includes video brightness, contrast, sharpness, audio ripping, mixing and more.


System requirements:
-Windows 2000/XP/Vista
-350Mhz Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon processor
-128MB RAM
-52MB hard disk space

Price:
Free('plus' edition £20 including VAT)

Download at...
http://uk.real.com

Visual Task Tips

This provides a thumbnail preview image for each task in the task bar, as seen in the Microsoft Windows Vista.


System requirements:
-Windows XP/Vista

Price:
Free

Download at...
http://visualtasktips.com/

Vitrite

This tool makes almost any window in your desktop(including the Start button and the task bar) transparent.The instructions on how to make a window transparent is in the website and the software.

System requirements:
-Windows 2000/XP(it ran smoothly in my Vista)

Price:
Free

Download at...
http://home.insightbb.com/~ryanvm/tinyutilities/vitrite/

Windows Sidebar Gadgets(for Windows Vista only)

Do you want to play games? Or see feeds from various websites? Or play music or even view pictures? If you have Windows Vista, then you have it. Just download the gadgets you want and put it anywhere on your desktop or your sidebar!

System requirements:
-Windows Vista

Price:
Free(unless otherwise stated)

Download at...
http://vista.gallery.microsoft.com/vista/Sidebar.aspx?a=&mkt=en-gb