Icons Disappear from Taskbar After Ending Explorer.exe (180498)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q180498

SYMPTOMS

If Explorer.exe stops responding (hangs) and you then quit the hung instance of Explorer.exe by clicking it and then clicking End Task in the Close Program dialog box or clicking End Process in the Windows NT Task Manager dialog box, some of the icons on the taskbar may disappear.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:

  • Restart your computer.
  • Close all programs and then log off and back on to Windows. To do so, use the appropriate method:

    • Windows 95: Click Start, click Shut Down, click "Close all programs and log on as a different user," and then click Yes.
    • Windows NT: Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, click Log Off, and then click Yes.
    • Windows NT with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.01 and the Windows Desktop Update Component: Click Start, click Log Off username, and then click Yes.
    • Windows 98: Click Start, click Log Off username, and then click Yes.

MORE INFORMATION

Several Microsoft programs are affected by this behavior, including Dial- Up Networking, System Agent, and Task Scheduler.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbprb kbui KB180498
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.