Solved Globe Icon on Vista taskbar ( Not the internet connected one )

bearpeje · Nov 21, 2014

I asked this question on the Microsoft Community with no answers, apart from thinking I meant the small globe on the Internet connected icon, hence the bracketed part on the title.

About two months ago, a full size Globe Icon started to appear on my taskbar regularly every day. If I hover over it, nothing is displayed. If I left click on it or double tap, nothing happens. If I right click on it, a small box appears with the only option of 'quit' which if you click, it disappears.

If I right click on the taskbar, when the Globe Icon was on the taskbar, and click 'properties', then 'notification area' and then 'customise',Very briefly at the top of the 'current items' list, was the globe icon with 'no title' alongside it. It then disappeared from the list at the same time as disappearing from the taskbar.

I know it's not a brilliant photo, but I have attached one if it's any help.

I have Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I have scanned with both AVG Free 2014 and 2015, and no threats found, and the globe still appears.

Anyone help please ?

bearpeje · Nov 21, 2014

Sorry, I thought I had added this to the post, this is the photo.

townsbg · Nov 21, 2014

Are you having internet or other issues? When you put your mouse over it what does it say? What about when you right click on it?

bearpeje · Nov 21, 2014

I'm really sorry, and I do not want to sound rude,

BUT

Read the title and the post, before you ask me questions I have already answered.

TWO months on Microsoft Community without an answer. Am I really the only person in the world with this Globe ?

townsbg · Nov 21, 2014

Sorry but "Globe Icon" and a picture doesn't help. Again please provide the requested information and tell me if there are any issues such as loss of internet connection.

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

townsbg said:
Sorry but "Globe Icon" and a picture doesn't help. Again please provide the requested information and tell me if there are any issues such as loss of internet connection.

I am not experiencing any internet connection issues.

Are you just reading my second post with the photo, because I tell you what you ask in the first post.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

It could be the remnants of a programme you had installed which hasn't completely uninstalled. Are there any clues in the Startup tab of msconfig? (Start/Run or Win key + R then type msconfig).

Or even an odd item in Task Manager (use the All Users option on the Process tab), but I know it's difficult to check every single item in those.

Also any clue when you right-click the taskbar and select Properties then look at the Notification area tab?

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

Also check if you have any chat clients turned on, even Facebook. If it appears every so often that could be it - it's trying to notify you of new messages.
It's going to be hard to give a specific answer unless someone comes along who has seen it themselves and knows what it is

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

Ex_Brit said:
It could be the remnants of a programme you had installed which hasn't completely uninstalled. Are there any clues in the Startup tab of msconfig? (Start/Run or Win key + R then type msconfig).

Or even an odd item in Task Manager (use the All Users option on the Process tab), but I know it's difficult to check every single item in those.

Also any clue when you right-click the taskbar and select Properties then look at the Notification area tab?

Thanks Ex Brit, will try those ones. 'Notification area' I cover in third para of original post, appears very briefly with 'no title' alongside and then disappears.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

Strange - I wonder if your ISP might be able to help?

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

bearpeje said:
Thanks Ex Brit, will try those ones. 'Notification area' I cover in third para of original post, appears very briefly with 'no title' alongside and then disappears.

Ex Brit

With the Task Manager list, would there be a figure under CPU when the globe is visible which would then go to zero when it disappears ?

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

Ex Brit

Further to that, the Globe icon just came on, I quickly went to the all users Task Manager and AVGidsagent was cpu 17, but went to zero when the globe went off.

Should I use AVG removal tool to completely clear AVG and then reinstall afresh ?

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

You may have hit the nail on the head so to speak. Remove it in the normal manner if it's appearing in Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program, then run their removal tool and reboot before doing anything else.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

http://forums.avg.com/ca-en/avg-forums?sec=thread&act=show&id=223967

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

Hi again Ex Brit, I got rid, rebooted, but before I installed AVG again, the Globe was on the Taskbar but disappeared before I could check Task manager.

Will try again when it reappears but it seemsI have eliminated AVG as the cause. I don't use Facebook, but I do have Skype although it is not switched on. I will try uninstalling that after it appears again and see what happens.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

It's obviously something that's polling at regular intervals....backup software perhaps or are there any strange browser extensions hanging around? Any Bittorrent clients installed?

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

BTW did you see that link in post #14? It contains a link to a method for disabling an aspect of AVG that may cause it.

bearpeje · Nov 22, 2014

Yes I read the thread thanks. AVG was completely removed though when it last appeared. I don't have any bittorrent installed, and I am not sure I would know how to check browser extensions.

As this first started about two months ago, Skype may be a favourite as I installed it around that time, but I don't understand why it's not the Skype logo but a globe. There is also no Skype processes in task manager.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

Browser extensions = browser add-ons, just look to see if anything odd stands out in Tools/Manage Add-ons (that name varies with each browser).

I can sympathize with you, I've had similar maddening icons appearing in the past and it took me weeks to track down. One instance was something my ISP had planted and another was something that came with my computer and I had missed when I do my routine clean-out of manufacturer's rubbish whenever I buy a new PC.

Ex_Brit · Nov 22, 2014

Wireless network....a thought? Check Network Center/Centre.

Solved Globe Icon on Vista taskbar ( Not the internet connected one )

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