Forum Discussion
Disappearing sound and taskbar icons
Hi.
Problems since the last update on:
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2
Installed on 25/04/2026
OS build 26200.8246
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.297.0
Initially, sometimes the task bar items disappeared although still present, and sound failed while waking from sleep. Computer wouldn't boot 1st attempt but would on 2nd attempt. This occurred after every shutdown.
Secondly, graphics started to stutter and lag in Brave but not Edge or Chrome. This developed to everything systemwide stuttering, lagging and slowing down. Installing a 5 year old graphics driver sorted the problem until the next reboot when the device manager showed a problem with the driver and system slowdown re-occurred.
Reinstalling the operating system has cured the lag and stuttering, but sound still disappears randomly after sleep and taskbar icons still disappear, although they came back when I opened settings.
Yet another dodgy update, it has become a regular occurrence.
1 Reply
Hi, because the audio and taskbar problems appear together after sleep, this sounds more like a driver or power-state problem than a simple Windows file corruption issue. I would install the latest BIOS, chipset, graphics and audio drivers directly from the computer manufacturer, even if Windows Update says everything is current. Next, check Reliability Monitor for failures at the time the machine wakes, and test whether the issue occurs after sleep, hibernation and a full shutdown. Temporarily disabling Fast Startup can also help separate a startup-state problem from a normal boot issue. Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth followed by sfc /scannow, and perform a clean boot if the problem continues. Restarting explorer.exe may restore the icons temporarily, but I would treat that only as a diagnostic clue rather than the final fix.
