# Security Essentials question (missing icon department)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-essentials-question-missing-icon-department/622248>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 17, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-essentials-question-missing-icon-department/622248 "2012-05-17T21:03:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-essentials-question-missing-icon-department/622248/1 "2012-05-17T21:03:56Z")

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Been using MS Security Essentials for quite a while, and it works fine. WinXP, SP3

After installing, the icon always appeared in the task bar when i booted. Suddenly, it no longer shows unless I open the program manually. What happened?

The Help file said to click on the the arrow in the task bar and click “Show hidden icons,” but there is no arrow. Why is this no longer in the startup folder?

What happened?

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-essentials-question-missing-icon-department/622248/2 "2012-05-18T17:29:04Z")

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I’ve seen this behavior with the corporate version, FEP. It isn’t likely to be anything more than a cosmetic issue.

To check, go to **Start|Run** , and run **services.msc**. Confirm that Microsoft Antimalware Service appears in the list and is Started. If so then it’s still there in the background, protecting your computer.

If the missing tray icon bothers you enough, uninstall MSE through Add/Remove Programs and then reinstall. That should fix it.

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**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-essentials-question-missing-icon-department/622248/3 "2012-05-18T21:15:04Z")

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> [@Number](#):
>
> I’ve seen this behavior with the corporate version, FEP. It isn’t likely to be anything more than a cosmetic issue.
> 
> To check, go to **Start|Run** , and run **services.msc**. Confirm that Microsoft Antimalware Service appears in the list and is Started. If so then it’s still there in the background, protecting your computer.
> 
> If the missing tray icon bothers you enough, uninstall MSE through Add/Remove Programs and then reinstall. That should fix it.

Thanks, I did the uninstall and re-install and indeed that fixed it. I should have done this first, bu thought perhaps there was simple little thing I was missing. BTW, I always use the great free Revo Uninstaller. This not only removes the program, but all mentions of it on the C: drive and in the Registry.