Bootcamp Control Panel Gone (Windows 7 System Tray)

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Level 1

8 points

Bootcamp Control Panel Gone (Windows 7 System Tray)

After I installed Windows 7 64-bit using bootcamp, I had a system tray icon for the Bootcamp Control Panel. It recently disappeared and I can't get it to appear back. Without the control panel running properly, it looks like the volume keys, backlit keyboard, etc don't work anymore in Windows.

I have tried the things I could find in these forums and through online searches but nothing has worked:

1) Uninstall and then reinstall Bootcamp drivers and controll panel program using the OSX install DVD. I installed "Boot Camp Update for MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) (Windows 64 bit)"

2) Using msconfig to confirm Bootcamp was in the start up program list (it was already in the list so I unchecked it, rebooted, then checked it again, an rebooted)

3) Running Bootcamp.exe in Windows Vista compatibility mode

4) Checking my registry for the entry being there correctly (it was)

5) Customising the "notification area icons" to make bootcamp have the "Show icon and notifications" behavior.

None of these things worked. For additional information, I see that Bootcamp.exe is in the Windows task manager process list so it seems to be running.

How anyone found a solution to get the control panel system tray working again?

Thank you!

MacBook Pro, Windows 7, 64-bit

Posted on Jul 10, 2010 12:46 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 18, 2010 5:39 PM in response to EffortlessX

Hi EffortlessX

I believe I have had the same problem as you, except that my Bootcamp Control Panel used to appear as an option when you clicked the Start button in Windows 7 64 bit. Something happened and it no longer appear there.

After a painfully long conversation with a couple of Apple Support, who don't generally seem to be particularly conversant in Bootcamp, one did ask if there was a Notification panel on the RIGHT hand side of the screen. Sure enough there is a little arrow that points up that has 'notifications' in it (actually hidden icons) and therein was the Bootcamp Control Panel. Good luck.

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Answer 2

EffortlessX Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 24, 2010 5:46 AM in response to Flying High

Hi Flying High,

Thanks for the response. The little gray square for the Boot Camp Manager has shown up in the notification area before (accessible through the little arrow on the right side of the screen), but the problem is that it doesn't show up anymore.

I just tried uninstalling Boot Camp and all the drivers, and then reinstalling it again from the DVD and using the "Boot Camp Update for MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010 (Windows 64 bit)"...

The little gray square for the Boot Camp Manager showed up after the first reboot ⚠ and the function keys worked (like volume control), but when I rebooted again, the notification manager didn't show up and none of the function keys work anymore. So back to square one.

Has anyone had this problem with the Boot Camp Manager showing up in the notification ares only after the initial installation but not after reboots?

Thank you!

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 24, 2010 7:28 AM in response to EffortlessX

All I ever do is to go to Control Panel -> Boot Camp

Never use the tray or task manager.

Windows Vista... glad it is behind now, I think 7 is what Vista potentially was meant to be - and I used Vista from Oct 2006 (RC) until the public beta and RC for 7.

I don't know why but it seems Apple drivers and installers have something to be desired.

When I install Apple software, I also uninstall things I don't want or use like MobileMe, Bonjour etc. and disable AppleHFS.

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Answer 4

EffortlessX Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 24, 2010 8:05 PM in response to The hatter

Thank you for the comments. I didn't realize the Boot Camp Manager could also be accessed through the control panel - good to know. This helps me clarify the problem I am encountering...

The real problem is that the function keys (like volume control!) and backlit keyboard don't work for me in Windows 7. Both are mere conveniences, but I paid a bit of extra money for a backlit keyboard because I find it useful!

I have been assuming that the missing system tray icon and the apple software for missing function keys/backlit keyboard were related. Maybe they are, maybe they're not but perhaps they give an important hint to the source of the problem?

Another thought I has was that this problem could be related to how the DVD version of boot camp and the 64 bit version of the update ("Boot Camp Update for MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010 (Windows 64 bit)") interact...maybe there is an incompatibility?

Anyone else encountered this problem and found a solution?

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Answer 5

Aug 3, 2010 9:40 AM in response to EffortlessX

Same problem, but with Windows 7 32-bit.

I have been uninstalling drivers and such to see if I can find the incompatibility.

I thought Windows 7 was supposed to free us from this kind of stuff 😉.

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Answer 6

Sep 28, 2010 1:05 PM in response to Pseudoelvis

same problem here with win 7 32-bit. It seems works when I restored to previous condition but the problem back after 2nd reboot.

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Answer 7

EffortlessX Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2010 6:21 PM in response to EffortlessX

I found the problem...Webroot and Bootcamp don't play well together: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12030869

So if you are having problems with Bootcamp staying in the system tray (and working!), it might be a symptom of your anti-virus.

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Answer 8

Nov 17, 2010 4:49 PM in response to EffortlessX

I've had the same problem you had. This is how I fixed it:

1. Make sure you're on Windows 7 operating system.

2. Go to computer.

3. Go to Uninstall or change a program.

4. Right-click on "Boot Camp Services" and select Change. DO NOT UNINSTALL IT.

5. You'll get a pop-up menu option to Repair or to Remove. Choose Repair.

6. When that process is done you'll be asked to restart the computer. Restart it.

I hope this works for you.

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Answer 9

Nov 26, 2010 4:23 PM in response to dropkicksurpreme

Thanks dropkicksurpreme! I had the same problem and that fixed it.

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