weird blank space on taskbar...

There's this weird blank space on my taskbar, shown here:

http://www.deepblueice.com/taskbar_space.jpg

I don't know what's causing it, and clicking on it does nothing. Just in case it is a virus, here's my running processes, anything in red I don't know what it is.

Ivpsvmgr.exe <-- I think that's some sort of IIS application or something
msimn.exe
taskmgr.exe
cidaemon.exe <-- think that's another system file, but not sure....
WtSrv.exe
wanmpsvc.exe <-- think that has something to do with networking
TMESRV31.exe <-- think it's system again
tmesbs32.exe <-- system again maybe???
SMAgent.exe <-- think it's the spam client
setiathome_2.24_windows_intelx86.exe
myie.exe
siMain.exe <-- spam client again?
explorer.exe <-- it would be very sad if I didn't know what that was...
soffice.exe <-- openoffice
siSpamFilterEngine.exe <-- spam filter engine (duh)
siMailProxyServer.exe <-- spam proxy filter
RAMASST.exe <-- toshiba ram program of some sort
boinc_gui.exe <-- check the DC section
cidaemon.exe <-- another one???
siService.exe <-- system file?
point32.exe <-- mouse driver
jucheck.exe
type32.exe <-- keyboard drivers
rundll32.exe <-- it would also be sad if I didn't know what that was...
qttask.exe <-- some sort of system thing i think
jusched.exe
ccEvtMgr.exe <-- event manager?
spoolsv.exe <-- printer drivers
ezSP_Px.exe
svchost.exe <-- there are a million of these, I know what they are, I'm only putting 1 down.
TFNF5.exe <-- toshiba FN key application
nvsvc32.exe
Navapsvc.exe <-- no clue, but could easily be another toshiba application
ccApp.exe <-- touchpad driver
WService.exe
lsass.exe <-- heard something about that one, please note that the first letter of that is an L, not an i.
services.exe <-- system file again? maybe toshiba?
winlogon.exe <-- another one that would be sad if I didn't know what it was...
csrss.exe <-- some sort of system file i think
NDSTray.exe <-- toshiba or system file i think
inetinfo.exe
smss.exe
TEDTray.exe <-- system or toshiba file I think
DVDRAMSV.exe <-- cd burner software?
tmesbs32.exe <-- system?
cisvc.exe <-- system file
TMEEJME.exe <-- toshiba app
alg.exe
TMERzCtl.exe
TFncKy.exe <-- another fn key one?
siClientUI.exe <-- think i know what that one is, but can't remember what it does...
TPWRTRAY.EXE
TosHKCW.exe <-- some other toshiba one
ltmoh.exe <-- first letter is a L there. Think it's some sort of system file.
00THotkey.exe <-- those are zeros, toshiba application
System <-- system process.
System Idle Process <-- system idle process.

wow, that was a long, long list...

Need anymore info, just ask for it.

 

Well, is it an actually button/shortcut? Or a space on the taskbar? Right click on it and choose properties. Where does the shortcut point? I suspect the icon is simply transparent.

 

That answer it? I thought the icon was transparent too...

 

It doesn't seem to be an actual icon, it wouldn't show up in the taskbar icon list thing.

 

OK, maybe I'm overstating the obvious here, but that's not exactly the taskbar, it's the system tray, right? (I know, semantics) So the question is, what's running in the system tray and not showing up as a mini-icon?

I'm thinking if you reduced that long list of processes (by booting to safe mode, killing processes in task manager, msconfig, etc.), you'd see it disappear at some point. Just a thought.

 

Whoops. That's my confusion. /me needs to not answer questions at 3:20 a.m.

Yeah, this is going to be your best bet if Spybot and CWShredder/HijackThis come up with nothing. Just be sure to hover over the system tray when you close stuff. Windows tends to not poll it very often for updates.

 

Here's an idea.

Right click anywhere on the taskbar, and select properties. In the properties box that pops up, click the personalize button next to hide inactive icons line(if the title is not correct, it is the bottom line. My XP is in Spanish). That brings up a listing of the active and inactive icons and programs that are in the system tray. Each line shows and icon and the program name that is running.

The program without an icon is the culprit.

 

I scanned for viruses and spyware. No viruses, and the usual spyware (the cookie junk). The weird thing is, it's gone now...

As long as it's not there anymore, I'm happy. Thanks for the help.

 

Random non-fatal Windows bug #243,826,074,332.

 

Does it happen in Safe Mode?