Help - The battery meter icon is missing

[IzzyS]

Hi,

Newbie here. I just purchased a Sony Vaio VGN-NR38E yesterday and last night the battery meter icon was showing in the taskbar as usual, it showed when I had the mains adapter plugged in and when I had it running on battery.

However, a couple of hours or so ago I decided to run it on battery and I noticed that the battery meter icon which indicates how much percentage of the battery power is left and roughly how long it can run on battery before running out, was missing... I expanded the taskbar clicking on the arrow button but its not there at all, I tried right clicking and going through properties but couldn't see anywhere where I could choose for it to be shown through that window... the only way I could, or can, find the battery meter seems to be by going to control panel and clicking on 'adjust commonly used mobility settings' under 'Mobile PC'.

I tried using help and support to look up how to put the icon back onto the taskbar but it only said to click and drag the programs icon, only its not really a program as such (that im aware of), there is no icon to click and drag...

I really want the icon back, I don't understand why its not showing up, its like its disappeared, it was definitely showing yesterday *shrug*

Is this a bad sign or something? can someone help me get it back?

Thanks for any replies in advance!

[Thalamus.]

Hi IzzyS,

welcome to Club VAIO..

Right click on the clock in the system tray and select properties.

In the Taskbar and Start Menu properties window, under System Icons, is 'Power' selected.?

[IzzyS]

Hi IzzyS,

welcome to Club VAIO..  

Right click on the clock in the system tray and select properties.

In the Taskbar and Start Menu properties window, under System Icons, is 'Power' selected.?

Thank you. I tried that but the 'Power' option is greyed out, as if its been disabled elsewhere(?) which is a bit weird...

[IzzyS]

I took a screen cap to show what is in the taskbar and the greyed out 'Power' option, incase it helps at all(?) I read I can get to the mobility window that will display the battery meter icon by pressing windows key and x but it just seems weird that the icon would disappear, what might have caused that to be disabled? I wouldn't have adjusted such a setting, I only just bought the laptop yesterday *shrug* and its easier if the icon is always showing on the taskbar so I can notice if its about to run out of battery, I might not always remember to check the battery meter status or whatever its called... it just seems a little strange to me that the icon is gone...

anyway here is the screen cap if it helps:-

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8620/batterymetericonpowerdiqf9.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/batterymetericonpowerdiqf9.jpg/1/w1280.png

[Thalamus.]

Hi IzzyS,

try this..

Note: warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly, these problems might require that you reinstall your operating system.

To back up your registry follow the guide on the web site using the following link: Vista: Backup or Restore the Registry

Press the windows key+R to open the Run box then type Regedit.

Registry Editor starts.

In Registry Editor, expand My Computer, and then expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Expand SOFTWARE, then expand Microsoft and then expand Windows

Expand CurrentVersion, and then expand Policies

Finally click on Explorer then right click on HideSCABattery and click Delete

Exit Registry Editor

Restart your Vaio

[IzzyS]

I got it back, thanks!

[Thalamus.]

Excellent, you're welcome..