Solved Phantom icon in taskbar when cyclying through Desktop backgrounds

Everready

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I am experiencing a problem with Windows 8 desktop backgrounds. Using a set of my own photos I create a desktop slide show. As the different photos cycle through, or as Iclick next Desktop Background in the Desktop context menu, I start to get whatI call phantom icons on the task bar. I have included a screen snippet to make my point clear.

These phantom icon when hovered over show a thumbnail preview. As soon as the taskbar is right clicked or desktop is exited the icons disappear. I have found that the issue is most pronounced when using my own photos in a Background slideshow. When I have a Windows theme as my desktop background I have the same issue ,however when I use a very new Windows theme "Nightfall andStarlight panoramic theme" the issue does not take place???

A temporary workaround is to use the above mentioned Windows theme or use a single photo for the background. Others and I have submitted to the Windows answers forum Taskbar is running empty/blank programs is this a Windows 8 - Microsoft Answers , but we have not received any answer to date. So, I am not the only user experiencing this problem.

Any information or advise on this subject would be most interesting to receive.Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Everready
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 CP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Intel i7 2.67GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X58-UD5
    Memory
    6GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
To keep your slideshow wallpapers and get rid of those empty programs popping up in the taskbar, do the following:

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Click on Personalization at the bottom of the menu
3. Click on Window Color at bottom.
4. Click on the color option that has a COLOR FAN in it, this is the AUTOMATIC option.
5. That should stop the annoying empty taskbar programs from popping up.

Just a workaround for now, but you can have the background slideshow.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 CP
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Intel i7 2.67GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X58-UD5
    Memory
    6GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 260
Dang, Everyready, that seems to have worked. I clicked on the 1st colored fan option, then reset my desktop background drop-down BACK to my Wallpapers folder. No more little pop up icons (for now).
Thank you! And welcome to the Win8 forum.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit GA
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4770K Haswell
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-PRO
    Memory
    16 GB of Corsair 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Cooler Master Storm Headphones
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27 inch U2711 IPS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 by 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 250GB SSD plus 2 3 TB drives
    PSU
    Corsair-750
    Case
    Corsair White Graphite Series 600T
    Cooling
    Corsair H00i Water
    Keyboard
    Corsair K90
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser
    Internet Speed
    6.3 MBps
    Browser
    Firefox
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    MS
Hi.
That issue have been annoying me too recently though I have the color is set to automatic. But it disappear when I set it to single desktop wallpaper. I will check again with multiple wallpaper.

Kevin
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built system
    CPU
    Core i5
    Motherboard
    Intel DH55PJ
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron L1742S; LG Flatron 19"; Samsung TV 48"
    Screen Resolution
    1280:1024; 1366:768;1920:1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
    Seagate Barracuda 500 GB
    WDC 1 TB
    PSU
    Power
    Case
    Simbadda
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    1.4 MBPS
    Other Info
    External HDD WDC 2 TB
    Dial Up Modem Huawei
    Home-made Home Theater
Had to do a major edit as I really did not understand what was going on. Like everyready said in his post, its NOT THE DESKTOP BACKGROUND CHANGING that causes the little taskbar icons, it's the WINDOWS COLOR NOT BEING ON AUTOMATIC.

Set your background to anything you want. Just make sure that the Window Color says Automatic. That cures it. It also sucks to have the Windows Aero broken like this as I like to be able to choose the color of my windows.
EDIT: Ewww, I just got a bright PINK windows color. Gross!

2012-04-19 Window color.jpg
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit GA
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4770K Haswell
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-PRO
    Memory
    16 GB of Corsair 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Cooler Master Storm Headphones
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27 inch U2711 IPS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 by 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 250GB SSD plus 2 3 TB drives
    PSU
    Corsair-750
    Case
    Corsair White Graphite Series 600T
    Cooling
    Corsair H00i Water
    Keyboard
    Corsair K90
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser
    Internet Speed
    6.3 MBps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MS
BTW, I gave everyready a rep bump for figuring this out. I don't think many users have gotten a rep bump with only two posts!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit GA
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4770K Haswell
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-PRO
    Memory
    16 GB of Corsair 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Cooler Master Storm Headphones
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27 inch U2711 IPS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 by 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 250GB SSD plus 2 3 TB drives
    PSU
    Corsair-750
    Case
    Corsair White Graphite Series 600T
    Cooling
    Corsair H00i Water
    Keyboard
    Corsair K90
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser
    Internet Speed
    6.3 MBps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MS
Actually I haven't spread much rep. My rep power is only 1. It won't hurt much. ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built system
    CPU
    Core i5
    Motherboard
    Intel DH55PJ
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI 4650
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron L1742S; LG Flatron 19"; Samsung TV 48"
    Screen Resolution
    1280:1024; 1366:768;1920:1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 256 GB
    Seagate Barracuda 500 GB
    WDC 1 TB
    PSU
    Power
    Case
    Simbadda
    Cooling
    Conventional
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    1.4 MBPS
    Other Info
    External HDD WDC 2 TB
    Dial Up Modem Huawei
    Home-made Home Theater
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