iTunes annoyance

June 23, 2007 4:38 PM

When I right-click the iTunes icon in the Windows system tray, often the taskbar context menu will pop up at the same time and interfere with the iTunes menu, like this. How can I fix this?

The iTunes taskbar toolbar works, but it takes up much more space than the system tray icon. The problem seems to happen mostly when an application has focus, rather than the taskbar. TIA!

posted by Aloysius Bear to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

I've had the same problem occur with other applications, notably truecrypt. I don't think it's necessarily related to the app, but more to the Zune Style theme you have installed. I have the same one installed. Perhaps try reverting to the default theme to see if the problem persists?
posted by friedrice at 5:07 PM on June 23, 2007

I can't help you with the solution, but I can tell you that it's not limited to iTunes -- I have the same problem with the Gmail notifier icon.

On preview: friedrice, I don't have any special themes installed, as far as I know I'm using the default theme.
posted by harkin banks at 5:12 PM on June 23, 2007

I also don't have a solution. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.
posted by fiTs at 6:31 PM on June 23, 2007

This happens to me with a default theme. It mostly happens when I accidentally double-right-click, or maybe right-click with a little slide. The taskbar toolbar menu stays up, with corrupted text from both menus, if I move off of iTunes's menu. If I then right-click explicitly on the taskbar I can get the corrupted menu to dismiss itself.

I think it's worse with iTunes 7 and up, but it's definitely an iTunes thing. Doesn't happen with AVG, for instance. Something about the mouse-click transparency factor or whatnot.

I can tell you that I rarely encounter it since I have used FoxyTunes.
posted by dhartung at 9:50 PM on June 23, 2007

I have that issue with gtalk on XP. I'm delighted I'm not suffering alone.
posted by wzcx at 10:58 PM on June 23, 2007

When this happens I hit windows key + D, which gives focus to the desktop. Then the right-clicking usually works. I don't know of any surefire long-term fix.

Btw, lovely wallpaper - can I see more?
posted by desjardins at 7:09 AM on June 24, 2007

Also, at least on my machine (XP), Outlook (2003) and iTunes (7) seem to hate each other. I don't think this is just an iTunes thing, though. I experienced it so much with Gmail notifier that I just uninstalled the program rather than deal with it.
posted by desjardins at 7:11 AM on June 24, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers.

desjardins: Btw, lovely wallpaper - can I see more?
It's a detail from van Gogh's Irises.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 10:11 AM on June 24, 2007