GUI Disappears from Taskbar
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Hello, first time posting. I've been using Veracrypt ever since Truecrypt went EOL. My primary use is for removable media and auto syncing files to the media. In the last three weeks on my Windows 10 laptop, the GUI disappears from the taskbar and the shortcut no longer works. Currently I'm using the latest version but tried going backwards to earlier versions to no avail. I use Veracrypt on another laptop with Windows 11 with no issues. The drive continues to be mounted but there is no way to dismount it without executing the setup program and choosing the repair option.
Any help would be appreciated.
Check the Windows Event Logs for errors. You may have a failing HDD.
What Anti-Virus/Malware are you using on your Windows 10 PC?
Have you added or updated any other software on your PC in the last three weeks?
Thanks for your reply, Enigma2Illusion:
This is the first time viewing Windows Event Logs. I see some errors under system and some under application. No clue what to be looking for here.
This is my company laptop and they use CrowdStrike Falcon.
I've updated and added software in the last three weeks.
@dennpad: In addition to the above, please check if the VeraCrypt icon is present in the Windows system tray (also known as the notification area), which is located on the right side of the taskbar.
Normally, the VeraCrypt icon should always be visible there if the background task setting is enabled in the VeraCrypt Preferences, as depicted in the attached screenshot.
Lastly, you can also launch the VeraCrypt GUI through the command line. Simply open a command prompt (cmd.exe) and type: "C:\Program Files\VeraCrypt\VeraCrypt.exe".
Thanks for your reply, Mounir IDRASSI:
The VeraCrypt icon shows up on the system tray when I repair using the VeraCrypt setup file or uninstall and reinstall, but after awhile that is what disappears. The drive continues to show up as an active drive in windows explorer but I have no way to dismount it with the program icon gone from the system tray.
I tried your suggestion running the command line but the I get the attached.
@dennpad: Thank you for the feedback. Regarding the command, you need to enclose it in double quotes because the path contains a space. So, you should type: "C:\Program Files\VeraCrypt\VeraCrypt.exe", including the double quotes.
Once the VeraCrypt GUI is opened, navigate to the menu: Settings -> Preferences. Ensure the checkboxes I mentioned above are checked.
Mounir IDRASSI: Thank you for your reply. Please see attached of the CMD.
@dennpad: It's unusual for VeraCrypt not to be installed in its default location.
Can you determine where VeraCrypt has been installed? It's possible that specific software on your PC moved VeraCrypt from its standard installation directory.
Once you've identified the location of VeraCrypt.exe, you can manually launch it from CMD and check its settings.
I believe that this unexpected relocation of VeraCrypt could be the root cause of the problem you're encountering.
Mounir IDRASSI: Please see attached. There are program files in the folder but not an executable file. That's what's happening. It disappears. That's why the shortcut stops working. When I search for the file, I only get all my saved past setup files.
Did your company blacklist VeraCrypt?
From your screenshot, it appears you need to disable the "Hide extensions for known file types" in Windows Explorer.
Open Windows Explorer, click on View > Options > View, uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types", click Apply and then click OK.
Enigma2Illusion: I will check to see if VeraCrypt is blacklisted. I would be surprised if they even knew what VeraCrypt is.
I've unchecked Hide extensions for known file types.
Did you install the VeraCrypt software with a Windows account that has Administrator privileges and did you check the box "Install for all users"?
https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Using%20VeraCrypt%20Without%20Administrator%20Privileges.html
Last edit: Enigma2Illusion 2023-10-16
@enigma2illusion: Based on the OP's latest screenshot, all VeraCrypt binaries are correctly installed under "C:\Program Files\VeraCrypt" except for VeraCrypt.exe. This supports the idea that something on his PC has explicitly removed it.
@dennpad: VeraCrypt has probably been falsely flagged by the security software running on your PC. It might help to contact your IT administrator to report this false positive detection.
I concur. The VeraCrypt Setup.exe is also missing from the directory.
Mounir IDRASSI / Enigma2Illusion: Thanks for your help with this.
I ran VeraCrypt_Setup_x64_1.26.7.msi again and chose the repair option. The program is again installed and running with the .exe file in the program files folder. Not sure how long before it disappears from the system tray. Maybe when Crowdstrike does a scan, hard to know. I will contact my IT dept and ask about the possibility of a false positive for VeraCrypt.
Mounir IDRASSI: you are correct, Veracrypt is blocked by the security software and my company will not allow it to run. I will continue to use my work around. This explains why my VPN software is behaving in the same way...all VPN software is also blocked.
Thanks again for the help!