Issue: When expanding the hidden icons in the notification area (next to the clock), your get a number of “blank” tiles where icons should be. (Or in my case, a whole screen of blank tiles with only 3 real icons)
Resolution: Clear Tray icon and history
Open Registry Editor and navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Classes > Local Settings > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > TrayNotify
Select and delete the two entries: IconStreams and PastIconsStream
Start Task Manager, go to Process, select “Explorer.exe” and end this process.
Within the Task Manager window, Click “New Task” (or File > New Task (Run)) and type explorer.exe to restart explorer.
Once the desktop is back, check the notification area – things should be normal again.
Link: Look for fryer_lawrence replied on March 9, 2012