How do I restore missing taskbar icons when all the usual methods don't work?

[perzaklie]

I have searched all the applicable posts I could find here and elsewhere and I cannot seem to find a solution.

Two days ago, I turned my desktop PC on and my sound, network, action center and power icons were missing. I have made no software or hardware changes to the PC in a

long time except for normal Windows 7 updates. I have Windows 7 Professional 64 bit and I have been using it for almost 10 years. This is the first instance of this behavior I've ever experienced.

I opened gpedit.msc as Administrator and verified the settings as per a tutorial I found.
I downloaded Enable_Volume_Notification_Icon.reg utility I found and ran it.
I re-booted several times.
I checked my sound card drivers for updates and none were found.
The icons are greyed out and when I select Turn system icons on and off they are OFF and I cannot turn them back on.

Here are screen prints of gpedit, and taskbar settings

 

[hang-the-9]

Did you try doing a Windows restore to an earlier time? Are all those missing devices showing in Device Manager with no errors?