OSX Menu Bar Icons Keep Disappearing

Question

Sometimes after a restart, items previously displayed in the OSX Menu Bar disappear.
This happens consistently with :-
- Date and Time : the pref item 'Show the date and time' becomes de-checked.
Re-checking it displays the date and time icon in the Menu Bar.
- Displays : the pref item 'Show displays in menu bar' becomes de-checked.
Re-checking it displays the Displays icon in the Menu Bar.
- Airport : the pref item 'Show AirPort status in menu bar' becomes de-checked;
Re-checking it displays the Airport icon in the Menu Bar.
- Fax : the pref item 'Show fax status in menu bar' becomes de-checked;
Re-checking it displays the Fax icon in the Menu Bar.
- Bluetooth : the pref item 'Show Bluetooth status in menu bar' is STILL checked, but the Bluetooth icon is not displayed;
Un-checking and then re-checking it displays the Bluetooth icon in the Menu Bar.
I have not observed a connection between this problem and any activities prior to restart - but the icons above usually (not always) disappear together. I know other users have this problem and that it has been addressed in a number of posts - but I am still looking for a reliable solution ...

Answer 1

I am having similar problems. The items are usually disappearing when I move them using Cmd+Mouse Drag. For example, when I move the clock it disappears. However, stranger is that when I re-enable the clock display in Preferences, new clock appears, but the "hidden" time is present as well - I can get the time status item menu from blank space. I managed to have 5 hidden clocks there. Other items disappear as well.
I tried to kill SystemUIServer - all items were removed, only spotlight icon was present. Then I reenabled all the items I wanted to have there. This kind-of fixed the problem. But still ... moving items will make them hidden, but still present in the menu bar.
I am using OS X 10.4.10
I have reported this (Bug ID# 5486548).