WinXP - Multiple local area connection icons appearing in the systray

[foolios]

My internet connection is working fine. I have the checkbox for don't display whether connection is connected or having problems. But something weird is going on. After I come back to the computer after a while, there are multiple local area connection icons in the systray indicating that there is a cable unplugged. But my internet is working and I can't find any other local connections in network places. The other weird thing happening with those little icons in the systray is that when I try to hover over them with the mouse to right click on them to see where they are coming from, they vanish as soon as I hover over them. There will be a row from 2 - 6 of them, they al vanish as I hover across the lot of them.

What is going on?

[Idontwantspam]

It's possible there could be some virus that oddly uses the system tray, and wants to hide itself. it's also possible that for some reason the tray isn't refreshing the icons correctly; I've had that happen every once in a while. Although this definitely sounds odd.

[j7n]

it's also possible that for some reason the tray isn't refreshing the icons correctly

That would still mean that the Ethernet connection is becoming broken every once in a while.