Hmmm, you are assuming that the only option is to remove and re-install? As you said
I'm sure you know what making assumptions makes you...
Might I suggest clicking on the "Extension Options" link from the Chrome extensions list? That will get you to the ABP Options menu.
You can also right click on the triple dot icon in the top right, then right click on the AdBlock Plus icon and click "Show in Toolbar" to have it show up again...
Aaron Z
Your quoting something I said out of context. I replied to page 2, post # 18 because the poster is wrong, wrong... about what she/he posted about what I did to solve ABP's issues on my laptop. AND implying I was stupid should have been removed, because if anything is stupid is her/his assumption that I'm stupid and her/his arrogance to suggest he knows what I did to solve the ABP not working.
Facts are it disappeared from my laptop, suddenly and for no reason. When I got around to it, I decided to post on TBN to get members thoughts, suggestions, and/or to list similar issues they might have had. I didn't want to spend time studying the program specifics, I sought to find out how to fix it, find something more reliable or whatever. I had spent a reasonable amount of my valuable time to find a fix, but since the icon at the Chrome page header and at the taskbar had gone away, and most recently so had my entire Office Suite, which I had to do a full reinstall of, based on several 'watchdog violation errors' on my win 10 laptop I chose to shortcut to where I had first learned of ABP, right here on TBN.
When I looked at what you posted above- I realize the only thing I missed was when looking at the dropdown from the 3 dots at Chrome's header was the 'show in toolbar' line. It's also possible I missed it because it wasn't there when I was looking for the icon- I can't know, because I didn't see it there, and it's STILL not present. But I'm no longer concerned, I've eliminated the need for ABP, thus solving whatever issues it had, then, now, and forever.
And let's recognise with all the issues brought to my attention, why would I want to get ABP to work again. And as I think back Chrome had reported an extension as interfering with it's operation, and I deleted it- don't remember the extension, but I know ABP had failed long before, months at a minimum.
Lastly, I was NEVER assuming the only option was to remove/reinstall; especially because I knew that reinstalling, possibly a 'dirty install' could cause more issues than leaving it alone- I chose to seek out other's opinions Prior to doing ANYTHING.