Remove Icon from Tray and not hide

[Hassan]

I have this app that needs to run but it shows up on the tray on the taskbar
at the right along with other apps.

I know you can hide it when its inactive and also there is an option to
always hide... What i want is to have the icon disappear from the tray
although I need the app to run. So instead of just hiding it which you can
see if you click on the small left arrow sign to show hidden icons, I want
it to be not present at all without closing the app.

Is that possible ?

Thanks

 

[Richard in AZ]

I have this app that needs to run but it shows up on the tray on the taskbar at the right along
with other apps.

I know you can hide it when its inactive and also there is an option to always hide... What i want
is to have the icon disappear from the tray although I need the app to run. So instead of just
hiding it which you can see if you click on the small left arrow sign to show hidden icons, I want
it to be not present at all without closing the app.

Is that possible ?

Thanks

That would depend on the application. Some have the option not to display a system tray icon, most
do not. Look in the program for setting options. By the way, if you had told us the application,
you might have gotten a more detailed answer.

 

[Joe Grover]

Check in the program options to see if there is a way to hide the icon.
This functionality depends on the individual application.

The first place to look would be to right-click on the tray icon and look
for Properties or Settings of some kind. If you don't see anything there,
check the product documentation or check the support on the vendor site. If
you still can't find anything, try emailing the software vendor and ask
them.

Joe

 

[Guest]

I have this app that needs to run but it shows up on the tray on the taskbar
at the right along with other apps.

I know you can hide it when its inactive and also there is an option to
always hide... What i want is to have the icon disappear from the tray
although I need the app to run. So instead of just hiding it which you can
see if you click on the small left arrow sign to show hidden icons, I want
it to be not present at all without closing the app.

Is that possible ?

Thanks

Hi Hassan,
You are looking for the Start Up options then here:
C:\Documents and settings\Local User\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up = look in
the right and you will see your app you can delete by pressing SHIFT +DELETE.
Another is by opening a run command and type in:
msconfig click [OK] on the system Configuration properties click on start
Up Tab and uncheck the start up line for this application.

If the application is a well/good written one it will have the Option on
it's configuration Menu to disable from start up.
Also on the registry:
[-] HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run = look
in the Right pane?window and you will see it there you can remove it's
running process.
HTH.
nass
===
www.nasstec.co.uk

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

What is the appllication in question?

Maybe there are command line switches that could be used, but until the
newsgroup know what the application is its hard to give you a 100% answer

Being a coder I do write switches for tray apps at times. So, things like:

'MyApp.exe /quiet' or 'MyApp.exe -quiet' etc does the trick & maybe there is
built in functionality with your app too.

Awaiting your reply

Hassan - do yourself a favour & spoof your e-mail unless you like to be
SPAMMED

 

[Hassan]

The name of the app is VNC Server for remote management.

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

I have just found this article which will answer your question:

http://www.realvnc.com/faq.html#hide

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

Just thought.

RealVNC is open source so if you know C++ you can hide the tray icon then
re-compile the code. Needs compiling in pre-C++.NET though so, if you have
Visual Studio 6 C++ installed away you go. The source code is available for
the free version only I think & can be downloaded here:

http://www.realvnc.com/dist/vnc-4.0-winsrc.zip

Here's the documentation:

http://www.realvnc.com/dist/vnc-4.0-documentation.zip

 

[Hassan]

Now your talking outside my capabilities

Do you know how to do so?

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

I downloaded the sourse code & have taken a look at it. There is a header
file)& a C++ source file

They use 2 functions:

bool remove() {
return Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_DELETE, &nid) != 0;
}
bool refresh() {
return Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_MODIFY, &nid) ||
Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_ADD, &nid);
}

As you see in the refresh function it checks the icon or adds it
(Shell_NotifyIcon(NIM_ADD, &nid)

The refresh is to check if the application is connected or disconnected

The one thing removing the icon will do is for you to lose all functionality
over the options/connections. So, although removing the icon can be done it
will also remove any control over the application

Will have a play around for you & see what I come up with. Visual C++ 6 is
something I haven't used in 5 years

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

I have successfully removed the tray icon for the server

I checked to see if the server was running & it is

Remember that you lose the options/connections as I stated before when you
use it the way I have done as they are controlled via the System Tray icon;
context menu...

I am testing it now for you & if all is ok I will zip it & allow you to
download it...

Hope to be tested in the next 30-60 mins, all going well

 

[Hassan]

Wow !!! Your a saviour in disguise. So will I have to uninstall the entire
app again or just replace the exe you send me with the one already
installed.

Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Wow !!! Your a saviour in disguise. So will I have to uninstall the
entire app again or just replace the exe you send me with the one
already installed.

This is not to accuse Newbie Coder of wanting to do anything malicious, but
you would have to be very foolhardy to accept an executable file from a
stranger on a newsgroup. There *are* weird and malicious people out there.

I wouldn't even recommend that you accept an executable file if it came from
*me*, and I know I wouldn't send anything malicious. People can easily forge
return addresses, and a message that purports to be from one person can
actually be from someone else.

 

[Newbie Coder]

Hassan,

I have tested the application out & the changes work fine for when connected
& disconnected

This is what needs to be done:

1) Right-click the VNC service in the System Tray & close

2) Open the Program Files directory where VNC is installed (C:\Program
Files\RealVNC\VNC4 (on my machine))

3) Create a backup of 'winvnc4.exe'. I created a backup folder & copied that
file into there

4) Replace the 'winvnc4.exe' file in 'C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4'

5) Click START | ALL PROGRAMS | REAL VNC -> VNC Server 4 (User-Mode) -> Run
VNC Server

You should note that now there is no icon near the clock for when you are
disconnected or connected

Please test if more extensively than I have & get back to me if you have any
problems.

This is one of the more interesting posts I have answered for this
newsgroup. If you look under the version properties (right-click the file |
Properties | Version) you will see your name mentioned. Please just use it
for yourself & don't distribute it, as the other people can do exactly what
i did & load it up in Visual C++ 6, find the changes & recompile.

This also shows you the lengths I go to in providing a solution ) However,
won't get a MVP status because I don't do totally useless Google searches &
never will.

Awaiting your reply

============

Message for Ken Blake:
--------------------------

Ken, I am a coder & a network administrator. I help people all day everyday
with computer, coding, networking, wireless, programming,
adware/malware/spyware/virus problems & as this code is open source then its
possible to do something like I have, if you have the knowledge, but I guess
you don't. If you look at an earlier post, Real VNC state you can get rid of
the System Tray icon if you re-compile the code.

Hope this helps,

 

[Azagtoth]

Setup a new user. Use schedule Tasks to launch the program with the
other user name.

Hassan:

 

[Newbie Coder]

Azagtoth,

Real VNC say different to what you have just posted. See:

http://www.realvnc.com/faq.html#hide

 

[Curt Christianson]

Hi Newbie, (and I know you're not)

I was actually going to post that warning, but Ken got there first. AFAIK,
*nobody* has any distrust aimed at you directly, it's (the warning) just
good surfing habits. I've seen many MVP's instruct posters to please scan
this file before installing it.

Probably stupid on my part, but the only d/l's I completely trust are from
MS, and even *they* have a virus disclaimer.

That was no personal attack.

--
HTH,
Curt

Windows Support Center
http://aumha.org/

 

[Newbie Coder]

Curt,

No problem whatsoever & I understand you totally, but it happens all to
regular in this newsgroup.

Example:

I have the knowledge to do registry hacking & know the keys... myself, but
another MVP named Rock will send the OP a link to Kelly's Corner to download
a file which I have posted from knowledge/experience in my origianl post.
Just because the registry file is on a website doesn't mean its safe. You
get used to it

The is a hole in your argument though. I have just compiled that code for
that user & if I wanted to (but would never do) I could write malicious code
& the virus scanners won't pick it up as it would be a new strain. Besides,
people who write malicious code are good coders but very sad at the same
time getting their kicks from doing such things

The OP should be 100% happy with what I have done for him, but it just
proves I go to extreme lengths to help people with computer problems.

 

[Curt Christianson]

Hi Newbie,

I *do* hear you. And it's probably really frustrating to you. I'm not an
MVP, and probably never will be, but I do agree with the way they handle
"problems" here.

Somehow, I feel there is a certain amount of resentment towards Kelly in
this matter. The truth is she *is* an MVP. Does that make her smarter than
you? Does that make her answers better than yours? Does that make her code
any safer than yours? To the first two--no way. For all I ( or anyone else
knows) you could be a genius when it comes to this.

The big difference I see, is the MVP's *do* have a degree of recognition
that you and I don't enjoy. Were they to distrubute malicious code, the
results would be felt throughout this NG, and probably no one would trust an
MVP recommended fix again. In a lot of ways, they (the MVP's) have a lot at
stake here.
There are also a lot of regular posters that refer people to their websites,
or describe a fix right in their response to someone. *They* are not to be
trusted either, until they earn that trust. You get to know that after a
while. As far as I know, unless you went by a different handle before, are
a newcomer. Give things time.
I'm sure I sound like a butt-kissing MS type, but I'm not. I'm relatively
new here ( since 2000), but the advice I've received, and watched doled out
to other users is solid. I think the MVP's (and they certainly don't own
this NG) just want to keep *all* the advice as solid as possible.

I personally have an ego a mile high, but when I post an incorrect answer, I
want to be called on it.


After re-reading your post, *please e-mail me.*


Not trying to cause trouble,
--

Curt

Windows Support Center
http://aumha.org/

 

[Newbie Coder]

Curt,

Yes, you are right I did go under a different name before & changed it
because I took a year out from coding (not Windows stuff...) & was new to
getting back to coding. I have still coded for 27 years though

No resentment to Kelly's Corner whatsoever, yet I wouldn't use it myself.
How can you know for certain you can trust that site for registry hacks? It
just makes me sick when so-called MVP's cannot do the simplest of tasks like
there own registry hacking & have to point someone to that site. Its like
they are making money on the amount of kicks they send to that site.

I saw Rock (MVP) who said go to the Winlogon registry key (full path), but
never told the user how to get there. Was this a good reply? No. On the
other hand if I provide 100% perfect answer for completion of something via
the registry knowing full well it will work when other have posted
unsuccessful replies I get people like Malke then say don't post complicated
replies

Far too many MVP's rely on MSCONFIG or other applications, but I am an old
skool person who started out prior to these tools being released. If these
tools didn't exist then most of the MVP's etc wouldn't have the faintest
idea. Another favourite is 'System Restore'. What happened to the answers
before it? Earlier today was a fix that failed using Tweak UI, which someone
posted. Most people know that Tweak UI is just a front end for a registry
tool & only looks in certain default locations, yet so many people recommend
it.

Qualification for MVP status is how to give a totally hopeless reply via a
Google search. I have my own but only write them when people get to up
themselves.

Lastly - spoof your Yahoo e-mail better than that you have done so far )