Disable networking icon in system tray

[Paul]

I would like to not view the networking icon (w/ two computers) that monitors
the ethernet card/connection. I don't mind seeing the icon when I am having
problems getting online (little or no connectivity), but I typically will not
get online via an ethernet cable, and don't want to see a system tray icon
telling me that there is no ethernet cable plugged into my laptop. I have
tried right-clicking and then unchecking the two boxes in the general tab
(after selecting Properties), but neither seems to accomplish what I want it
to.
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I would like to not view the networking icon (w/ two computers) that monitors
the ethernet card/connection. I don't mind seeing the icon when I am having
problems getting online (little or no connectivity), but I typically will not
get online via an ethernet cable, and don't want to see a system tray icon
telling me that there is no ethernet cable plugged into my laptop. I have
tried right-clicking and then unchecking the two boxes in the general tab
(after selecting Properties), but neither seems to accomplish what I want it
to.

That depends. Older ethernet adapter drivers do not have the "Media
Sensing" feature and there is no tray icon when disconnected. You may
want to disable that feature, however, this is not recommended when
using other network adapters instead. Disable the network connection
or the ethernet adapter (device manager) in that case.

"How to disable the Media Sensing feature for TCP/IP in Windows"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239924/en-us

 

[Paul]

Let me make sure I understand you--since I do use another network adapter
(cable modem via a usb port), it would not be good for me to disable the
Media Sensing feature, correct?

So I went into the device manager for my ethernet card, but couldn't see any
option to turn off any system tray icon. Can you clarify what my options
are, if I am going to leave the media sensing feature on?
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Let me make sure I understand you--since I do use another network adapter
(cable modem via a usb port), it would not be good for me to disable the
Media Sensing feature, correct?
Correct.

So I went into the device manager for my ethernet card, but couldn't see any
option to turn off any system tray icon.

There is no such option. You have to disable the *network adapter* as
already written in my previous post.

Can you clarify what my options are, if I am going to leave the media
sensing feature on?

Provided that you don't need it, right click the ethernet adapter in the
device manager > Disable. Good luck.

 

[V Green]

Let me make sure I understand you--since I do use another network adapter
(cable modem via a usb port), it would not be good for me to disable the
Media Sensing feature, correct?

So I went into the device manager for my ethernet card, but couldn't see any
option to turn off any system tray icon.

That's not where it is. Right click on that icon you want
to get rid of. Select Status. On the General tab, click
Properties.

There it is - "Show Icon....".

At least that's what happens here.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

That's not where it is. Right click on that icon you want
to get rid of. Select Status. On the General tab, click
Properties.

There it is - "Show Icon....".

At least that's what happens here.

The problem is that this doesn't work with most ethernet adapters.
There will appear a tray icon (with red cross) when disconnected even
when the "Show Icon..." checkbox has not been ticked. Just try it out...

 

[RalfG]

Hmmm, worked here while the ethernet connection is active.

Some systems may have a second icon in the tray representing an internet
gateway (ie. router connection). It looks just the same as the network
adapter icon and can show up even if the network connection icon is
disabled. The gateway tray icon can be removed in the same way as the
ethernet icon, provided that the router/internet gateway is being displayed
in Network Connections.

 

[V Green]

The problem is that this doesn't work with most ethernet adapters.
There will appear a tray icon (with red cross) when disconnected even
when the "Show Icon..." checkbox has not been ticked. Just try it out...

Huh. OK, I've never had any need to try that, and can't
right now, but I believe you.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Hmmm, worked here while the ethernet connection is active.

Yep. However, the OP means the icon with the red cross (disconnected).
Excerpt from the original posting:

| and don't want to see a system tray icon telling me that there is no
| ethernet cable plugged into my laptop.

And that icon appears when *disconnected* although the "Show Icon..."
checkbox is not ticked in almost all cases. The tooltip confirms that
the adapter is unplugged.

Some systems may have a second icon in the tray representing an
internet gateway (ie. router connection). It looks just the same as
the network adapter icon and can show up even if the network connection
icon is disabled. The gateway tray icon can be removed in the same way
as the ethernet icon, provided that the router/internet gateway is
being displayed in Network Connections.

Well, the "Internet Connection" tray icon doesn't have a red cross
usually and the tooltip shows a different text (eg. Internet Connection
17.6 MBit/s).

 

[Paul]

--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

 

[Paul]

OK now I understand you. Well it looks like I will have to live with that
icon in my system tray, because I really don't want to disable that adapter.
There are a few times when I will want to connect to the internet via my
ethernet port (troubleshooting connectivity problems) and I'd rather not have
to remember to enable it before I put in the cable. OK thanks Detlev for
your time.
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

 

[NoConsequence]

Yep. However, the OP means the icon with the red cross (disconnected).
Excerpt from the original posting:

| and don't want to see a system tray icon telling me that there is no
| ethernet cable plugged into my laptop.

And that icon appears when *disconnected* although the "Show Icon..."
checkbox is not ticked in almost all cases. The tooltip confirms that
the adapter is unplugged.


Well, the "Internet Connection" tray icon doesn't have a red cross
usually and the tooltip shows a different text (eg. Internet Connection
17.6 MBit/s).

Strange.

I have four different computers using Win 2003 Server, Windows XP MCE,
Winows XP Professional, AND Windows XP Home - and I can turn the icon
off IN EVERY VERSION whether something is connected or not, using
exactly what they suggested - telling it to not display the Icon.
This from four different OSs, on everything from a laptop to server.

Given that, I'd say they were right and you are wrong.

 

[RajKohli]

There is no such option in Windows to hide the networking icons in system
tray if media is disconnected rather than disabling the NIC.

However, I will suggest you to use the "Hide Inactive Icons" option.

1. Right-click on Taskbar and choose Properties
2. Click the Customize button of "Hide inactive icons" option
3. Select the Item from the list and in Behavior choose "Always Hide"

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

OK now I understand you. Well it looks like I will have to live with that
icon in my system tray, because I really don't want to disable that adapter.
There are a few times when I will want to connect to the internet via my
ethernet port (troubleshooting connectivity problems) and I'd rather not have
to remember to enable it before I put in the cable. OK thanks Detlev for
your time.

You're certainly welcome, Paul.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Strange.

I have four different computers using Win 2003 Server, Windows XP MCE,
Winows XP Professional, AND Windows XP Home - and I can turn the icon
off IN EVERY VERSION whether something is connected or not, using
exactly what they suggested - telling it to not display the Icon.
This from four different OSs, on everything from a laptop to server.

Given that, I'd say they were right and you are wrong.

Well, there are four WinXP systems around (Home and Pro) at the moment
and *all* of them show that tray icon (red X) when the LAN adapters are
disconnected. No matter if the option "Show Icon..." has been checked
or unchecked. Also, this issue has been posted more than often to local
and to international newsgroups. I've uploaded this screenshot for you:

http://www.freewebs.com/detdreyer/download/red_x.jpg

 

[Unknown]

On my system it is LEFT click and properties.

That's not where it is. Right click on that icon you want
to get rid of. Select Status. On the General tab, click
Properties.

There it is - "Show Icon....".

At least that's what happens here.

 

[V Green]

On my system it is LEFT click and properties.

OK, that saves a click...

 

[Paul]

Raj, thanks but it didn't work. I went into the customize tab, and made all
the other icons show always, but that one, hide when inactive. And it didn't
go away, even after a reboot.

But thanks--I never knew that that hide inactive icons feature could be
customized for only some icons. At least I learned something new.
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

 

[Paul]

Oh--and for troubleshooting purposes, if I've got little or no connectivity,
I'd like to be informed of that, so I didn't want to hide that inactive icon
always. But like I said, "Hide when inactive" didn't work.
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501