How do I remove item from system tray?

[Te Pahu]

Hi I'm new at this. How do I remove two programs from my system tray?

I've got QuickTime and Windows messenger operating in my system tray and I
want to get rid of them. How do I do this? I am using Windows XP home.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi I'm new at this. How do I remove two programs from my system tray?

I've got QuickTime and Windows messenger operating in my system tray
and I want to get rid of them. How do I do this? I am using Windows
XP home.

Here's my general answer (not about Quick Time and Messenger in particular):


First, note that you should be concerned with *all* programs that start
automatically, not just with those that go into the tray. Not all
autostarting programs manifest themselves by an icon in the tray.

On each program you don't want to start automatically, check its Options to
see if it has the choice not to start (make sure you actually choose the
option not to run it, not just a "don't show icon" option). Many can easily
and best be stopped that way. If that doesn't work, run MSCONFIG from the
Start | Run line, and on the Startup tab, uncheck the programs you don't
want to start automatically.

However, if I were you, I wouldn't do this just for the purpose of running
the minimum number of programs. Despite what many people tell you, you
should be concerned, not with how *many* of these programs you run, but
*which*. Some of them can hurt performance severely, but others have no
effect on performance.

Don't just stop programs from running willy-nilly. What you should do is
determine what each program is, what its value is to you, and what the cost
in performance is of its running all the time. You can get more information
about these at http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html. If you can't find it
there, try google searches and ask about specifics here.

Once you have that information, you can make an intelligent informed
decision about what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi I'm new at this. How do I remove two programs from my system tray?

I've got QuickTime and Windows messenger operating in my system tray and I
want to get rid of them. How do I do this? I am using Windows XP home.

In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as
simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to
"display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts."

Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start
Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the system registry, primarily in
the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys.

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Singapore Computer Service]

Hello,

****For QuickTime,
http://www.treasurerealm.com/tips/pctip-01.html

For the Current version:
1.. Right-click the icon and select QuickTime Preferences
2.. Next, select Advanced tab (farthest to right)
3.. Locate the option Install QuickTime icon in system tray in the "Tray
Icon" area near the bottom and uncheck the box next to it.
4.. Exit the preferences by selecting OK
5.. This should remove the icon from your tray and it should not be there
the next time you restart your computer.
For the Older version:

1.. Right-click the icon and select QuickTime Preferences
2.. Next, select Browser Plug-in
3.. Locate the option QuickTime system tray icon and uncheck the box next
to it.
4.. Exit the preferences by closing the window (click the X at the top
right, there is no OK or Cancel
5.. This should remove the icon from your tray and it should not be there
the next time you restart your computer.

***For Windows Messenger, double-click on the icon, then Tools, Options,
Preferences, Uncheck "Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts"

 

[John Smithe]

Hi I'm new at this. How do I remove two programs from my system tray?

I've got QuickTime and Windows messenger operating in my system tray
and I want to get rid of them. How do I do this? I am using Windows
XP home.

Instead of using Msconfig, try Autoruns from:

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html

It is free and from a highly regarded source. Using Msconfig uses a
diagnostic feature that isn't really intended for normal operation.
Sysinternals has many other good utilities.

In addition to the Cstle Cops site try:

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=&letter=
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Fo background general info:

http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm

 

[Te Pahu]

Thank you so very much guys.

I'm trying your advice now... you've all been most helpful.

Thanks again. We'll see how I go.