How do I stop those annoying yellow balloons

[tommy]

Every time I move the mouse onto the screen these huge annoying yellow popup
balloons telling me exactly what box my mouse is near pop up blocking my
view. For instance, when typing this message if I did not move the mouse to
the edge of the screen a huge window telling me to "enter your message"
appeared. These are NOT folder descriptions, which in theory can be turned
off. I went so far as to use TweakUI to set a "hover" to take 50 seconds, but
these "tags" ignore the setting. As more and more programs add these
"helpful" information tags, it makes using the computer nothing but
frustrating, my machine is useless to me, I can't even use CAD programs any
more because they ALL include these stupid tags, and Microsoft allows NO WAY
TO DISABLE THEM OR CONTROL THEM IN ANY WAY. It is insane. Why not let a
registry setting disable them unless, say the Fn or CTRL key is down ???? I
put in a support request to Microsoft but they have not answered me. I am
ashamed to say I started researching MAC computers......

 

[Bob I]

Not sure why you would research macs as a solution to disable Ballon tip
but a simple google search resulted in an answer in 0.22 seconds.

http://www.megaleecher.net/Disable_XP_Balloon_Tips

 

[tommy]

I thought I was pretty clear that these were NOT the "balloon tips" or folder
descriptions, I guess you took about as long as the Google search to
understand the problem, although I appreciate your attempt at helping if
that's what you were doing. I am talking about the popup balloons that appear
whenever the mouse is over ANYTHING that has an information "tag", which
seems to be every single object in every single program anywhere. How about
you try this, reply to this post and move the mouse into the "subject"
window, a box immediately pops up sayins "enter a subject message for the
post" - dose Google know how to stop this ? I'd be happy to wait 0.44 seconds
for a response that actually worked. - Hey move th emouse to the "Post"
button and th ebox comes up that say "post this message" , good thing or I
would not have known what to do next........

 

[tommy]

Not having a cow dude, but when these things come up absolutely everywhere
and you can't stop them something is seriously wrong, especially given the
number of people online looking for a solution. I appreciate your email, but
no that didn't work, I had already tried it. I think the popups are due to
information "tags" but no one seems ot know how to shut them off or even
control them. I use a CAD program that I can no longer ever draw items on the
screen because as soon as my mouse is on the drawing screen windows telling
my what the mouse is over pop up blocking my view so I can't ever draw.
Seriously, if you just move the mouse into the "subject" window above a
window pops up instantly telling you to "enter your subject here" - no
kidding ??? what's the point ?

 

[Still learning]

Not sure why you would research macs as a solution to disable Ballon tip
but a simple google search resulted in an answer in 0.22 seconds.

Guess you'd have to look a wee bit longer than that huh? Lol. Oh...and I
think the OP was researching Macs because he's considering switching to
them...not for a solution to his problem...LMAO!!!!

 

[Bob I]

In that case here are more "popup ballon" kill entries.

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=865099

 

[tommy]

Ha thanks man, for someone who's "still learning" you seem to be keeping up....
So is it me or are those dam balloons annoying ???

 

[Xandros]

Threatening to buy a Mac won't phase Microsoft in the least.

 

[Xandros]

While this is not a global solution it might help you with your CAD program.
Check the CAD program's preferences to see if it has a setting to
display/disable tool tips. Some programs have tool tips settings that are
independent from XP.

 

[bw]

appeared. These are NOT folder descriptions, which in theory can be turned
off. I went so far as to use TweakUI to set a "hover" to take 50 seconds,
but
these "tags" ignore the setting. As more and more programs add these
"helpful" information tags, it makes using the computer nothing but
frustrating, my machine is useless to me, I can't even use CAD programs
any
more because they ALL include these stupid tags, and Microsoft allows NO
WAY
TO DISABLE THEM OR CONTROL THEM IN ANY WAY. It is insane. Why not let a

They're called "tool tips" I believe, try this

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
DWORD ShowInfoTip=0

If that doesn't work there's probably some other way, don't have a cow dude

 

[bw]

Not having a cow dude, but when these things come up absolutely everywhere

They're stored as string resources in dll files, maybe the vendor you bought
the CAD program from will hack them out for you, or you find the right dll
and edit them yourself? Some programs have a setting to turn them on or
off, that is a nice feature. Search the program folder for text contained
in a file but
s e a r c h f o r t e x t l i k e t h i s t o f i n d t h e r i g h
t f i l e .

cowabunga!

 

[tommy]

You shouldn't have to hack into dll files to fix this problem, I think I'm
not the only person in the known universe who hates these. I wasn't
threatening to buy a MAC to scare microsoft, it's just the facts. The problem
is lack of software for the MAC.

It's too bad people get on these things not to answer but to hear themselves
talk (not you). I appreciate your help, but don't you think a user should be
able to turn them off if he doesn't want 800 foot pop up windows blocking his
screen ??????

I have lost almost all respect for Microsoft on this, they just say it's the
program's fault (yet they don't seem to have a solution for Outlook or any of
their porgrams...)

 

[bw]

put in a support request to Microsoft but they have not answered me. I am
ashamed to say I started researching MAC computers......

What did you find out do they suck as bad as everybody says?

 

[Still learning]

See Tommy...this is why I'm *still learning*. Much of what was just said
went over my head! Hex editors, writing one's own app????....out of my
league...at least for now

 

[Xandros]

If you have 800 foot popups blocking the screen then your problem is not
related to windows. Don't get me wrong. I do not like pop ups but at the
same time I don't blame very pop up on the operating system. The problem you
are experiencing with the CAD program is more likely related to the program
you are using. Especially if the popups are so large as to cover most of the
screen. When I run many third party applications I see small pop up
descriptions in some applications for some functions and in other programs I
don't see any popups at all.

 

[bw]

It's too bad people get on these things not to answer but to hear
themselves
talk (not you). I appreciate your help, but don't you think a user should
be
able to turn them off if he doesn't want 800 foot pop up windows blocking
his
screen ??????

Yeah I think a user should be able to hack, reverse engineer and tweak his
computer to do whatever he wants. From what I hear, Mac OS is damn near
impossible to customize? And lack of apps on mac has been a problem
forever, maybe for just that reason. At least with windows you can get a
frikken hex editor out if all else fails, easily write your own app, or
choose another of dozens of programs that do whatever you're into.

Seriously, someone will write an app or come up with a fix for it. There's
always a solution.

Good Luck.

 

[tommy]

OK I figured when I said 800 foot then it would be clear I was exagerrating
a little. These yellow information boxes are most certainly the fault of
Microsoft. As more and more programmers unclude these stupid tags, it makes
using the computer nothing but an excercise in frustration. Just move your
mouse into the "inbox" of Outlook and you immediately get popups telling you
details about the message your mouse is over, often covering up everything
else.

Yes I think it's ridiculous that Microsoft would enable programmers to add
these things without allowing a user to control or disable them, it's just
stupid. Do I really need a freakin yellow box popping up as soon as I try to
hit the "POST" button telling me it will "post this message" ?????????

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

I don't ever see any of those popups you're referring to.

: OK I figured when I said 800 foot then it would be clear I was
exagerrating
: a little. These yellow information boxes are most certainly the fault of
: Microsoft. As more and more programmers unclude these stupid tags, it
makes
: using the computer nothing but an excercise in frustration. Just move your
: mouse into the "inbox" of Outlook and you immediately get popups telling
you
: details about the message your mouse is over, often covering up everything
: else.
:
: Yes I think it's ridiculous that Microsoft would enable programmers to add
: these things without allowing a user to control or disable them, it's just
: stupid. Do I really need a freakin yellow box popping up as soon as I try
to
: hit the "POST" button telling me it will "post this message" ?????????
: "Xandros" wrote:
:
: > If you have 800 foot popups blocking the screen then your problem is not
: > related to windows. Don't get me wrong. I do not like pop ups but at the
: > same time I don't blame very pop up on the operating system. The problem
you
: > are experiencing with the CAD program is more likely related to the
program
: > you are using. Especially if the popups are so large as to cover most of
the
: > screen. When I run many third party applications I see small pop up
: > descriptions in some applications for some functions and in other
programs I
: > don't see any popups at all.
: > --
: >
: > Xandros
: >
: >
: > : > > You shouldn't have to hack into dll files to fix this problem, I think
I'm
: > > not the only person in the known universe who hates these. I wasn't
: > > threatening to buy a MAC to scare microsoft, it's just the facts. The
: > > problem
: > > is lack of software for the MAC.
: > >
: > > It's too bad people get on these things not to answer but to hear
: > > themselves
: > > talk (not you). I appreciate your help, but don't you think a user
should
: > > be
: > > able to turn them off if he doesn't want 800 foot pop up windows
blocking
: > > his
: > > screen ??????
: > >
: > > I have lost almost all respect for Microsoft on this, they just say
it's
: > > the
: > > program's fault (yet they don't seem to have a solution for Outlook or
any
: > > of
: > > their porgrams...)
: > >
: > > "bw" wrote:
: > >
: > >>
: > >> : > >> > Not having a cow dude, but when these things come up absolutely
: > >> > everywhere
: > >>
: > >> They're stored as string resources in dll files, maybe the vendor you
: > >> bought
: > >> the CAD program from will hack them out for you, or you find the
right
: > >> dll
: > >> and edit them yourself? Some programs have a setting to turn them on
or
: > >> off, that is a nice feature. Search the program folder for text
: > >> contained
: > >> in a file but
: > >> s e a r c h f o r t e x t l i k e t h i s t o f i n d t h e r
i g
: > >> h
: > >> t f i l e .
: > >>
: > >> cowabunga!
: > >>
: > >>
: > >>
: >
: >
: >

 

[Ian D]

OK I figured when I said 800 foot then it would be clear I was
exagerrating
a little. These yellow information boxes are most certainly the fault of
Microsoft. As more and more programmers unclude these stupid tags, it
makes
using the computer nothing but an excercise in frustration. Just move your
mouse into the "inbox" of Outlook and you immediately get popups telling
you
details about the message your mouse is over, often covering up everything
else.

Yes I think it's ridiculous that Microsoft would enable programmers to add
these things without allowing a user to control or disable them, it's just
stupid. Do I really need a freakin yellow box popping up as soon as I try
to
hit the "POST" button telling me it will "post this message" ?????????

So, are you saying that Microsoft is responsible for what 3rd party
programmers put in their programs? The popups/tooltips that appear
as part of XP can be controlled from within XP. XP has no control
over popups in other applications. Even MS Office apps have their
own individual tooltip popup controls. Photoshop Elements, for one,
has its own popup control. If an application has annoying popups that
cannot be turned off, the problem is with that application, not Windows,
and I doubt that quality software would not have popup control.

 

[Galen Somerville]

I've only seen them in one program and it had an option to turn them off.

I think a past program install caused it. You know, where the programmer
that it was clever and set the machine up for it and not just his program.

Galen

I don't ever see any of those popups you're referring to.

: OK I figured when I said 800 foot then it would be clear I was
exagerrating
: a little. These yellow information boxes are most certainly the fault of
: Microsoft. As more and more programmers unclude these stupid tags, it
makes
: using the computer nothing but an excercise in frustration. Just move
your
: mouse into the "inbox" of Outlook and you immediately get popups telling
you
: details about the message your mouse is over, often covering up
everything
: else.
:
: Yes I think it's ridiculous that Microsoft would enable programmers to
add
: these things without allowing a user to control or disable them, it's
just
: stupid. Do I really need a freakin yellow box popping up as soon as I
try
to
: hit the "POST" button telling me it will "post this message" ?????????
: "Xandros" wrote:
:
: > If you have 800 foot popups blocking the screen then your problem is
not
: > related to windows. Don't get me wrong. I do not like pop ups but at
the
: > same time I don't blame very pop up on the operating system. The
problem
you
: > are experiencing with the CAD program is more likely related to the
program
: > you are using. Especially if the popups are so large as to cover most
of
the
: > screen. When I run many third party applications I see small pop up
: > descriptions in some applications for some functions and in other
programs I
: > don't see any popups at all.
: > --
: >
: > Xandros
: >
: >
: > : > > You shouldn't have to hack into dll files to fix this problem, I
think
I'm
: > > not the only person in the known universe who hates these. I wasn't
: > > threatening to buy a MAC to scare microsoft, it's just the facts.
The
: > > problem
: > > is lack of software for the MAC.
: > >
: > > It's too bad people get on these things not to answer but to hear
: > > themselves
: > > talk (not you). I appreciate your help, but don't you think a user
should
: > > be
: > > able to turn them off if he doesn't want 800 foot pop up windows
blocking
: > > his
: > > screen ??????
: > >
: > > I have lost almost all respect for Microsoft on this, they just say
it's
: > > the
: > > program's fault (yet they don't seem to have a solution for Outlook
or
any
: > > of
: > > their porgrams...)
: > >
: > > "bw" wrote:
: > >
: > >>
: > >> : > >> > Not having a cow dude, but when these things come up absolutely
: > >> > everywhere
: > >>
: > >> They're stored as string resources in dll files, maybe the vendor
you
: > >> bought
: > >> the CAD program from will hack them out for you, or you find the
right
: > >> dll
: > >> and edit them yourself? Some programs have a setting to turn them
on
or
: > >> off, that is a nice feature. Search the program folder for text
: > >> contained
: > >> in a file but
: > >> s e a r c h f o r t e x t l i k e t h i s t o f i n d t h e
r
i g
: > >> h
: > >> t f i l e .
: > >>
: > >> cowabunga!
: > >>
: > >>
: > >>
: >
: >
: >