Removing past/inactive icons

[LovelyLisa]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if someone could tell me how to delete past/inactive icons from the "taskbar and start menu properties box". When I right on the taskbar and go to properties and then click on customize, it will show me a list of present/active and past/inactive icons of programs I have used. I would like to delete the past/inactive ones. Also I am using a program to encrypt files called MaxCrypt. The icon for MaxCrypt is present/active and thats good, but, beside it shows my login name to unlock the files. This is a program to lock files and if my login name can be seen it's defeating my purpose. I would like to remove that one as well but still use the program. Is this possible? Most of the icons in the past/inactive list are useless now because I have uninstalled the program but yet they are still listed.


Another question I have is my pages won't refresh on their own any more. This just started and I have to manually refresh them. I didn't have to do that before. Could someone tell me what I could check to try and fix this?

I am using Windows XP


Thanks for any help.

Lisa

[Mickwish]

Hmm, interesting question about the taskbar icons, Lisa. I can't find any tips on how to remove them - should be a registry hack for this somewhere, but I can't find it (yet! ).

But I did find a hack to actually HIDE the whole notification area, which might do what you want. Unfortunately, it's an all or nothing hide, though, I think.

Ah, I love a challenge! Will keep looking.

Cheers
Mickl

[Mickwish]

Hmm, seems tray icons are controlled by shell32.dll and a thing called ShellNotifyIcon, and there are programming commands that can be used to fiddle with them. Not too sure how to fix this though for an individual program. Would need to find the registry entry for the progran, and see if it has a ShellNotifyIcon entry. This kind of registry hacking is not for the faint of heart, though, so be warned!!

Anyhow, no sure what else to suggest.

Cheers
Mick

[Mickwish]

BINGO!!

Search long enough with Google you'll find anything!!

Ok, it's a registry hack, but pretty simple. Look here.

Cheers
Mick

[LovelyLisa]

You're funny.

If I would have to hack the registry, then I am in way over my head. I don't know much at all about computers yet and would surely mess up everything. I guess my only choice is to get use to them and start looking for another file crypting program that doesn't show my login name.......but I hoping anyway.

Thanks for helping me.

[LovelyLisa]

Ooooh you da'man. Thanks so much.


but one more question before I attempt this. If I do it wrong will the system restore fix it back or is altering the registy not reversible?

[Mickwish]

No problems. It was fun looking, anyhow!

There is a neat little progam that will do the hacks for you. I don't think it's free, but it can be found here. I think it has a trial if you are interested enough to try it. I never have, so don't know how useful or dangerous it is.

Cheers
Mick

[Mickwish]

You need to backup the registry first, before you do anything.

Here's some info on backing up the registry. The easiest way is to create a Restore Point (it's in the link).

The hack you are doing should not prevent windows from starting even if you do it wrong. But backup anyway!

Cheers
Mick

[LovelyLisa]

Thank for all the links and information. I'm trying to decide if I want them gone bad enough to attempt editing the registry. I will definately back up everything first.

I may be back begging for help on how to fix the registry after this.


Thanks a bunch for helping me.

Lisa

[LovelyLisa]

It worked! I actually did it right. All of the past ones are deleted.



Thank you Mickwish



Lisa