Task Bar Icons

I like to keep my TaskBar clean and simple. By right-clicking the task bar, and going to Properties, and near the bottom, Customize, I have most icons shown as 'Hide when inactive'.
The 'Local Area Connectoin' icon is shown as 'Always Hide', yet every 3rd or 4th time I restart the computer, it's back. So I have to go through the process and change it back to 'Always Hide'.

Anyone have any idea why?

Thanks, and welcome back BBS - you're wonderful!

Cheers!
Jay

 

Secondary subj-same area-TB/prop's/customize/PAST FILES

Thought this thread might be ok to ask add-on question for this same area. (First I've not had it change icons back to active..YET)
...in the Customize area where choices are changed..in lower half of that window is a list of "PAST FILES" I wondered if anyone knows how to delete items in this list? There is NO RIGHT-click choice/delete; most items in this list are so old, I've long since deleted the programs from my computer, yet list remains and GROWS LONGER EACH DAY! I wonder where it is stored on HD to remove this stuff???

 

Jaysam

Just wondering if have you tried unchecking the box "Show Icon in Notification Area When Connected" from the local 'Local Area Connectoin' properties?

Open Network Connections, right click in Local Area Connection, unselect Show Icon In Notification Area When Connected ".

 

it is NOT checked in that area..tks anyway..but the location you are talking about (icon showing in TASKBAR )is NOT the location I was referring to earlier..re-read last comment if you want to try again.tks anyway

 

Actually my first post was directed at the problem that Jaysam was experiencing with his Local Area Connection Icon reappearing even though he had it set to always hide.

As for the problem you posed, "How to delete the Past Items List in Taskbar Customize" click on the link below and check out the Knowledge Base Article from Microsoft. It gives step by step instructions on how to do this from the Registry.

How do I clear past items from the Customize Notifications dialog box in Windows XP?

I tried it and it worked. The two files that the article tells you to delete are recreated empty, or with whatever icons you have running on the taskbar when Explorer is restarted. The only thing I noted after going through the process was that I had to logoff and then log back on for all my regular icons to be restored to the taskbar.

Hope this is was what you were looking for.

 

TKS ROD! that WAS WHAT I Wanted! I always have probs trying to find an answer on microsoft's site as I do NOT know what TITLE or WORDS to put into their help/search area to get the answer I need!

....

Re other icons/hide/remove..I'd like one to not even appear there and there is no right click/delete choice for this one..wonder how to get it off taskbar:
"Safely Remove Hardware "
as I NEVER use it!
--
tks again for that other help! My icons did not disappear after going thru that registry fix as you say yours did.

 

You're most welcome.

I think the key to searching through the Microsoft site is you have to try to think like one of them when deciding what key words or phrases to use.

BTW heres a neat listing of Knowledge Base articles concerning Windows XP in case you're interested. It's not all inclusive but it does make it a little easier to find suggestions to problems you might be having or if you're looking for a particular tweak;

Windows XP Support Center

As for you're other problem concerning the Icon that does not have a way to delete or remove it; Have you set the the Customize Notifications for this Icon to Always Hide?

If so, then I would look in Control Panel or StartUp Folder to see if there is a program there that is associated with the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon.

 

Tks for the Knowledge Base Article from Microsoft...sure it will help in the future. If one isn't 'raised a techie' with that part of their brain 'trained' to automatically know what words are comparable to find the answers..it makes it harder for us who have this 'unused part of their brain' in hibernation, to find things.

Re the progs/start, "safely remove hardware" is NOT in that location, and yes I have it to hide..so it's just THERE hidden..ha..I just like getting rid of space-taking things when I don't use them..tks anyway, again, Rod!

 

Like you I like to keep things clean and organized, and if I don't use it then I don't want it displayed.

Though I haven't been able to figure out how to remove the Safely Remover Hardware icon, as this feature is not on my system, I did find a place that explains a little bit more what it is and what it does. The following is a portion of what is found in the Help file;

"In the notification area next to your task bar, double-click the Safe Removal icon. Safe Removal displays a list of Plug and Play devices currently attached to the system that support safe removal. If you do not see the Safe Removal icon, your device does not support safe removal, and you cannot unplug or eject your device using Safe Removal. "

Thought you might want to check out the following and see if there is a way to remove the icon.

From the start menu navigate to Accessories, Administrative Tools, Computer Management. Once Computer Management is opened navagate down to Storage, Removable Storage, click on the + sign, then right click on Media and select Help.

Further explanation can also be found in the Computer Management window by clicking on Help in the upper right corner of the window, select the Index Tab and type Removeable Media, then double click on Unplugging or Ejecting.

Hope this helps.

 

Ooops! Haven't checked this for a while!

To Rod, in reply to the info posted 9th Feb., that box was already unchecked, so that won't help. But now I'll try with it selected, mebbe that's the answer - will advise!

Thanks for the input,
Cheers,
Jay

 

rod:

i went into all those setting areas you talked about and tried to change some and still could not get "safely remove hdwe" off my lower rt taskbar! oh well..tks anyway

 

To Rod,

The icon appears in the task bar whether that "Show icon in notification area...." is checked or not - still turns up every now and again.

Anyone else have ideas? (See the original question)

Cheers
Jay

 

EUREKA !!!

Howto permanently "hide" that icon?
Go to Control Panel/Network Connections and right click on Local Area Connection, and "Disable "
Ain't it simple?

Cheers
Jay