Systray in task manager

I cannot find Systray listed in the Task Manager. Can find explorer.exe. Don't want to mistakenly shut it down before running ckdisk and defrag. Only thing spelled even closely is 4 mentions of sychost.exe..and what is that?? Wonder why it isn't spelled like in 98, or has it been deliberately left off? Have searched for ages with no luck finding an answer. Your help is appreciated...want to run these tasks correctly.

Laura Twichell

 

XP isn't fussy about doing a defrag with running processes like 9X systems are. I just leave all of them running on mine. Once in a while I will boot to safe mode and defrag but only if I see a bunch of files reported at the end as being still in fragments.

Chkdsk if you use any of the switches that cause it to do stuff rather than just reporting stuff (chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r) will only run on a system drive during the boot process so none of those would be running. On a non-system drive that can be repaired while the XP GUI is active, the processes shouldn't get in the way.

While you are transitioning from 98 to XP (the mental part of the transition) you need to keep in mind that while the GUI piece looks similar in lots of ways, you are dealing with a similar auto body placed over two very different chassis/engine/electronics systems.

98 is basically a large GUI app that loads and runs like any other DOS app. Lots of things it can do but the inherent limitations of DOS mean some things can't be done at all and others just weren't worth the programming time or overhead to make them work.

XP is an NT version (5.1 to be exact) and the OS is really the OS. Under the hood there are usually some very different things happening than with any 9X system.

 

OK, you say you don't close programs down during Chk,disk.
But, I still want to know what the line item for System Tray is in task manager.

 

OK, you say you don't close programs down during Chk,disk.
But, I still want to know what the line item for System Tray is in task manager.
Does anyone else close down programs and only leave system tray and explorer running? Given that is what the rules say to do???

 

Yep...sure do. If I'm using 98 or ME. Not for XP, as Newt has already mentioned.

 

Hi Laura ...

The System Tray (officially, the Notification Area in XP) is an integral part of explorer.exe in XP, so there's no separate entry in Task Manager, any more than there is for the Start button or the Task Bar. I suspect, however, that you're really asking about the background processes represented by the icons in the systray. Like Newt and Daizy, I never shut them down, either.

If you do want to to shut them down before defragging (and there's certainly no harm in it), and you don't want to go through the hassle of doing it in Task Manager, there's a neat little PC Mag utility called EndItAll, which will do it for you.

Unfortunately, their utilities are now available only on a subscription basis (to the utilities library, not the magazine). If you'd like to have it, though, drop me an email and I'll send it to you ... the Zip file is only 390KB, so it's quite small (and virus free).

 

Jim: Oh, now I get it. Plus my husband will be glad to hear XP doesn't require the program shut down.
Neither one of us were cognizant of this new feature in XP.
Overall, I do not like XP, but am verrry pleased to find a feature that makes life a little easier. Do sorely miss 98's WE.

Thanks for the speedy, and very understandable response.
You do good work!

Laura

 

Hi Laura ...

The learning curve with XP can be steep, simply because some things which seem familiar from Win9x work in a slightly different way. Once you get used to XP, though, I think you'll find that you like it a lot better than 98.

I run XP Pro on a desktop and a laptop, and 98SE on a second desktop, and I MUCH prefer to work on the XP machines for two simple reasons: 1st, there are no system resources problems; 2nd, system freezes and BSODs, which were a normal part of the 98 environment, are practically non-existent with XP ... it's hard to crash the system.

You wrote "Do sorely miss 98's WE." If, by that, you mean Windows Explorer, you might be more comfortable using the Windows Classic view, rather than the XP Standard view (lots of give-and-take on that subject, here on the BBS ... some absolutely love the new look, while others, like me, despise it). It's easy enough to move between them, though, and if you need help, just ask.

 

Jim: I didn't state myself properly. I didn't just mean the visual view of Explorer. I meant the how the content is structured. I have a hard time finding things. Also, often ,the search states a file not to be there, when I know the opposite. Figured I was miswording things, til I spoke with others complaining of the same thing.

 

Jim:
Misspoke myself. It's not the view, its the way the content is structured. Went back to the appeasrance in properties for the desktop, and I did have Classic checked
Often search will state such and such a file isn't there,
when I know it is. Figured I wasn't wording things properly until others complained of the same thing.
Had XP for a year now, and still don't feel comfortable .
You are right, of course, about lack of freezes and system resource problems.
Thanks again for helping me.

Laura

 

XP's search utility doesn't search hidden files or folders by default, you have to tell it to. That's probably why it's saying a file isn't there when you know it is.

To change that default behavior, open Search, in the left-hand pane click on "More Advanced Options." Put a check mark in the appropriate boxes...I check the ones for system files, hidden files and subfolders in the hopes that covers it all.

Although I really like XP, its search utility isn't the best in the world and many people prefer Agent Ransack, a freeware search utility.

 

Hi Laura,

Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner, but I'm frequently gone on weekends, and this was one of them.

I know what you mean about the way XP is organized out of the box, as I don't like it either. In some respects, it seems to have been designed for idiots by idiots, but that doesn't mean that you have to suffer with it. With just a bit of effort, you can organize your computer to reflect the way you use it. After all, it's not so hard to find things when they're where YOU put them, as opposed to where the Gnomes of Redmond think they should go.

If you don't already have them, download both TweakUI 1.33 and TweakUI 2.10 (XP). Don't pay any attention to Microsoft's caveat about getting rid of the older PowerToy before installing the newer one ... they run side by side quite nicely, and each has capabilities that the other doesn't.

Open either of the Tweaks and navigate to the Special Folders area. it's on the My Computer tab in 1.33 ... in 2.10 click on the + sign beside My Computer. Here is where you can begin to organize your computer the way YOU want it, as opposed to the way the Gnomes did it. For example, I can see no reason why My Documents and My Pictures should be located in C:\Documents and Settings ... in fact, I can't think of a worse place for them. They really belong on a separate partition on your hard drive, so that you don't lose them should you ever have to reformat your C: drive. On my computer they're D:\Documents and D:\Images.

You'll need to give some thought to how you want things arranged on your computer, but that's where you start. Create the new folder where you want it, make the assignment in TweakUI, make sure that Windows looks in the new location rather than the former one (you may have to reboot) and then move your sub-folders and files to the new location. Again, each of the Tweaks has settings that the other doesn't, so be sure to look at both of them.

I agree with Miz about XP's search behavior, and second her recommendation about Agent Ransack.

One last thought ... given the choice, always select the custom setting, rather rather than the standard, when installing a new program. Never mind that it frequently says "For advanced users only ". If you've been coping with XP for a year you ARE an advanced user. With the standard installation, you never can be sure where program elements will be placed ... with the custom installation you have a lot more control.

Hope this helps.

Morning after addendum: What I've described above works best immediately after a format of C: and a clean installation of XP (or any other Windows OS), before you begin installing other programs that write to the Registry and place sub-folders in the Common Files folder (which I move to the Programs folder, where I think it belongs). And, as you probably can tell, I fall squarely in the camp of those who believe in partitioning (you can get away with two, but I use four, simply because it better helps me organize my hard drive the way I want it).

Doing it later requires the help of another PC Mag utility called COA2 (Change Of Address, second edition). Again, their utilities are now available only by subscription, but an email to me will get you a virus-free copy of the 500KB executable.

A second last thought. You said that you already are using the Classic view in Explorer, but how about your Start menu? Right-click on the Start button, select Properties, and then select Classic Start menu. Click on the Advanced button and, at the very least, make sure that "Use Personalized Menus" is unchecked.

I'm sorry to be so long-winded, but if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Jim is right about everything, except he has this THING against pretty Luna Blue, and would prefer to see the stark and drab greys of Windows Classic...
He's so old fashioned, he types with a hammer and chisel!

Toggle the Folders button in WE and just move things around to suit yourself. Highlight more than one file or folder by holding down the control key, or use control a for select all. Click "move" and choose the destination.

The only thing on your OS partition that
needs to be there is XP. I let my Internet Security program and a handful of little apps live there, too, but that is for my convenience. I keep all data files on a separate partition, and use that same partition for my "workhorse" programs, Office, CW, Adobe Acrobat, Works, MMJB, etc etc...

Forget everything you know about Windows 9X. XP doesn't work that way. As you start playing around, here is a list of tweaks that I posted awhile back, and others added to. Keyboard Shortcuts Don't try to overcomplicate XP. It's so simple even I can do it! Relax and have fun.
Johanna

 

Johanna wrote:

• "Jim is right about everything, except he has this THING against pretty Luna Blue, and would prefer to see the stark and drab greys of Windows Classic...He's so old fashioned, he types with a hammer and chisel! "

The Luna Lass must be feeling a LOT better, since she has the urge to beat on me, but she's wrong about how I type ... actually, I use my two index fingers.

Johanna has this cockamamie notion that, simply because the XP Standard (Luna) view is newer, it must also be better, and she needs to be reminded of the truth of the matter. So I'll repeat some poetry I wrote for her, long ago and far away (in another thread) ...

• Johanna loves her Luna Blue
  for reasons that I wish I knew.
  Tho' she may think it looks Jurassic,
  I much prefer ol' Windows Classic!
  
  It's neat, it's clean, it looks good, too,
  unlike that gaudy Luna Blue.
  Which may be XP's default GUI,
  But would I use it? Never! Phooey!
  
  Yet XP lets the user choose
  which interface he wants to use.
  So, Windows Classic I will pick
  and let Johanna be the Lunatic!

To which she responded (rather lamely, I thought ) ...

• Some refuse to embrace the new
  Of sweet and true, Luna Blue
  To me, Classic is so austere-
  Who needs a desktop so severe?
  And no matter what is sold,
  Some will always prefer the old.
  Stuck in the past, set in their ways
  Unable to enjoy the newer craze
  and all that I can say to this:
  is at least he didn't call me a LUNA *itch!

So, I wrote her another ...

• Ah, Johanna's turn to wax poetic;
  But Luna Blue is too frenetic.
  Who wants to live in a cartoon ...
  Be driven crazy as a loon?
  
  Austere? Severe? I thinketh not;
  For me, Classic hits the spot.
  Stuck in my ways I may be,
  But I know what works for me.
  
  It calms, it soothes, not like Blue Luna,
  Which affronts my eye; why, I would sooner
  Give up my PC, alas, alack
  And go out and buy a Mac!

All kidding aside, in reality it just boils down to "Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks ".

Now, back to the matter of the moment ...

She wrote:

• "Toggle the Folders button in WE... "

What Folders button? That may be something available only in the XP Standard view, and Laura is using Windows Classic (good for you, Laura!)

Addendum: After a private email exchange with Johanna, I realized that she's talking about the Folders button on the Explorer toolbar, which I don't use. My Explorer windows always open with the Folders in the left pane, and I can't see any reason to use the alternate view.


She wrote:

• "Highlight more than one file or folder by holding down the control key, or use control a for select all. Click 'move' and choose the destination. " (emphasis mine)

I'm unable to duplicate "Click 'move' and choose the destination." ... the only time I get a "move" option is when I highlight a file or files, right-click on it/them, drag it/them to the new location, and release the right button. Then, and only then, do I get a new context menu, from which I can select "Copy Here ", "Move Here ", Create Shortcuts Here ", or "Cancel ".


She wrote:

• "The only thing on your OS partition that needs to be there is XP. "

By that, she means the Docs & Settings and Windows folders, and she's absolutely right. It's not necessary to keep your installed programs on a partition other than the one the OS is on (I do, for housekeeping reasons), and there are those who would argue against it, but you should save any documents, images, or other files they produce (or that you work with) on at least one other partition.

Johanna's list of Keyboard Shortcuts is good as far as it goes ... here's Microsoft's list of Keyboard Shortcuts which, unfortunately, could be a whole lot better organized. Even though the webpage indicates that they're for XP Home, they also work with XP Pro (MS didn't see fit to provide a similar list in the XP Pro pages of their site).

 

Miz:
Went to Advanced in Control Panel System folder.. The files you suggested, system files, hidden files and subfolders, were already checked.
Have downloaded Agent Ransack, per suggestuons here.
But haven't had time to study and utilize it yet. Am hoping this program will solve my problem.
Thanks for your help.

Laura

 

Jim: Your vast amount of help is both appreciated and impressive. Your dialogue with Johanna made me laugh out loud. I guess I fall into the 'oldie but goodie' category(age 58). I find Luna Blue an obnoxious color. At least MS had the sense to provide Classic. Find XP (except for a few things) an example of the phrase 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
I've download TweakU 1.33(had 2.10) and Agent Ransack.
But haven't had time to work with them yet. Reorganization will be a major job. My husband isn't happy about this. Also, I am not partitioned. Thus I will probably move only those folders that are currently causing me the most irritation...given their location. Likewise, will have to see how Ransack works, before making any decisions. Also, if I do decide to partion, I'll need to use COA2...correct?T
Thanks for the list of tweaks & shortcuts
Have never installed a new program using Custom.
But will take your advice, and do so in the future..plus show this tip to my hubby.
The Start menu is also Classic.

Johanna: Thanks for the help. Did not know what you meant by 'toggle the folders button in WE''. Do now thanks to you and Jim e-mailing. Like Jim, I don't need to do that.
As I'm sure you saw above, I too find Luna Blue on the disgusting side..to be blunt. At the very least MS has given us a choice. Which the more I think about it, the stranger that becomes.

Til later,

Laura

 

Hi Laura ...

I was just completing a long email to Johanna when I was notified of your post, so I had to give her a dig and quote something you said: "I too find Luna Blue on the disgusting side..to be blunt. "

Laura Twichell, I think I love you!! You've really made my day!

In fairness to the LUNAtic, though, I'll repeat what I said to her: "I've always said that there are almost as many ways to configure and use Windows as there are Windows users." So, if she wants to use Luna Blue that's fine with me (as long as I don't have to look at it).

 

The 24 hour edit window on my long "poetic" post has expired, but I have something to add to it.

Johanna wrote:

• "Highlight more than one file or folder by holding down the control key, or use control a for select all. Click 'move' and choose the destination." (emphasis mine)

I responded:

• "I'm unable to duplicate "Click 'move' and choose the destination." ... the only time I get a "move" option is when I highlight a file or files, right-click on it/them, drag it/them to the new location, and release the right button. Then, and only then, do I get a new context menu, from which I can select "Copy Here ", "Move Here ", Create Shortcuts Here ", or "Cancel ".

It turns out that Johanna was referring to the use of the Move button on the Explorer toolbar, which I don't use. I don't use the toolbar because everything that can be done there can also be done from the menu bar or its keyboard shortcuts, and I prefer to have the additional screen real estate.

I ran a little test, to compare the drag & drop method of moving/copying files with the button method. It turns out that the number of steps is the same, if you count navigating to the destination folder as one step. Using drag & drop, I normally open the destination folder first (although I could do it as part of the "drag" step because of the fact that hovering the mouse pointer over a folder opens it). Navigating to the destination folder is done last, using the button method.

There is one advantage to the button method (although it's also available from the menu or the keyboard). When the Move button is clicked the requester window that opens has an option to create a new folder. This is not true of the Copy button ... for reasons unknown, it doesn't open a requester, although the menu and keyboard shortcuts do.

Addendum:

Johanna wrote:

• "Highlight more than one file or folder by holding down the control key, or use control a for select all. "

Use the Shift key to select a series of adjacent files/folders. Use the Ctrl key to select non-adjacent files/folders, or to de-select individual files/folders after a Ctrl + A or a Shift highlighting.