# How do I get this pesky update icon off my task bar?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273 "2003-08-10T22:49:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273/1 "2003-08-10T22:49:19Z")

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I have one of those Microsoft automatic update icons on my task bar. I can’t install the updates (subject of another thread), but I can’t seem to get rid of the icon. It keeps prompting me to install the updates, which of course I can’t make work. Any way to get rid of this thing?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273/2 "2003-08-10T23:08:19Z")

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[Here](http://www.theeldergeek.com/notification_area_balloon_tips.htm) you go. It’s a minor registry hack. Do back up your registry prior to proceeding.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273/3 "2003-08-10T23:50:18Z")

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Great site, thanks!

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**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-this-pesky-update-icon-off-my-task-bar/194273/4 "2003-08-11T01:23:27Z")

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You could also go to the System control panel applet (Windows key + Pause/Break is the fastest way), go to the Automatic Updates tab, and turn it off from there.