# How to get Real Player to stop loading into my system tray at start up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675 "2000-09-19T01:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/1 "2000-09-19T01:27:43Z")
GRRRR! Ego-ware! Dang Real Player thinks it’s better than all my other software and just _has_ to stick itself in my system tray every time I boot up! I could have sworn I unchecked the option to do this when I installed the program. I probably did and the program simply ignored my choice. What do I know? It’s only my computer, right? Anyhoo, Real Player doesn’t seem to show itself in Windows’ list of programs to run on start up. How do I get this cruddy program to stop doing this? Also, am I correct in assuming that .ra is a proprietary format and no “honest” programs will play these files? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/2 "2000-09-19T01:30:57Z")
Start, Settings (translating from Dutch here), Start Menu, Advanced, look for “Startup” tab, right-click RealPlayer Icon, select “remove”. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/3 "2000-09-19T01:34:57Z")
If Coldfire’s way doesn’t work, just right-click on the tray icon and select “disable start center” or “close & disable”, depending on the version of Realplayer you have. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/4 "2000-09-19T02:01:54Z")
I’d already tried your method before I posted, CF. It’s not even _in_ that list! That doesn’t seem to stop it from showing its ugly self every time Windows boots, though. mblackwell : Upon right clicking the icon in the system tray, the only option similar to the one you describe is “Close StartCenter.” No option to disable it. In other words, I can remove it from the tray after I’m already running Windows, but it will always be back, every time I reboot. I’m running the lastest version of Real Player. Version 8 Basic, I think. And I’m about ready to strangle the scheisters who programmed this thing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/5 "2000-09-19T02:08:32Z")
try running “msconfig” in the start -\> run menu. then choose the startup tab and uncheck anything you don’t want starting everytime. This is assuming you are on a win98 (or possibly later) system. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/6 "2000-09-19T02:32:48Z")
Worked like a charm. Thanks a lot, Nerd! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-real-player-to-stop-loading-into-my-system-tray-at-start-up/33675/7 "2000-09-19T02:57:36Z")
the reason you cannot see it in the list is because you have selected the compact view. Choose the normal view and then Options: How do I prevent RealPlayer G2 from loading on start up? There are two means of removing the Player from the system tray. One method is to right mouse click on the RealPlayer G2 icon in the corner of the Windows task bar. From the menu that appears, choose Close & Disable. Choose “Yes” when a dialog box warns you that the Player will no longer be resident on the system. The second method is to open the Player, click on Options then Preferences. In the window that appears, click on the General tab and uncheck the “Allow RealPlayer to run in system tray” option. Click OK to save the change.