# Removing items from the Systray **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233 "2001-09-28T01:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/1 "2001-09-28T01:30:16Z")
How do I remove icons from the Systray (Windows ME) without uninstalling the program? I have several of the icons on my desktop and don’t see the need to dupilcate them. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/2 "2001-09-28T02:43:29Z")
What programs are you talking about? Most will have some menu choice you can check or uncheck. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/3 "2001-09-28T02:44:39Z")
If you are talking about the right bottom systray you can either go into the setup sections of the applets and configure them to be non-loading or use the system information applet and it’s setup edit tool to knock out programs you don’t need or want to be loaded into systray. If you are referring to the left bottom systray you can delete them by simply using the right mouse button menu “delete” function. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/4 "2001-09-28T03:39:53Z")
Usually if you right-click on the icons in the system tray, you will get a menu. Look for Options or Settings and most should have a “Show icon in system tray” or “load program at startup” option you can uncheck. If you want to stop the programs from starting at boot, there’s several ways. 1: You can remove them from the Startup group. 2: You can do Start-\>Run and enter “msconfig”. There will be a startup tab where you can selectively turn off anything you don’t want to start up at boot. Although I think this only works in 95/98. 3: go to Start-\>Settings-\>Control Panel-\>Add Remove Programs and actually uninstall anything you don’t want. Remember, the system tray shows things that are actually running. They’re not the same as the shortcuts on the desktop. Everything in the system tray is sucking up a little bit of processor time and if there’s a lot of them it adds up. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/5 "2001-09-28T12:30:48Z")
I’ve been meaning to post this same question- thanks for the reminder **Mr. Blue Sky**. To start, I’ve been able to remove SOME apps from the systray by doing the right-click/disable thang-- but some programs are too self-important and unfriendly to offer this as an option. I just got a new computer through Dell with Win ME preinstalled - it came with a Lexmark printer/flatbed scanner. Once I installed the scanner (it’s USB), it stuck two items in the systray(lower right hand one that shares space with the clock). However, when I play Max Payne (in full-screen), I now notice that the icon for one of the printer apps flickers in and out of the screen. Very annoying, and fixed by simply manually removing the app at each startup. HOWEVER, if I go into msconfig and uncheck the printer from startup, the system AUTOMATICALLY goes into what it calls “Selective Startup” mode- for troubleshooting. So, is there any way to remove stuff from Startup in ME without going into selective startup mode? Thanks, -j ---
**Author:** ![micilin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@micilin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micilin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/6 "2001-09-28T12:51:55Z")
From 95, NT and W2K experience there are two places to look for icons you can’t persuade to stop running in the systray: In the registry (run regedit): HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run If you’re going to mess with this do it CAREFULLY!! And under your Start Menu folder there’s a folder called ‘Programs’ containing another folder called ‘Startup’. Bear in mind if you stop those systray icons running then you probably won’t be able to use your scanner until you start them again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/7 "2001-09-28T13:46:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smoke \* > \*\*I’ve been meaning to post this same question- thanks for the reminder **Mr. Blue Sky**. > > To start, I’ve been able to remove SOME apps from the systray by doing the right-click/disable thang-- but some programs are too self-important and unfriendly to offer this as an option. > > I just got a new computer through Dell with Win ME preinstalled - it came with a Lexmark printer/flatbed scanner. Once I installed the scanner (it’s USB), it stuck two items in the systray(lower right hand one that shares space with the clock). > > However, when I play Max Payne (in full-screen), I now notice that the icon for one of the printer apps flickers in and out of the screen. Very annoying, and fixed by simply manually removing the app at each startup. > > HOWEVER, if I go into msconfig and uncheck the printer from startup, the system AUTOMATICALLY goes into what it calls “Selective Startup” mode- for troubleshooting. > > So, is there any way to remove stuff from Startup in ME without going into selective startup mode? > Thanks, > -j \*\* I don’t believe that Selective Startup is just for troubleshooting. It’s just that you selected what programs you want to run when you start up (hence the name). I have been using Selective Startup (perhaps on the same model Dell you have) for 8 months now. No problems. I don’t have any programs in my systray. Runs Great!! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/8 "2001-09-28T13:55:57Z")
Smoke is on the right track-- You can disable the run keys like micilin suggested… but the easiest way to do it in Windows ME is to use msconfig. (Start\>Run msconfig Go to the Startup tab, disable at will. Just don’t disable pchealth unless you don’t really intend on using he system restore function.) Windows ME will default into that selective startup. Don’t worry about it… A\> You are using selective Startup (even though you’re not troubleshooting). B\> you can tell Windows not to show you that prompt again. I used to have a link that explained everything that might be in startup… but for the life of me can’t find it. I’m sure if you use google you can find something similar. ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/9 "2001-09-28T14:26:34Z")
Thank you **micilin** , **The Great Gazoo** , and **Screeme**! This has been extremely helpful, and I appreciate it. So, the consensus is that Selective Startup is not necessarily a trouble-shooting only thang. Cool. No more interfering scanners! -j ---
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/10 "2001-09-28T14:31:49Z")
I’ve switched to W2K and really miss msconfig. Is there a similiar utility in W2K? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/11 "2001-09-28T14:43:07Z")
Does ME no longer have the option to use msconfig? In W98, you can go to Start --\> Run --\> and type in “msconfig.” Then, when the control box opens up, click on “Startup.” You will see a list of items that fire up at boot whether you want them to or not, and you can uncheck those that you don’t want to run. This is actually quite an important thing, because every icon you see in the bottom right corner of your screen is soaking up some of your memory and in many cases, doing nothing else. You especially want to disable programs like RealPlayer, which is sending all sorts of information about you back to the Mothership without your knowledge (but you automatically consented when you downloaded it). ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/12 "2001-09-28T15:31:36Z")
I have ME. When I type “msconfig” in the “Run,” I get a message to the effect that there is no “msconfig,” and I should run one of two alternates, which I don’t recall the name of. (“System config” is one, I think. I’m not home now so I can’t tell what they are.) If I click the OK button, it will get me to the Startup box and Selective Start-up, etc. So, altho ME apparently doesn’t have msconfig, you can run that name and get there. I’ve tried running both of the alternates stated in the message, and neither one of them works, so I just type “msconfig” in the Run and click OK when that nasty message comes up. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/13 "2001-09-28T16:07:01Z")
Here some more ideas: 1. For a more user-friendly method of selecting items to disable at startup, download [Startup Cop](http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D400%2526a%253D8066,00.asp) from PC Magazine. Highly recommended. 2. If you want the programs running, but just hate the clutter in your system tray, download [Tray Manager](http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D400%2526a%253D4596,00.asp) also from PC Mag. 3. If you want to close/kill programs without restarting, download [EndItAll 2](http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%253D400%2526a%253D10165,00.asp) from the fellas over at PC Mag. This is especially useful if you want to install new programs. Enough with the shameless ZDNet plugs already. For general startup/resource/memory questions, I recommend [this site](http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/). It’s got a lots of practical advice. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/14 "2001-09-28T18:05:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sofa King \* > \*\* > You especially want to disable programs like RealPlayer, which is sending all sorts of information about you back to the Mothership without your knowledge (but you automatically consented when you downloaded it). \*\* That’s one of the programs I want to disable. I use Zone Alarm and I use it to prevent “E.T.” from phoning home. I’ll try some of the suggestions. THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/15 "2001-09-28T23:02:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\*I have ME. When I type “msconfig” in the “Run,” I get a message to the effect that there is no “msconfig,” and I should run one of two alternates, which I don’t recall the name of. (“System config” is one, I think. I’m not home now so I can’t tell what they are.) If I click the OK button, it will get me to the Startup box and Selective Start-up, etc. So, altho ME apparently doesn’t have msconfig, you can run that name and get there. I’ve tried running both of the alternates stated in the message, and neither one of them works, so I just type “msconfig” in the Run and click OK when that nasty message comes up. \*\* msconfig is absolutely in Windows ME (but not Win2k, sorry mangoldm. ON the upside, xp pro will have msconfig in it. 🙂 ) If it’s not showing up, either there’s a problem with the msconfig program, or you don’t have winme. You might want to call tech support. (To check what windows version you have, right click My Computer and go to Properties.) ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-items-from-the-systray/84233/16 "2001-09-29T00:26:41Z")
I checked it as you noted and I do have ME. When I run “msconfig” I get this message: “Unable to synchronize the environment variables in the Windows registry with the environment variables in the legacy files AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS” When I click OK, I get to the Start Up Window. What does that mean?