how can i reduce the program icons at the bottom right of my computer screen?

Question

I remember it has something to do with entering something in Run....?

Answer 1

You can do any of:

(1) Configure the software that generates particular system tray icon not to start when the system boots. It's better to use the software's own configuration facility than to edit the startup with msconfig. Usually right-clicking on the icon will give you an "options..." pick (or something similar) that will let you configure how the software starts.

(2) Configure the software that generates particular system tray icon to start BUT NOT display an icon in the system tray. (Not all software supports this, but a fair amount give the option. It would also be in the configuration for that specific bit of software.)

(3) Tell the taskbar to hide specific icons. The software is still started, and the icon is still present, but it's hidden unless a little [>] button on the taskbar is clicked. Right-click on the taskbar and select "properties", and then check "hide inactive icons". Beside that, click "customize..." identify particular icons that should always be shown, or always be hidden.

Which approach you should choose, depends on what the software is and how often you use it. If the software is something you nearly always use, or if it is something important to the system (like networking icon), you'll want it to at least start when the system does. If you need to click on the icon, then you'll want the icon present (though maybe hidden by default).

For example, WinAmp and RealAudio "like" to start up when the system starts and sit there ready-to-run in the system tray. But since I rarely use them, it's a waste of time to slow down the boot process by starting them up every single time the system comes up. For that reason, I disable them from starting when the system does. I pay the price in waiting a couple of extra seconds when I actually run those programs, but overall the annoyance is less.

It's my opinion that many software manufacturers have a sort of hubris -- a badly distorted view of how important their software is to the average user. They often act as if their own application is the only one that the end-user wants, or the most important one on the system. They don't seem to care if starting up their application at boot time slows down the booting by 5 seconds.

Another example: ATI has a display manager that inserts itself on every context menu in the system. How often does someone adjust the colors on their screen? Maybe once when setting up the computer, and never again. So why clutter every menu in the system with a link to startup something that nobody will ever use? It's annoying.

PS - Yeah, he said "icons"... but he also said "bottom right of screen" which is where the system tray is. That, and the fact he's asking about the run menu (msconfig), suggests that he means the system tray and not some random toolbar.

Answer 2

There are a couple of matters you'll be able to do to lessen the total load for your laptop and shorten the startup time. The first is to verify what is loaded on your C:Documents and Settings{username}Start MenuProgramsStartup folder. Do this additionally for the Admin, All Users and another customers. By correct-clicking on some of the icons on your process tray, you're going to discover that a few have choices to disable autoloading. If you don't want those methods at all times, you'll be able to disable them. Windows additionally rather a lot a host of offerings at startup. You won't want all of those. Some of them are geared to trade/community utilization and can be disabled. There are a quantity of websites that may consultant you on those offerings and I've indexed a couple of underneath.

Answer 3

START UP OPTIONS

ICONS IN TASK BAR

click start in blue bar (task bar)
then run
type in msconfig
choose start up
put a check beside the ones you want to run
uncheck programs you don"t want running

Answer 4

Open the Start menu , Choose Run
then type msconfig then click OK
and choose startup tap
now you can check the programs you want to start when you open your computer.

Regards,
Tom Clark

Answer 5

the ? was icons NOT programs
right click start--select properties--select taskbar--select always show or hide
right click taskbar--click on unlock taskbar--delete icon/s--right click again and select lock taskbar