Question:

My system tray in Windows XP is loaded with icons, which I understand means that these programs are running in the background. I went to the Startup Folder under Programs, but it is empty. How can I keep some of these programs from automatically loading (such as Windows Messenger, which according to my Add/Remove Programs window is not even supposed to be running!). Thank you.

Submitted by: Gary H.



Answer:

Hi, Gary.
So, your system tray is overloaded with icons, and you want to trim their numbers down.

I don't blame you. As useful as the system tray in Windows is, it's another place for program vendors to advertise that you are using their software, and the tray can soon grow to excessive proportions.

For anyone else reading this who is not quite sure what or where the system tray, (normally shortened to systray ), is, have a look at this Web site. The systray is part of the Taskbar area at the bottom of the Desktop area on computers running the Windows operating system (OS). Some users may have moved their Taskbar to either side or even to the top of the Desktop area, but generally most people leave it at the bottom. In the image on the Web site given above, the Taskbar area shows the Start button to the left, the main Taskbar, and the systray to the right. Clearly in this image, the systray is overflowing, so much so that it has taken up half of the whole Taskbar area. There are 19 icons in the systray in the image, and in my estimation, that is 13 or 14 too many!

In an ideal case, the systray should only hold a few icons, eg one for the clock, one for the volume control of the speakers, and two or three others, for computer protection software like a firewall, and anti-virus programs.

The systray is useful. It shows some of the programs which have been loaded up, (started), when the computer is switched on, and these programs reside in memory because they can give instant information, (eg the time, and if you hover the mouse pointer over the clock you will see the date), or are either working constantly in the background, or are available to be "called up" quickly with a couple of clicks of the mouse.

Program vendors often try and place an icon for their own software in this tray for various reasons. Some will say that it is for easy access to the main program. Others recommend it as a "fast launch" to help speed up starting a very large program, (the browser Netscape version 6 attempted to do this. Netscape 6 was a not very successful version of the normally very good Netscape browser family, but it took so long to load up that the vendors created the quick launch, which in effect loaded part of the browser when the computer was switched on, to speed up loading the remainder of the program whenever it was needed). Still others simply want to flood a computer with it's shortcuts on the desktop, in the quick launch area just to the right of the Start menu button, and at numerous places in the Start > Programs area, so that the user is "reminded" of the software at every available instant.

But these icons loaded into the systray are actually programs or parts of programs taking up valuable memory space in the computer RAM. This RAM is important to the computer as it is the main working area of any program. When a program, (or application), is started, eg Microsoft Office, or Internet Explorer, or a Photo Editor, etc, the RAM is used to store parts of the program from the hard disk so that it can be used instantly. If so much RAM has been taken up by other programs running in the background, then the computer has to work harder by swapping bits of the application being used into and out of the hard disk, which is a slower process. The consequence of this is that the application may seem to freeze, or hang, for a second or two whilst RAM is storing temporary data on the hard disk, and accessing the necessary parts of the application needed to continue its task at any particular time.

So, too many icons in the systray usually means too many programs have been loaded at start-up, and very often means a decrease in the computer's performance.

What can be done about it?

Well, immediately, you can "right click" each icon, and in the menu which appears, select "Exit" or "Disable" or "Close down", whichever may appear, and do that for each icon.

But that will not really solve the problem. In fact, it may cause more problems later, for example if you disable an anti-virus program from running, the computer is then at risk of allowing virus infections in. Also, any icons disabled or closed down in this way will simply appear the next time the computer is turned on again.

So a more permanent way must be explored. We, as users, need to understand what programs these icons represent, and we need to Take Control ourselves, rather than letting program vendors control us. The best way is to investigate each icon. Hover the mouse pointer over the icon and a little message may appear that can tell you what the program is; eg does the program say "Real Player"? or "Quicktime"? If so, these are programs for playing music or video. You don't need them loaded into memory all the time as that is wasting valuable memory space, and if you need them you can start them from the Start menu. Or is the icon an Instant Messenger? If so, you don’t really need it loaded as soon as the computer is turned on. You can always start the Instant Messenger when you are ready to chat to your relatives or friends. These hover messages can give vital information about what the program is, but if they do not, then double click the icon. This will open up the program onto the desktop. Here you can investigate what the program is, and what it does. The program's Help file may give more information.

Check each icon and decide whether you want to keep it or not. Remember, you are in effect deciding whether you want the program to load up each time the computer is turned on. Some you will want to keep. Others you will not.

When you have decided which programs you do not need to load up each time at start up, "Double Click" each icon. Now, here's the difficult part. You have to find an option within the program to disable the System Tray icon, and/or disable "loading at start-up". But software makers don't always make it easy. They usually do give this option for their program, but not in standard places. Some programs may have tabs, for Options, Preferences, or General. Some programs may have a Tool menu choice, then an Options in the list that appears. It is up to you to prod around within each program and find this option, and "uncheck" it.

Many times this will do the job and the program will not load at start-up, and not place an icon in the systray. This will free up resources to make the computer work quicker and easier. But sometimes this method does not always stop the program from loading at start-up. That means more investigation, but I don't feel that that is a process I can go into in this reply as it means looking at a list of Start-Up programs using the Run command, and that is not the question that has been asked. Anyone who has a program that they suspect continues to load at start-up and which is unwanted may want to post a question about it in these forums, and expert help will not be long arriving. The Computer Help forum would be a good forum to ask any questions.

Good luck. I hope this helps a little to keep your systray within manageable proportions.


Submitted by: Mark K