Misbehaving Tray Icon

[siouxdax]

Hello folks:
Yet again I've got another gem of a puzzle to throw your direction. So here it goes: I have a Griffin Technologies PowerMate which I adore and use every day. When I start up my desktop, its (pointless) icon appears in the system tray. The issue is that when I set the icon to always hide (see attachment), it will not remember this setting, and therefore shows back up in the tray (unhidden) when I next restart. A friend of mine thinks this is due to the fact that in the "customize notifications" section of "taskbar and start menu properties" (again, see attachment) the item is listed as "<no title>". I think he may be on to something since everything with a name behaves perfectly.

So my question would be: Is there a "backdoor" solution to this? Maybe a registry edit to name the entry?

-->>Just in case: in the attached pic the icon I'm referring to is the silver button-like icon. If you check out the link to Griffin Technology above you'll see what I mean.

As usual, any help/input/suggestions, etc are very much appreciated!

[cranioscopical]

No help from me, I fear.
Do you mind a question instead?
Do you use this with another pointing device attached as well?
If so, any conflicts?

Good luck with the icon hiding.

[siouxdax]

The only other pointing device I use with the PowerMate is my wireless mouse, but they don't conflict with one another. They in fact work quite smoothly together...

[PhilB66]

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm (download and run both scripts on line 53, when done, restart explorer and run the "Save Settings on Exit" script from line 54)

[siouxdax]

PhilB66:
Yikes! Scripts scare me for some reason. I guess because I know nothing about them. But their descriptions sound like the answer. I think I can muster up the balls to do it though. Thanks for the input!

[PhilB66]

PastIconsFlusher (scroll down to bottom of page) does the same as "Remove Past Items From Notification Area" script.

PastIconsFlusher is a tiny open-source program which quickly and effectively clears the Past Notifications Area in the Customize Notifications area in Windows XP and Windows Vista. It does this by deleting two registry keys and restarting Windows Explorer; this is done in as safe a manner as possible.

The second script will hide/unhide "Inactive Icons" in the "Notification Area"

[siouxdax]

PhilB66: I'm not sure I follow you. But then, I'm in dire need of some sleep. I think I'll wait and tackle this issue tomorrow if it's all the same to you.

[gpetrant]

Should doubt and trepidation overcome you, concerning using those excellent scripts, an alternate or two for your consideration:

http://www.innovative-sol.com/system-tray-cleaner/

http://www.pssoftlab.com/

[PhilB66]

PhilB66: I'm not sure I follow you. But then, I'm in dire need of some sleep. I think I'll wait and tackle this issue tomorrow if it's all the same to you.

Was just trying to ease your concern about running the scripts.

[siouxdax]

PhilB66: Thank you very much for your consideration. I'm not computer illiterate, but I know very little about the nuts-and-bolts end of things. I heard somewhere that running scripts was bad juju, but then they may have been full of s**t.

I did notice, however, that the "save settings and exit" on line 54 is a bad link. It just took me to some random looking page, but then that may have been a script in disguise. LOL.

If I set a system restore point prior to running the script(s), would that keep things safe, just in case?

[AndyM]

If I set a system restore point prior to running the script(s), would that keep things safe, just in case?

That, and a full image backup before you do anything worrisome (belt and suspenders) 

[PhilB66]

It's a .reg file on line 54. Just right click on it and then "save as.." to your desktop. Just backup the registry before running the scripts and merging the information in the .reg file if it makes you feel at ease.

[lanux128]

… When I start up my desktop, its (pointless) icon appears in the system tray. The issue is that when I set the icon to always hide (see attachment), it will not remember this setting, and therefore shows back up in the tray (unhidden) when I next restart. A friend of mine thinks this is due to the fact that in the "customize notifications" section of "taskbar and start menu properties" (again, see attachment) the item is listed as "<no title>" …

there are some very good tools that can permanently hide the icon. take a look in the following threads..

• Tray Management Utility
• Tray Management Utilities Mini-Review