Author Topic: Must-have apps in the System tray? (Read 213,522 times)

lanux128 · « **on:** March 15, 2006, 02:50 AM »

I thought my pc was a bit sluggish today, so i decided to clear out some of the apps running in the background & start a topic on this... What are the indispensible tools you have running in the system-tray all the time?

let's see, I have (from left to right):
Gmail notifier, FreeDownload Manager, USB Drive thingy, AVG, AllChars, F&RR, WinWarden, AHK, CLCL (clipboard manager), Windows Security Alert (i'd like to get rid of this, but can't...), KatMouse, RtvReco, HP Printer Software and finally Tclock2.

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Veign · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2006, 02:58 AM »

Why can't you get rid of the MS security alert?

There is an option that lets you control what MS will alert you about:
Control Panel -> Security Center -> Resources (left side) -> Change the way Security Center Alerts me

Does that remove it for you?

lanux128 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:17 AM »

Quote from: Veign on March 15, 2006, 02:58 AM

There is an option that lets you control what MS will alert you about:
Control Panel -> Security Center -> Resources (left side) -> Change the way Security Center Alerts me

previously, i didn't know how to turn it off. now it works, tks Veign...

brotherS · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:52 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 15, 2006, 02:50 AM

let's see, I have (from left to right):
Gmail notifier, FreeDownload Manager, USB Drive thingy, AVG, AllChars, F&RR, WinWarden, AHK, CLCL (clipboard manager), Windows Security Alert (i'd like to get rid of this, but can't...), KatMouse, RtvReco, HP Printer Software and finally Tclock2.

I killed the Gmail notifier, I'm getting so many emails that it was becoming a bit annoying. I'm also using the Free Download Manager (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1801.0) but I'm not running it 24/7, only on demand. And I let AutoHotkey (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1167.0) kill it if I forget to do that

I can also recommend skrommel's IdleMute (http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/) and a clipboard manager (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=501.0), I'm using ClipX right now.

Oh yeah, and of course I'm running the famous Miranda (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0) 24/7 to enjoy some nice discussions in DonationCoder's IRC channel etc. (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=772.0).

lanux128 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:57 AM »

Quote from: brotherS on March 15, 2006, 07:52 AM

Oh yeah, and of course I'm running the famous Miranda (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0) 24/7 to enjoy some nice discussions in DonationCoder's IRC channel etc.

brotherS:
how do you login invisibly (if that's the correct term) with miranda? i can do it with yahoo/msn messenger but couldn't find a way in miranda... ;-)

brotherS · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:14 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 15, 2006, 08:57 AM

Quote from: brotherS on March 15, 2006, 07:52 AM
Oh yeah, and of course I'm running the famous Miranda (http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1201.0) 24/7 to enjoy some nice discussions in DonationCoder's IRC channel etc.

brotherS:
how do you login invisibly (if that's the correct term) with miranda? i can do it with yahoo/msn messenger but couldn't find a way in miranda... ;-)

I'm not using those 2 protocols in Miranda, but it works for ICQ in Miranda - logging in as 'invisible' is a bit counterproductive though, no?

Since that's a bit offtopic here I suggest we talk about this in the IRC channel, cu there!

rjbull · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2006, 10:26 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 15, 2006, 02:50 AM

AllChars, F&RR, WinWarden, AHK, CLCL (clipboard manager), Windows Security Alert (i'd like to get rid of this, but can't...), KatMouse,

I was interested to see both AllChars and AHK. I'd have thought that AHK would have removed the need for AllChars?

What's KatMouse?

allen · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:02 PM »

Screenshot Captor
mIRC
WinPatrol
Opera mail notification
Palm Sync thing
AceText (clipboard manager/snippet collector)
Google Talk
mouser's find and run robot, as you know
. . . and mouser's ClipBoard Help + Spell (Overlapping with AceText

Toddler Keys (To keep my son/cat from messing with my computer)
The fledgling LaunchBar Commander
NVIDIA junk, have been too lazy to remove it
AntiVir Guard
Infuzer (puts weather info in my palm calendar)
Process Tamer
Sound stuff, too lazy to remove
File-Ex dialog extender
generic windows volume and drive widgets

jgpaiva · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:26 PM »

Screenshot Captor
Wireless Icon
Miranda
One of my own ahk scripts
network icon
MSN Messenger
sound icon
add/remove hardware
energy management icon
FARR
Directory Opus
ClipBoard Help And Spell
Stickyes
AllSnap

This basically means that all apps but the default windows ones and all snap running in the tray were found at or by donationcoder.com

brotherS · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:36 PM »

Quote from: allen on March 15, 2006, 05:02 PM

Sound stuff, too lazy to remove

This often (not always) is a good indicator to see within 0.4 seconds how experienced a Windows user is

taichimaster · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:31 PM »

Umm, my systray is a mess.

Screenshot Captor
MS Outlook 2003
Miranda
Wireless Icon
NIC Icon
Add/Remove Hardware
Synergy (Love this!!!!)
FeedDemon
Find and Run Robot
WebSite Watcher (Love this!!!!)
WordWeb
SpamPal
PopTray
Process Tamer
Free Downloader
QuickNotes Plus
Windows Desktop Search
EmEditor
Bluetooth Thinggie
DirKey NT/XP
Eraser
Another NIC Icon
Clipboard Recorder
Daemon Tools
Volumn Icon
Symantec AntiVirus

AndyM · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:47 PM »

Well, it doesn't speak to the OP's question about essential programs, but it sure looks like there are some cluttered system trays out there.

PS Tray Factory does a nice job of displaying only those systray icons you really need to see.

jgpaiva · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:58 PM »

Quote from: AndyM on March 15, 2006, 06:47 PM

PS Tray Factory does a nice job of displaying only those systray icons you really need to see.

Yep, there is some discussion about tray managing utilities in the forum, AndyM, check these pointers: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2507.0
But still, i prefer my cluttered tray to having yet another app running

lanux128 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2006, 12:17 AM »

Quote from: rjbull on March 15, 2006, 10:26 AM

I was interested to see both AllChars and AHK. I'd have thought that AHK would have removed the need for AllChars?

What's KatMouse?

i'm still learning to *harness* the powers of AHK... ;-) so I'm keeping AllChars as a backup...

Katmouse is a mouse-wheel enhancer. its key feature is:

Quote

moving the mouse wheel will scroll the window directly beneath the mouse cursor (not the one with the keyboard focus, which is default on Windows OSes).

patteo · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2006, 03:27 AM »

Quote from: taichimaster on March 15, 2006, 06:31 PM

Synergy (Love this!!!!)

What may I ask is this ?

taichimaster · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:13 AM »

Quote from: patteo on March 16, 2006, 03:27 AM

Quote from: taichimaster on March 15, 2006, 06:31 PM

Synergy (Love this!!!!)

What may I ask is this ?

It's an open source app for sharing a single mouse, keyboard and clipboard across multiple machines (even for different OSes!).

Please see: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2447.0

rjbull · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2006, 09:46 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 16, 2006, 12:17 AM

i'm still learning to *harness* the powers of AHK... ;-) so I'm keeping AllChars as a backup...

Ah, yes

I wonder how long before someone writes a GUI interface for hotstrings in AHK, after the "Instant Text" text expander idea?

Quote

Katmouse is a mouse-wheel enhancer.

OK, thanks.

The computer I use most is at work. It has three Altiris icons (corporate snoopware), WinZip (I prefer to use Total Commander), McAfee antivirus (I'd prefer something else, but OK), then ClipCache, Magic Notes (sticky notes), PTFB (Press That Freakin' Button), Qsel (program launcher) and Stickies (sticky notes from Zhornsoft, under trial). That is, half the programs I don't want, but have no choice...

brotherS · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2006, 10:17 AM »

Quote from: AndyM on March 15, 2006, 06:47 PM

PS Tray Factory does a nice job of displaying only those systray icons you really need to see.

Too bad I never got an answer when I mailed a (Windows 2000) Tray Factory bug report...

Zero3K · « **Reply #18 on:** March 18, 2006, 05:25 PM »

Mine doesn't have as many icons as the ones already shown

Process Viewer (http://www.prcview.com)
SecurWall (http://www.securstar.com)
ClipMagic (http://www.clipmagic.com)
Volume Icon
Trillian (http://www.trillian.cc)
Ad Muncher (http://www.admuncher.com)
Ashampoo antiSpyWare (http://www.ashampoo.com)
Amembo (http://nora.rurula.com)
Locate (http://locate32.webhop.org)
KatMouse (http://ehiti.sdf-eu.org/katmouse/)
Spamihilator (http://www.spamihilator.com/)

lanux128 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2006, 03:56 AM »

Quote from: Zero3K on March 18, 2006, 05:25 PM

Mine doesn't have as many icons as the ones already shown

aah, another KatMouse user... ;-)
btw, is there an English page for Amembo?

Zero3K · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2006, 04:44 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 20, 2006, 03:56 AM

btw, is there an English page for Amembo?

Yes, there is. It can be reached at http://nora.rurula.com/app/amembo/index.en.html.

lanux128 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2006, 04:51 AM »

Quote from: Zero3K on March 20, 2006, 04:44 AM

Yes, there is. It can be reached at http://tales.namco.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39275.

huh?!?, are you sure?

brotherS · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2006, 08:37 AM »

Quote from: lanux128 on March 15, 2006, 02:50 AM

I thought my pc was a bit sluggish today

Another hint: don't look just at the taskbar icons, use Sysinternal's Autoruns too to find stuff that you don't want to run: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html

Very helpful!

longrun · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2006, 05:30 PM »

Won't bore you with my entire list, but MSGTAG Status is invaluable (tells when someone's read my email; great tech support). AutoSave provides constant backups; Speedfan lets me know when I can fry an egg on my Tecra; and Pagoo takes my phone messages (I'm often on dialup).

mouser · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2006, 05:32 PM »

longrun after all this time you still dont have an avatar set!!

may i suggest you choose an avatar based on "Homestar Runner" ?

for those who don't know what homestar runner is.. here is the infectious song and intro movie:
http://www.homestarrunner.com/intro.html