Windows XP Annoyance: ToolTip pop-ups

[dlabrecque]

Hey. I'm a newbie. Sorry if there's a better place to post this. Lemme know...

When I place my mouse pointer over items in my Task Bar, there's a pop-up balloon almost immediately that often obscures stuff I want to see. For a long time I've been trying to find a way to increase the delay time before they pop-up or make 'em stop altogether. No luck so far. Does anyone have any ideas? 

Thanks a zillion! 

[dhuser]

dlabrecque:
Welcome to DonationCoder! I do not think there is a way to disable this. It probably can not be disabled, as it is hardwired into the system.

dhuser

[mrainey]

To Disable The Notification Area Balloon Tips
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
2. Navigate to the following subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Right-click the right pane, create a new DWORD value, and then name it EnableBalloonTips.
4. Double-click this new entry, and then give it a hexadecimal value of 0.
5. Quit Registry Editor. Log off Windows, and then log back on.
These steps disable all Notification Area balloon tips for this user. There is no way to disable balloon tips for specific programs only.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307729

[dlabrecque]

Hey, thanks. Someone else told me just moments ago of that tweak. I tried it. I rebooted. It didn't work. 

Looks like it's intended for the Notification Area only. Well, I was hoping I could turn off all Task Bar pop-ups. But even my Notification Area (system tray) is still popping up! 

It's weird. 3 ns of hoverage and there's balloon getting in the way. Makes it tough to move around and see where I'm clicking. 

Does this happen with everyone in XP who doesn't apply the tweak?

BTW, dhuser -- thanks for the welcome. 

[app103]

I have the opposite problem. I lose my tooltips periodically, systemwide. I thought this was a 9x specific problem for a long time and then I got XP and found out that isn't the case.

I don't just lose them on the taskbar...I lose them for everything.

If I ever find out why I lose them, I will be sure to let you know so you can do it on purpose (and I can fix my prob once & for all). 

[dlabrecque]

...If I ever find out why I lose them, I will be sure to let you know so you can do it on purpose (and I can fix my prob once & for all). 

  Thanks.   

[cthorpe]

Had a very slow day at work today, so I've been looking for an answer to this for awhile.  So far, it looks like it may not be possible.  In fact, I've come across quite a few instances of people asking for the same thing, and the general consensus each time is that it can't be done.

[Cpilot]

Had a very slow day at work today, so I've been looking for an answer to this for awhile.  So far, it looks like it may not be possible.  In fact, I've come across quite a few instances of people asking for the same thing, and the general consensus each time is that it can't be done.

Do you mean tooltips or Balloontips?
If it's balloontips annoying you then copy this script and name it with a .vbs extension.
Run it.
Restart your computer and they should be disabled.

Code

Option Explicit

On Error Resume Next



Dim WSHShell, n, p, itemtype, MyBox

Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")



p = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\EnableBalloonTips"



itemtype = "REG_DWORD"



n = WSHShell.RegRead (p)

errnum = Err.Number



if errnum <> 1 then



	WSHShell.RegWrite p, 0, itemtype

End If



If n = 0 Then

   WshShell.RegWrite p, 1, itemtype

   MyBox = MsgBox("Balloon Tips are now ENABLED", 64, "Show or Hide Balloon Tips")

End If



If n = 1 Then 

   WshShell.Regwrite p, 0, itemtype

   MyBox = MsgBox("Balloon Tips are now DISABLED", 64, "Show or Hide Balloon Tips")

End If



Set WshShell = Nothing

[dlabrecque]

Do you mean tooltips or Balloontips?

Could you explain the difference? I'm specifically talking about the little tips that pop up nearly immediately over any icon in the  Task Bar when I hover over it.

[Cpilot]

Do you mean tooltips or Balloontips?

Could you explain the difference? I'm specifically talking about the little tips that pop up nearly immediately over any icon in the  Task Bar when I hover over it.

Google is your friend.
Here's a little application at the "Code Project" that will eliminate tooltips by using a system wide hook.
You'll have to create a free account to download it.
Once installed go the folder it's installed in and run the program.
KillTT: No More Tooltips!

Apparently tested on WinXP.

Have fun.

[Cpilot]

Also as an aside, for those little annoyances that everyone seems so flustered by you can peruse this website.
Annoyances.org

[dlabrecque]

Do you mean tooltips or Balloontips?

Could you explain the difference? I'm specifically talking about the little tips that pop up nearly immediately over any icon in the  Task Bar when I hover over it.

Google is your friend.
Here's a little application at the "Code Project" that will eliminate tooltips by using a system wide hook.
You'll have to create a free account to download it.
Once installed go the folder it's installed in and run the program.
KillTT: No More Tooltips!

Apparently tested on WinXP.

Have fun.

Want to be sure I'm disabling the right kind of tip. Could you kindly describe the difference between the kinds? Thanks. 

I'm only annoyed by the ones popping up in the various sections of my task bar.

FYI... I tried the registry tweak (manually). It didn't work. 

[tinjaw]

I suggest posting a screen grab of what you want to eliminate. (Be sure to crop it down to just the area concerned.) That will go a long way in helping us help you.

[Cpilot]

Do you mean tooltips or Balloontips?

Could you explain the difference? I'm specifically talking about the little tips that pop up nearly immediately over any icon in the  Task Bar when I hover over it.

Google is your friend.
Here's a little application at the "Code Project" that will eliminate tooltips by using a system wide hook.
You'll have to create a free account to download it.
Once installed go the folder it's installed in and run the program.
KillTT: No More Tooltips!

Apparently tested on WinXP.

Have fun.

Want to be sure I'm disabling the right kind of tip. Could you kindly describe the difference between the kinds? Thanks. 

I'm only annoyed by the ones popping up in the various sections of my task bar.

FYI... I tried the registry tweak (manually). I didn't work. 

A tooltip is usually rectangular, a balloontip is like a comicbook characters speaking balloon.
Try the link I posted. If those ain't the right ones than I don't know what to tell you, it's either/or.
Disabling them ain't a permanent thing so give it a shot. What do you got to lose?

[cthorpe]

I suggest posting a screen grab of what you want to eliminate. (Be sure to crop it down to just the area concerned.) That will go a long way in helping us help you.

I think the original poster is wanting to disable these:

Here's a little application at the "Code Project" that will eliminate tooltips by using a system wide hook.
You'll have to create a free account to download it.
Once installed go the folder it's installed in and run the program.
KillTT: No More Tooltips!

Apparently tested on WinXP.

That seems to do the trick.  Not sure if there are any negative effects, but it does get rid of the tooltips.


Edit: forget the attachment 

[Cpilot]

Yeah well balloontips are easy to disable, there's tips and tweaks and scripts all over the web to do so.
Tooltips are another matter.
I haven't seen any negative effects from this program but like all other things out there use at your own risk.
Personally I've found and disabled way more annoying stuff than tooltips but...to each their own.

[PhilB66]

Hello, sorry for jumping in but I have a related question...Does anyone know what's the maximum visible time for tooltips and how to modify it?

Thanks,

PhilB

[Cpilot]

Hello, sorry for jumping in but I have a related question...Does anyone know what's the maximum visible time for tooltips and how to modify it?

Thanks,

PhilB

Tooltips have a 5 second visibility.
Here's MSDN's all about Tooltips

[PhilB66]

Hello, sorry for jumping in but I have a related question...Does anyone know what's the maximum visible time for tooltips and how to modify it?

Thanks,

PhilB

Tooltips have a 5 second visibility.
Here's MSDN's all about Tooltips

Tnx. for the link.

[Curt]

I have the opposite problem. I lose my tooltips periodically, systemwide. I thought this was a 9x specific problem for a long time and then I got XP and found out that isn't the case.

I don't just lose them on the taskbar...I lose them for everything.

April, if you loose the tooltips again, you will most likely be able to make them come back if you dis- and en- able the feature by using X-Setup Pro 9 in Classic mode > Appearance > Explorer > Content Display Settings > Explorer /Desktop ToolTip Options.

You can try the program for free and keep any new settings after the trial. Over time I have tried the program several times without buying it, though I liked it a lot, but with Pro 9 I found the new feature "Windows Programs" so helpful that this time I bought it.

[attachimg=#]

[Mandork]

Just download Tweak UI from Microsoft.  It will also give you the ability to tinker with other hidden settings without the need for 3rd party software or messing around with the registry:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

[app103]

I have the opposite problem. I lose my tooltips periodically, systemwide. I thought this was a 9x specific problem for a long time and then I got XP and found out that isn't the case.

I don't just lose them on the taskbar...I lose them for everything.

April, if you loose the tooltips again, you will most likely be able to make them come back if you dis- and en- able the feature by using X-Setup Pro 9 in Classic mode > Appearance > Explorer > Content Display Settings > Explorer /Desktop ToolTip Options.

On 9x I can't do it, but on XP the easiest way for me to get them back is to kill & restart Explorer....then use PS Tray Factory to get all my tray icons back. Works every time. 

On 9x, if I am patient, they will come back later...all on their own (or I could reboot).

It annoys me most when I can't figure out which tray icon is which, when some look alike...or when I can't figure out which component is which on the palette in Delphi.

btw...I just noticed that they are missing again...time for me to go kill Explorer...again. 

[lanux128]

i'm not sure if this can be turned off without some 3rd party tools.. anyway, Mandork mentioned Tweak UI earlier, but i couldn't find anything on tool tips.. the closest thing is to disable balloon tips (see screenshot).. let me see if googling returns anything..

[attach=#]

[dlabrecque]

Sorry I've been away...

Well, Tweak UI didn't do it. KillTT did indeed kill the tooltips in the taskbar. Sadly, it also killed the tooltips in other programs where I want them to happen. 

Ideally, I'd like to be able to set a delay before they pop up, and even more ideally, separately for the task bar and for applications. Oh, well.

Am I the only person out there who's annoyed by the fact -- and thinks it's a little strange -- that these things pop up immediately and obscure the various icons we're trying to work with? In particular the quick launch stuff on the left and the tray icons on the right.

Thanks everyone for trying to help.

[Curt]

I'm having a little hard time understadning why these tips are so annoying to you. Are they any bigger than this one, or maybe placed too many pixels lower, so they're covering the taskbar icons? Can you show us a screenshot, please?

[attachimg=#]