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The notification area on your taskbar is most commonly referred to as the "system tray". The system tray is located in the Taskbar, usually at the lower right corner of your monitor, next to the clock. It contains a collection of icons for easy access to system functions such as printers, volume control, battery status, and access to different programs that you've installed over time. Applications put icons in the system tray to indicate a status of an operation or to notify you about an event.
As more programs are installed, the system tray can become cluttered. As each icon takes up space on your taskbar, this leaves less room for your program buttons and other windows.
You can clean up this area by hiding icons that are not used often.
To organize your notification area:
Windows XP
1. Right-click the system clock, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, click Customize. If this button is not highlighted, then check the hide inactive icons first and then select Customize.
3. The Customize Notifications dialog box appears. For each icon you want to hide, click the Behavior list, and then click Always hide. For each icon you want to always show, click the Behavior list, and then click Always show.
4. Click OK twice.
Windows Vista
1. Right-click the system clock, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, click the Notification area tab.
3. Select the Customize button under icons. The Customize Notifications dialog box appears. For each icon you want to hide, click the Behavior list, and then click Always hide. For each icon you want to always show, click the Behavior list, and then click Always show.
4. Click OK twice.
Your notification area will be much less crowded, giving you more room for program buttons on your taskbar. To show the icons you have hidden, click the left arrow beside the notification area.
Less clutter, cleaner look - less stress!
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