Its the 'System Tray' notification area.

Your AOL and MSN Messenger, if you double click those and look in Preferences or thier configurations you will see check boxes to 'Start with Windows' or something similar. Just uncheck those boxes.

Most of the things in my system tray do have configurations not to run at start up or hide the icon.

You can also right click a blank area near there and click properties on the context menu that pops up, and click the Notifications tab and uncheck some of the windows system items showing there like Network, Clock, Power & a something else or two. Plus there is an auto-hide unused items in that properties window too.

Go to Start/Run and type msconfig and press enter.

Select the Startup tab and uncheck the ones you don't want to start. Click Apply.

Then go to the Services tab. Hide all MS services, then stop services you don't want to run. Another way to do services is to go to the control panel, admin tools, services, then change from automatic to manual the services you don't want to autostart.

An easy way of controlling them is to use CCleaner. On the left side you will see a wrench (Tools). Click on that and one choice is Startup. It will list everything in your startup and you can disable those things you do not want starting with your computer. I find that easier than using msconfig in the Run command.

This is a very handy application for cleaning up junk files and unnecessary clutter on your computer. When you go to install, uncheck the Yahoo toolbar

Here is a link that might be useful: CCleaner

Hi dudsiam,
I followed mikie's suggestions. In that same frame of notifications tab I see "icons" and under that "system icons". In the "icons" area I have "customize" to the right of "hide inactive icons". If you click this customize option, you should be able to individually choose which icons you would like to "hide" or "show".
Thanks for posting this question. I have been wondering how to make my ISP icon show upon start, instead of waiting for it to happen on it's own.
Hope this helps you some!!! Sure helped me!
Donna

Hi everyone. I am amazed every time I come to this Computer Help Program. The solutions come fast....and in language someone like me can follow. Not all the suggestions are the same, yet I am sure that all suggestions work. I ended up using the suggestion where I went to START, RUN, MSCONFIG. That got the ones off that I didnt want. I first tried Mikie's suggestion, but I got stuck.....and it was probably the reason Donna mentioned.....in that I think something must have been hidden.

Thanks again to you all for your suggestions.

Larry

You might also click Start, All programs then Startup to see if anything is in there you can stop. MS Office likes to reside there among others

Glad we could help. Thanks for letting us know what helped.

Thanks grandms. I've used CC for a long time, didn't know about the start up programs.

No matter which answer is best. I'm sure they all will eventually lead you to the answer that is most helpful for the person using their computer. I myself like the idea of knowing all paths to travel. Being new to computers, I have found that knowing more than one way is the best way.
I'll be experimenting with the other suggestions for educative purposes. Never know what else I may learn along the way. peace to all Donna

A little late here, but let's not forget the old tried and true application WinPatrol. I still use it on my Vista as well as the old Win98 out in the garage. It's quick, clean and free. It offers many featured report tabs and allows the options to enable, disable and remove.

Just a note if you try it, when you activate the application it places an icon on the System Tray/Notificiation Area. You then have to click on the icon to get the report. When you close the application the icon disappears.

Enjoy Scottie barking.

DA

I would not be without WinPatrol it will also prompt you when a program is added to windows start up and give you the ability to stop it.

A lot of hidden features in the program including hijackthis scan..

One last thing I forgot about WinPatrol. Like so many applications today it configures itself into the Startup. You can use WP to disable itself too. This action makes it an on-demand application and has no effect on its efficency.

DA