>> ORIGINAL <clip> Does anyone know where in the system I can remove the "System Security Alerts " icon OR, is there any program that removes "stubborn" icons from the System Tray? While I'm at it, there is also an icon there called "Safely Remove Hardware" and when open, there are two icons listed both eading "USB Mass Storage Device" (which contrary to the name, "Safely Remove Hardware," will never stay emoved). Since nothing else ever appears in that "Safely Remove Hardware" window, I might use the above mentioned System Tray "stubborn icon emover" (if there is one) to also remove that "Safely Remove Hardware" icon. I'd be happy to keep just three icons in that System Tray (AVG, ZoneAlarm, and the internet connection; I don't count the clock as an icon). --- Harold
FROM WALLY: Harold, evidently you are leaving your flash drive lugged in all the time. If you remove it when the icon says it is "safe to remove hardware" (when the flash drive is not being accessed), the icon will go away. --- Wally RESPONSE: Yes I am, Wally. Now why didn't I realize that "USB Mass Storage Device" is my flast drive? I always keep that drive connected as that is where I have both my zipped or setup files for the various programs I use (and sometimes have to re-inatall for whatever reason) and equally important, that is where I back up whatever new or edited work I do (website, letters, spreadsheets, etc). I even have my entire "C:\Documents and Settings" folder backed up if a complete reformat should be necessary. That $60 investment if I remember correctly, for a 1 Gig drive (small enough to wear around my neck as a pendant if I have to carry it someplace) makes R/W CD's obsolete for me. I've even seen 5 Gig flash drives on the market. R/W CD's worked fine with me when using Win 98 but immediately gave me trouble when upgrading to Win XP what with the need to use Sonic along with R/W's. I never got the hang of it. In Win 98 the R/W's worked like a floppy; in XP (with me at least), every file saved became "read only". And my Attache (that's with an accent over the e) made life a lot easier. I even have a second (I call it "Flash 2") one to back up the one plugged in (that's Flash 1). So I keep a folder on the desktop called "for Flash 2" and everytime I put or save something in "Flash 1" that's plugged into the USB port, I save it also in "for Flash 2" periodically moving it into the actual "Flash 2" drive. I suppose everyone has his/her own system for "doing things". --- Harold FROM CLINT: Harold, I know I've said this before, but you just can't "delete" things you don't want on your PC, especially when they are part OF Windows. ;-) That "badge" icon is the Windows Security Center (you do mean "center" and not "system", ight?), and while I don't see much use for it, the proper way to turn it off is under XP's Services since it is a "Service". Just disable it from there, or better yet put in on "Manual" then it will only start if you ever need to open it. It's not any AV software nor a firewall. It basically just tells you what you already know, and that is if you have any AV software installed, and if the firewall is enabled. (That's going from memory because SpyBot screwed mine up, but since I don't need it I didn't worry about it). Anytime you have a firewire or USB storage device connected, you'll have that other icon in the system tray. It also sometimes shows up there with 3rd party HD controllers. You don't want to remove that. Even if the USB and firewire devices are hot-pluggable, there are many times types of "read and write cacheing" going on (like with compact flash and similar cards, thumb drive devices for only two examples) and if you just physically remove or disconnect them it can damage the media if you don't "Safely remove hardware" first. This can ALSO take place even if in the Device Manager you have the ox for the device checked "Optimize for quick removal". --- Clint RESPONSE: Basically you are right about not deleting Windows files just because I think they are unecessary (and I thought it was my computer). In this case I went to Control Panel, Windows Firewall, General tab, and there's a link on the bottom: "What else should I know about Windows Firewall?" That brings me to Compaq's "Help and Support Center" where it says, "...You do not have to use Windows Firewall-you can install and run any firewall that you choose. Evaluate the features of other firewalls and then decide which firewall best meets your needs. If you choose to install and run another firewall, turn off Windows Firewall." Since I am using ZoneAlarm, I clicked the "Off (not recommended)" button. So life can be full of contradictions, what else is new, and I'll keep both the "Safely Remove Hardware" and the "Windows Security Alerts" icons in the System Tray. --- Harold ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
