Windows8 - 8.1 - Windows Threshold Tips Questions and Solutions

[schmidthouse]

Was wondering if anyone can enlighten me.
In the 'Notification Area Icons' accessed through Control Panel, I have icons and some duplicated icons of programs no longer used.
I can't see how to delete them from Area? They are building up.
Anyone know how to delete unused/not wanted icons in this Area

As far as I know there is only one way to get rid of icons for things that are no longer on the computer. It involves completely deleting the notifications cache and then letting it rebuild from the things you actually have and use. Of course then you have to redo every individual setting for when you want them to show. I have done it a couple of times myself. Open regedit and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify and delete IconStreams and PastIconStreams. The same entries are found at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify. You may need to do both but just the second one should work. Then reboot the computer.

You can also try this utility; http://leelusoft.blogspot.com/2009/10/tray-cleaner-10.html

Unfortunately, neither the tool (v.2) which by the way stated wasn't supported for my OS (Win 8.1) Ran the tool anyway....nothing changed.
Also editing the Registry as you indicated did not change anything either.
Thanks for your suggestions.

[Dch48]

Was wondering if anyone can enlighten me.
In the 'Notification Area Icons' accessed through Control Panel, I have icons and some duplicated icons of programs no longer used.
I can't see how to delete them from Area? They are building up.
Anyone know how to delete unused/not wanted icons in this Area

As far as I know there is only one way to get rid of icons for things that are no longer on the computer. It involves completely deleting the notifications cache and then letting it rebuild from the things you actually have and use. Of course then you have to redo every individual setting for when you want them to show. I have done it a couple of times myself. Open regedit and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify and delete IconStreams and PastIconStreams. The same entries are found at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify. You may need to do both but just the second one should work. Then reboot the computer.

You can also try this utility; http://leelusoft.blogspot.com/2009/10/tray-cleaner-10.html

Unfortunately, neither the tool (v.2) which by the way stated wasn't supported for my OS (Win 8.1) Ran the tool anyway....nothing changed.
Also editing the Registry as you indicated did not change anything either.
Thanks for your suggestions.

Yes I had the same results. It used to work. Windows Explorer needs to be shut down first. There is a batch file that does the trick for you. I just used it and it works perfectly. I'll try to upload it as a .txt file. You will have to rename it to a .bat to get it to work.

[schmidthouse]

No, renaming didn't work for me. But I did find the original Batch File after googling.
Downloaded file and ran it and Presto, all clean.
Very nice.    
 
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html

[SpeedyPC]

No, renaming didn't work for me. But I did find the original Batch File after googling.
Downloaded file and ran it and Presto, all clean.
Very nice.    
 
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html

You can still used CCleaner Under Advanced, check the Tray notification cache and click Run Cleaner. It will ask to restart explorer.exe.

[schmidthouse]

No, renaming didn't work for me. But I did find the original Batch File after googling.
Downloaded file and ran it and Presto, all clean.
Very nice.    
 
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html

You can still used CCleaner Under Advanced, check the Tray notification cache and click Run Cleaner. It will ask to restart explorer.exe.

Thnx. for the tip.
Right there under my nose.....never occurred to me.

[Dch48]

No, renaming didn't work for me. But I did find the original Batch File after googling.
Downloaded file and ran it and Presto, all clean.
Very nice.    
 
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html

You can still used CCleaner Under Advanced, check the Tray notification cache and click Run Cleaner. It will ask to restart explorer.exe.

Wow I never thought of that either. Very nice. I don't think CCleaner had that option the last time I wanted to clean out the cache.

[Dch48]

I tried doing it with CCleaner and it only works if you go into Task Manager and restart Windows Explorer after running the cleaner. Rebooting does not work. I think the batch file is better because it does it all automatically.

[schmidthouse]

+1
The Batch File works very quickly, very straight forward.
Just 'double click'.

[bob3160]

10 Windows Start menus for Windows 8.1
01. Classic Shell            http://www.classicshell.net/
02. Pokki Menu              http://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu
03. Power8                    https://code.google.com/p/power8/
04. RetroUI Pro              http://retroui.com/
05. Start8                      http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
06. StartIsBack              http://www.startisback.com/#download-tab
07. StartMenu8              http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php
08. Start Menu Reviver   http://www.reviversoft.com/start-menu-reviver/
09. StartW8                    http://www.areaguard.com/startw8
10. ViStart                      http://lee-soft.com/vistart/
(Some of these products are not free.)


My recommendation has always been to use Classic Shell - It's free and has always worked without problems

[Lisandro]

My recommendation has always been to use Classic Shell - It's free and has always worked without problems

+1

[SpeedyPC]

My recommendation has always been to use Classic Shell - It's free and has always worked without problems

+1

+2 I'm not changing Classic Shell because it not broken

[Dch48]

My recommendation has always been to use Classic Shell - It's free and has always worked without problems

+1

+2 I'm not changing Classic Shell because it not broken

+3 I tried a couple of the others and Classic Shell is the best.

[schmidthouse]

Anyone having issues with Media Center crashing on Win 8.1 Pro 64Bit?

[CraigB]

Anyone having issues with Media Center crashing on Win 8.1 Pro 64Bit?

I never use Media Centre so I removed it but you could also try removing it then re-install it and see if it helps, go to Turn Windows Features on or off in Programs and Features and untick the Media Centre box, reverse the process to reinstall it.

[bob3160]

It's working on my Dell 64 bit. I had problems in the initial ad on process but once that was resolved,
the troubles also ended.
A re-install might be advisable. Be sure to have your registration info handy.