Tech Tips / Windows XP / Desktop and GUI
Components of the overall user interface of the Windows operating system haven't changed much since Windows 95. The user interface still consists of the desktop and the taskbar. The taskbar has three major sections: the Start button on the left side, an area in the middle for icons of running and minimized programs, and the so-called system tray on the right side.
While Microsoft buffed up the looks of Windows XP, it didn't change much about the system tray. But many advanced users will notice a slight change in the system tray, officially called the Status Notification Area (SNA). Previous versions of Windows (especially 9x) often populated this part of the taskbar with shortcuts to programs; on many computers (especially notebooks), it could take up almost half of the entire taskbar.
Microsoft decided to put an end to such behavior. It designed the Status Notification Area exclusively for icons that provide some sort of visual notification to users (such as current time, status of network connections, etc.) and not for holding shortcuts to various programs.
The only visual change in the improved Status Notification Area is that it hides inactive icons. Windows XP monitors which icons in the Status Notification Area are most frequently used. Based on this data, the OS hides the icons that are inactive, but you can view them by clicking the small arrow.
Some users don't like this concealment and find it disturbing. If you're one of them, don't worry: You can turn off this behavior. Right-click the taskbar and select Properties. At the bottom of the Taskbar tab, you’ll see the Hide Inactive Icons check box. When selected, Windows XP hides unused icons. For more control over hidden icons, click the Customize button. You can define which icons the OS can and cannot hide. To completely turn off this feature, deselect the Hide Inactive Icons check box and click OK.
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