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Vista Tutorial - Notification Icons - Reset

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Notification Icons - Reset
How to Reset and Clean the Notification Icons List in Vista
Published by Brink
10-13-2007

How to Reset and Clean the Notification Icons List in Vista
Information
  These are the system tray icons in the Notifcation Area. Over time, the Customize Notification Icons list can become bloated with every icon that was ever displayed in the Notification Area. Some of these may have been uninstalled by now, but are still listed under the Past Items. This will show you how to reset this list to keep it clean and current.
Tip
 
RELATED LINKS:EXAMPLE: Before and After Reset
before.jpgafter.jpg

METHOD ONE:
Through a Download
1. Click on the download button below to download the Reset_Notification_Icons_List.reg file.

2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

3. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.

4. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

5. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. End Process and restart explorer.exe in Task Manager.

THEN

7. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
WARNING: You must do step 6 before 7 for this to work.

8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).


METHOD TWO:
The Manual Way
1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted, click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify

5. In the right pane, highlight both IconStreams and PastIconsStream.

6. Right click on these two and click on Delete.
traynotify.jpg
7. Click on Yes for the confirmation prompt. (See screenshot below)
confirmation.jpg
8. Close regedit.

9. End process and restart explorer.exe in the Task Manager.

THEN

10. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
NOTE: This will rebuild the two items you deleted in step 5 and 6, and reset the list to have only the currently used icons listed.
WARNING: You must do step 9 before 10 for this to work.
That's it,
Shawn

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Applies to
All Vista Versions
64 Bit & 32 Bit

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Old 10-13-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

Wouldn't it be simpler to go to the user function, for most people, rather than delve into the registry? Perhaps I am examining something diferent, but this is what I do.
Right click the taskbar/ - then click properties
Click notification area.
Tick the square "Hide inactive icons" then "customize"
Deal with each item as needed.
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Old 10-14-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

Hi Uhaligani,

If you just want to change the status of the icon being hidden or not, then yes that would be easier. This method resets the list so that old out of date items that are still listed will be cleared from the Customize Notification Icons list. These will be the ones for programs that you uninstalled or removed from the Notifcation Area.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
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Old 10-14-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

OK - I'm with you. I don't have a lot so the question of "bloating" didn't occur to me.
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

You should of seen how many old entries where cleared out when I first ran it. It wiped out about 75% of them. (haha) Of course I install and uninstall a lot of different programs.

Shawn
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Old 10-14-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

I'm totally with you now. I was in Vista 64 last time I spoke. I am now in 32 bit, which I have used since release for all beta and program testing. 59 icons sitting there!!
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Old 10-17-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

LOL,

That sounds about right. Amazing how it adds up.
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Old 12-07-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

I've tried both way, but still the past items were shown..
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

Uhmm, niGht kiD

I'm not sure why they would not clear for you.

Sorry,
Shawn
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Old 12-08-2007  
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Re: Notification Icons - Reset

Like NightKid, I also tried both ways with no result. Past items still cluttered with old programs, many with the wrong icons.
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