I am running XP Home SP3 and have an icon in the system tray I wish to hide. (It is the unplugged LAN icon which I never use.)

The process I use is as follows: Right click on Start button > Properties > Taskbar Tab > Customize button. Under "Current Names": Select Local Area Network and switch (with drop down menu) from "hide when inactive" to "always hide". OK > Apply > OK

This does the trick.

Problem: When I reboot, it reverts back to "hide when inactive".

Am I doing something wrong here?

Thanks...

Nope. You need to go to: Start>Control Panel>Network Connections, find the local area connection, right-click on it and select Properties. Uncheck the "Show icon ...." at the bottom of that dialog box.

Simply disabling that network connection in the networking window, then it will never give you that error again.
BUT you do need to remember to re-enable it when you want to use it ;)

CB,

That's exactly the reason I didn't do that. In 2 years when I plug in a network cable, I'll be going nuts trying to figure out why it's not working.

I'm just wondering why Windows won't remember my taskbar setting.

Thank you both...

NK,

I tried your suggestion, but the icon is still in the system tray.

Is it possible that this checkmark controls the "balloon tip", and not the icon?

Msc

Nope, it controls the icon. Make sure you selected the correct icon in the Network Connections.

NK,

I double checked. I have the correct network icon.

I have 2 choices of check boxes:

1) Show icon in notification area when connected (which has always been unchecked)

2) Notify me when this connection has limited or no connectivity (which has always been checked)

If you are referring to selection #1, it sounds like it will do the opposite of what I want.

My LAN cable is always disconnected as I use a wireless router, and I want to get rid of the "Disconnected" Icon (the one with the 2 mini-PCs and the big annoying red X).

Am I misinterpreting something here?