Can anyone tell me if there is a simple way to open a program but not have it show up on the stutus bar (or whatever it is called) in XP.

Do you mean the system tray or the processes list?

System tray.

Right click on the tool task bar, go to properties, go to the "customize" button at the bottom-right of the Taskbar panel.

Hhhmm...

 

Perhaps that wasn't the right word then. I'm looking for the row program files along the bottom that open when you open a new program. Example: open firefox and you get a box that says firefox. Open 8 and they all join together into one etc. Sorry I can't think of the word at the moment.

do you want 8 bars that say firefox in them ???

It's called the Taskbar. As far as I know there isn't a simple utility that allows you to hide the buttons. You can hide the whole bar by unlocking it and dragging the top edge to the bottom of the screen or selecting autohide in the properties.

do you want 8 bars that say firefox in them ???

No, though I can see how it sounded that way. Sorry.

 

Mossoi is on the right track. I just want to be able to open programs but not have them show up on the taskbar along the bottom. I really wasn't expecting there to be a way to do it, but if anyone has an easy way, that would be appreciated.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,6232,00.asp

Thanks to both of you.

ur welcome