Windows 7

• 1). Click the up-arrow at the left edge of the Notification Area to view all available program icons.
  
  
• 2). Click and hold on the icon you want to remove.
  
  
• 3). Drag the icon out of its containing box, hold it over the desktop and then release your click.
  
  

Windows Vista

• 1). Right-click a blank area on the taskbar and select "Properties."
  
  
• 2). Select the "Notification Area" tab.
  
  
• 3). Click the "Customize" button below the "Icons" heading.
  
  
• 4). Locate the program you want to remove, click the "Show" or "Hide when inactive" label in the adjacent column and then select the "Hide" option from the resulting drop-down menu.
  
  
• 5). Click "OK" on each of the next two screens to confirm the change.
  
  

Windows XP

• 1). Right-click a blank area on the taskbar and select "Properties."
  
  
• 2). Click the "Customize" button near the bottom-right corner of the resulting dialog box.
  
  
• 3). Locate the program you want to remove, click the "Always show" or "Hide when inactive" label in the adjacent column and then select the "Always hide" option from the resulting drop-down menu.
  
  
• 4). Click "OK" on each of the next two screens to confirm the change.