Running in the background?

[BOZ]

In windows XP, is it possible to set a program to run in the background as it were, so that it doesn't show up in the taskbar? for example, let's say i want to run Media Player, but i don't want it to take up a tab on the alreasdy-crowded taskbar.

 

[frankthedm]

Many spyware and viruses do just that, though In my experience having that many windows programs running is asking for a lock up.

 

[Infiniti2000]

It's possible to write a program that does that, but I don't believe it's possible to hide existing programs that don't support that option. I don't think Windows Media Player does.

 

[BOZ]

ah, oh well... was just curious.

 

[RangerWickett]

ah, oh well... was just curious.

You might be able to play a file or playlist through a tab in a Firefox browser, and then use other tabs to browse the internet. Or you could always just hide the taskbar entirely.

Why were you interested in this?

 

[frankthedm]

already-crowded taskbar.

My foot! I bet you want to hide something from da' boss.

 

[jaerdaph]

How many windows do you usually have open, BOZ?

In XP, the taskbar eventually shows one tab for every program you have open and a number on the tab for the number of files you have open in that program.

 

[BOZ]

My foot! I bet you want to hide something from da' boss.

well, that's what got me to thinking of it originally... but yes, i also wanted to know for more practical reasons.

 

[BOZ]

How many windows do you usually have open, BOZ?

In XP, the taskbar eventually shows one tab for every program you have open and a number on the tab for the number of files you have open in that program.

i know, and i find that super annoying. usually at work, i have two to four programs running, plus always have at least one window of IE open. when i want to surf the net, i can either close down some of the programs, or only open enough IE windows to keep them from compressing.

but, if i could keep some of those tabs off the taskbar, that wouldn't be so much of a problem, ergo... why i'm asking.

 

[jaerdaph]

but, if i could keep some of those tabs off the taskbar, that wouldn't be so much of a problem, ergo... why i'm asking.

I'm starting to think like Microsoft: to get less tabs, you need to open more windows!

Check out this Web site. It has helped keep Microsoft users sane for a few years now:

http://www.annoyances.org

There's a section called Reducing Clutter. I didn't see an article related to cleaning up the task bar, but there's some other helpful stuff there:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/category05

Maybe someone on their discussion forums can help.

Hope this helps, eventually.

Hiding Web surfing from the boss: years ago, there used to be a Website that consisted of a screen shot of an Excel spread sheet for just that purpose. Saved my butt on more than one occasion.