How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
Post Reply
Lux0r
Posts: 7
Joined: 3. Oct 2010, 15:43
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: winXP, win2003, win2008r2

How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Post by Lux0r »

After installation of Virtualbox Guest Additions in winXP guest there are icon in system tray. I found only one function of it: by hovering it with cursor you can get tooltip with Guest Additions version info.

I don't need it, and i want to hide it. Maybe there is an option to disable this icon (but i still need Guest Additions)?

Now I have only one (ugly) solution: no patch EXE file with some resourse manager. Don't like this way :-(
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Post by BillG »

That is a standard Windows question, nothing to do with VirtualBox.

From Control Panel open Taskbar and Start Menu. Near the bottom of the page you will see Hide Inactive Icons. Click on Customize.
Bill
Lux0r
Posts: 7
Joined: 3. Oct 2010, 15:43
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: winXP, win2003, win2008r2

Re: How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Post by Lux0r »

I know this way. It will give you "arrow" in place of hidden icons, with ability to press it and unhide it. Not what i want.
And it is not system-wide, it's per-user, that is also not convinient in my case.

From here:
it doesn't provide dynamic resolutions and seamless mouse (...), full screen, dynamic resolutions and mouse integration
What is the functions of VBoxTray.exe, except showing the icon? I only use windows built-in RDP connection to guest OS, i don't need sound and shared folders..
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Post by Sasquatch »

Then why did you install the Guest Additions? The tray icon is there to make sure everything keeps working and it will show you a balloon message when the additions need updating. It's best not to close or otherwise prevent the icon from loading. If you really want to, you can always disable the auto-start of the vboxtray process through msconfig.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
Lux0r
Posts: 7
Joined: 3. Oct 2010, 15:43
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: winXP, win2003, win2008r2

Re: How to disable tray icon in winXP guest?

Post by Lux0r »

GA are useful sometimes for administration. For regulal (RDP) users of that guest it's probably of no use.

So I disabled system-wide autorun of VBoxTray.exe in HKLM key in registry and run it only for admin (with shortcut in 'profile/Start Menu/Autostart' folder).

It's still interesting what else functions has VBoxTray.exe...
Post Reply