Configure whether to display balloon tips (Windows XP)

Send Us a Sign! (Contact Us!)
Word PDF XPS Text

Windows XP started using balloon tips heavily, as an attempt to help the average user to understand what is happening on the [gs computer]. The balloon tip is shown like a tooltip bubble just above the taskbar to the right near the system tray (also known as the notification area).

For the more experienced user the balloon tips can become a pain, but it is possible to configure their behavior.

To disable balloon tips in the notification area completely:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \Advanced]

EnableBalloonTips = 0

To disable "Show popup description for folder and desktop items" (Folder Options):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \Advanced]

ShowInfoTip = 0

To disable tooltip for folders:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \Advanced]

FolderContentsInfoTip = 0

To disable tooltips for the start button:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \Advanced]

StartButtonBalloonTip = 0

To disable tooltips for the start menu:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer]

NoSMBalloonTip = 1

To configure how long to show tooltips:

[tweet]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \TrayNotify]

BalloonTip = 3 (Time in seconds)

To disable the welcome screen presented after login:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Policies \Explorer]

NoWelcomeScreen = 1

To disable the New Hardware Found balloon tooltips:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software \Policies \Microsoft \Windows \DeviceInstall \Settings]

DisableBalloonTips = 1

To disable the Highlighting of newly installed applications:

  • Press the Start-button and right-click at the top of the Start-Menu where your name is displayed and select Properties
  • This will open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties-dialog
  • Select the Start-Menu-tab and press Customize
  • Select the Advanced-tab and clear the Highlight newly installed programs-checkbox
  • The above steps should be reflected in this registry key:
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Explorer \Advanced]
    
    Start_NotifyNewApps = 0

    To disable the tour balloon tips:

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Windows \CurrentVersion \Applets \Tour]
    
    RunCount = 0 (Default = 3)

    To disable the [gs printer] spooler notification balloon tips:

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Printers \Settings]
    
    EnableBalloonNotificationsLocal = 0
    EnableBalloonNotificationsRemote = 0

    To disable the Security Center notification balloon tips:

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \Microsoft \Security Center]
    
    FirewallDisableNotify = 1 (0 = Firewall notifications)
    UpdatesDisableNotify = 1 (0 = Automatic updates notifications)
    AntiVirusDisableNotify = 1 (0 = Antivirus notifications)
    UACDisableNotify = 1 (0 = Vista UAP notifications)

    To disable the "This device could perform faster if it was plugged in to a high speed port":

  • Open the Device Manager and expand "USB Controller"
  • Right-click the USB Controller(s) and select Properties
  • Select the Advanced-tab and tick "Don't show USB errors (or similar)"
  • To disable Plug and Play messages like "Found New Hardware":

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Services \PlugPlay \Parameters]
    
    SuppressUI = 1 (Windows 2003/XP64 only)
    SuppressNewHWUI = (Windows XP)
    (Requires XP SP3 to recognize registry keys)

    To disable the "There are unused icons on your desktop":

  • Open the Control Panel and go to Display Properties
  • Select the Desktop-tab and press the "Customize Desktop"-button
  • Untick "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days"
  • SOURCE

    LINK

    LANGUAGE
    ENGLISH

    1 thought on “Configure whether to display balloon tips (Windows XP)”

    Comments are closed.