Most of the programs in the System Tray (notification Area) are startup
programs, so enter msconfig in the Start => Run box => Startup tab and see if
there is anything you don't recognise there, and disable it.

I can tell just by looking at them if a start-up program is connected to a
valid program because the names are recognisable.

If you need help in identifying a startup program this site can provide it -

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/

Eric,
PC Buyer Beware!
http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/

"fertile" wrote:

> i've got an acer travelmate 4050lci 1.4 ghz.
> i,ve recently came to notice of a icon in my taskbar. it is a head of a man.
> but it looks like a microsoft icon or a chat icon. if i try to find out what
> it is and drag my mouse over it it dissapears immedetly. then i log off an
> log on again it is there. try to put mouse on it but as soon as mouse pointer
> get over icon it dissapear.
>
> i'm just wondering if it could be a virus or is it a normal accorance.
>
> thanx