You can choose to show or hide icons in your Taskbar.The Taskbar is the bar at the bottom of your screen with the Start button & the clock.
These instructions deal with showing or hiding icons over by the clock.
Right click on an empty space in the Taskbar.
Left click on Properties in the tiny popup.
In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window under the Taskbar tab in the Notification area left click on the Customize button.
In the Customize Notifications window left click on an option & a dropdown menu will appear to the right of it.
Open the menu & choose Hide when inactive or Always hide or Always show.
This is a good way to help hide Windows Messenger too.
See the screenshots below:
I used the Internet Connection icon as an example.
You can do the same with everything listed.
Remember to click on Apply & OK in all the windows. :)
NOTE:
You may have to click on Start/Run & type in:
msconfig
And under the Startup tab uncheck the boxes beside the programs associated with the unwanted icons that appear over by the clock.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}