xp pro annoying pop descriptions. How can I dump them?

[slaterlp]

xp pro sp2 on a T60 with 2gb ram and a 200or so GB HDD

Hi,

I may be all alone in finding the followng annoying and frustrating.

I have been trying to find out how to stop xp from giving me a pop up description box of every folder or icon that I happen to move my mouse cursor over.

example.

I have outlook on my quicklaunch. If I move my curser there, it causes a big white box to open that tells me that, the outlook icon allows me to send and receive emails etc. ---- Like I dont already know that.

Thats just one example. It happens in folders or even at the Google Search page.

If my mouse hovers for a second over the box in which you type your queery, up comes a box that tells me "google search" Arrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh! It obscures what I want to Write there.

Does anybody know of a way to stop XP from telling me all this stuff?

I have downloaded tweakui, and followed various tips for disabling pop up balloons, but NONE have worked.

Does anyone know what bit of the operating system generates this so called helpful information and how I can get rid of it?

Even here on this site. If I move my cursor to the top of the page and rest it over the Thinkpads.com icon link, up comes a description that tells me, "Check out the new thinkpads.com blog and website" I already know that, because under the icon it says, "The NEW thinkpads.com website.

I am constantly having to move my cursor to somewhere I dont get these stupid boxes opening.

HELP please or am I just nuts

Thanks

[Mike Blake]

Try item #11 on this page:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

The second hack says it disables all, unlike TweakUI.

[ZaZ]

I use AlphaXP, which can make most of them transparent. Though it's called AlphaXP, it works better in Windows 2000 and Vista. I'm bummed it doesn't work on W7. It has a tendency to blink in XP, but it's still better the usual. I hate tooltips too.

[slaterlp]

Seems I have to live with them.

tried all the above solutions, but they dont appear to have any effect on my computer.

No matter what I try, if my mouse pointer hovers for just a second on any icon or link, up comes a big box to tell me what the icon is or what the link does.

I dont seem to remember this behaviour in W2K pro?

Somewhere there is a bit of code causing this, I just wish I knew where to look so I could modify it.

[mgo]

Seems I have to live with them.

tried all the above solutions, but they dont appear to have any effect on my computer.

No matter what I try, if my mouse pointer hovers for just a second on any icon or link, up comes a big box to tell me what the icon is or what the link does.

I dont seem to remember this behaviour in W2K pro?

Somewhere there is a bit of code causing this, I just wish I knew where to look so I could modify it.

Did you try this link:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/ ... ons-in-xp/

[ZaZ]

tried all the above solutions, but they dont appear to have any effect on my computer.

The AlphaXP didn't work? It's always worked for me. The trial is the full version for the first 14 days, then you got to pay $15. You can download it here. If you're running Vista you have to run the installer and program in compatibility mode. It also only works in 32 bit Vista. Just slide the ToolTip Transparency all the way to the right. Like this:



Also, in Windows Explorer on the tools menu under folder options on the view tab, there's a check box to show pop-descriptions for folder and desktop items. Uncheck it. That should helps some, though not as much as AlphaXP.



Good Luck.

[slaterlp]

My mistake, I have tried so many things I forgot to try alphaxp. have downloaded and will try after lunch and report back when next online.

Will also try the regedit in the previous post.

Thanks guys.

[slaterlp]

OK,

Alphaxp full version does it.

How, and why though? And now I have to have another bit software running just to stop some other bit of code annoying me.

B@##$%%#!!!! microsoft.

I'll also have to decide if I want to shell out 15$ to fix something that I should be able to choose to simply turn off.

Its the principle.

But its good not to see those annoying boxes

And why are the regedits not making a blind bit of difference? Must be something else going on.

Maybe this has something to do with it.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... oltip.aspx

[slaterlp]

AH HA, Eureka, ------ maybe......

Seems I may have been barking at the wrong tip. Misunderstanding exactly what is a TOOLtip and what is a Balloon.

Its a Tooltip I needed, and most of the solutions I have been studying and trying are BALLOON tips.

Hence EnableBalloonTips set to 0 does not affect the TOOLtips.

Maybe this will work.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/tool_tip_displays.htm

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
RegistryKey:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Data Type: REG_DWORD [Dword Value] // Value Name: ShowInfoTip
Modify/Create the Value Name [ShowInfoTip] according to the Value Data listed below.
Value Data: [0 - ShowInfoTip Disabled / 1 - ShowInfoTip Enabled]
Exit Registry and Reboot

I will try and report back unbless someone beats me to it.

[ZaZ]

OK,

Alphaxp full version does it.

I told ya! I wrote Microsoft several times over the years over this issue and heard back from them. NOT!

I think it has to with the fact it's not really getting rid of them, but making them transparent. I don't know if there's any way to rid them in Windows. If there is, it's beyond my skill level. Linux is somewhat similarly annoying.

The really sad part is it doesn't work in Windows 7. They must have changed something in Vista 64 and it carried over to Windows 7 as I can't get it to work in either 32 or 64 bit Windows 7. I bought the program too way back when XP was released as I too hate hate hate tooltips. I looked for months before I found Alpha. I became a little bit friendly with the creator through e-mails. They said they were hoping to get some time to update it, but with life being what it is, they may not get the time, which makes me sad. I say spend the money because it's probably going to take you more than an hour to find a solution and your time's worth more than $15 a hour? Maybe if enough people buy it they'll have an incentive to update it. I always tell people it's the best $15 I ever spent.

[ZaZ]

AH HA, Eureka, ------ maybe......

Trust me, that ain't it. I been at this a long time. It has to do with the balloon tips in the tray.

[slaterlp]

Yup, your right

It just aint right. They wont go away.

Just what are all those entries in the registry for if they do bugger all?

Maybe I'll have to sepnd the 15$, but if they can write a program then someone knows the answer. Dont they?

[ZaZ]

I think it's one of those things most people don't notice, but drive a select few like you and I to the brink of insanity. Perhaps they're so buried, they're hard to get at without a high degree of skill and knowledge, which I don't have, but making them transplant is easier. I wish I knew such a person.