I recently changed to this new computer and much to my annoyance it shows an item on my task bar which I have no idea what it is, nothing happens if I click it, either left or right, nor will it clear. It says 'GDI+Window'. So what is it and how can I not show it? Also on starting the computer I get another which I can close, it is 'Aspire Media Sync' and is in Japanese or something! Oh, and PrinTray, again that will close but I don't want it showing.

I'm not able to help all that much. I don't know why the GDI+Window icon is there or particularly what the process is about. Searching for 'gdi+' brings up quite a few listings but nothing about an icon in the Systray. Can't find anything about the 'Aspire Media Sync' specific phrase either, although it could possibly be something to do with the keyboard or mouse. 'PrinTray' is related to Lexmark printers. Like many bits of hardware, it likes to place an icon in the Systray on installation. It can be OK to disable it.

It's usually possible to track down these background processes and prevent them from starting as Windows does. Have a look in the 'System Configuration Utility' to see if anything related to the icons show up there: Go to, 'Start > Run'. Type 'msconfig' into the box and press Enter. Click on the 'Startup' tab (not 'Services'). See what you can find that might be to do with the processes. Untick the ones you don't want starting up.

The entries take a bit of studying but there's usually a clue to be found in the wording somewhere. If you are unsure about any entry, a Google for the exact term will often bring up an explanation of the process. Some sites will even give advice on whether a process should be shut down or not. When (if) you decide to try unticking a few things, restart the computer. On startup, a box will appear saying something about Windows running in diagnostic mode. There's a tick-box where you can place a tick so that the message won't show again. Once done, press OK. See how things go. If anything has stopped working as it should, processes can always be enabled again in msconfig.

Another place that can be looked at is 'services.msc' (type that into the 'Run' box). Some programs/processes can be disabled from there. See if there is anything that could be to do with the three icons showing in the Systray. Do a search on processes if necessary. Also, before disabling anything, you may like to look at the 'Safe' configuration column on this page (Black Viper's Services Configuration is well respected and referred to by many in computer forums):

http://www.majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12

I've always set my computer up in accordance to this guide and never had any trouble. I note the page advises against disabling entries in msconfig but I have always done so with no ill-effects.**

No definite answers unfortunately but a few avenues to explore perhaps.

EDIT: **I think this advice possibly refers to the 'Services' tab specifically in msconfig, rather than the 'Startup' one. As the page says, services should be enabled/disabled using 'services.msc'.

Well I got rid of them, I have also messed up big time and can only start Windows in safe mode! No, I don't remember what I changed but I was told that Autochk is missing, whatever that is when it is at home.

I am suffering from what the Americans call 'pump head', it is a by-product of being on heart lung bypass, the brain just doesn't recover! Now I guess that I will have to take it to someone who knows about such things, I dare not tinker anymore or else I will ruin it completely.

If you are running Windows XP you can try to do a system restore. It should work in safe mode.

1.Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.

2.On the Welcome screen, click Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next.

3.On the Select a Restore Point page, select the date from the calendar that shows the point you'd like to restore to and then click Next.

4.On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, verify that the correct restore point is chosen, and then close any open programs.

5.Click Next if you are ready to proceed or click Back to change the restore point.

6.The computer will shut down automatically and reboot. On reboot, you'll see the Restoration Complete page, and then click OK.

It hasn't done the job - I think I really screwed up. Even my monitor settings have gone kaput. I have now lost all my settings and bookmarks.

I have the dvd I created when I first had the computer but haven't a clue what to do in order to use it. Do I have to uninstall all the programmes which I have loaded in order to use it, then what, do I just put it in the caddy and boot the computer?

Or do I now take it back to the shop and say "Help me"?

What I did get earlier, was 'AutoChk missing', but I don't get that anymore. It starts to boot, goes into the window where you can F12 if you want - it waits there longer than it used to, then it tries to boot up and ends up with a page in dos giving options on booting, I have chosen the safe with networking as that seems to be about the only working one that lets me connect to the internet.

In safe mode I cananot do various things.

Boo, hoo.

Did you end up unticking anything in msconfig? If so, go back into it and choose 'Normal startup' ('General' tab), then restart the computer.

Ah, it has mostly come back, including my monitor resolution! I now have GDI+ again, but what the heck! At least I am not in safe mode.

No, I don't know what I did to fix it, haven't a clue. I have disabled Norton's GoBack, not sure if that helped.

I have just run Norton's SystemWorks and found that I have a missing file...

C:\WINDOWS\system32\MAPISRVR.EXE" cannot access a necessary file, "gapi32.dll."

So what do I do to fix this? Without putting myself at risk again!

The very message ...and instructions on what to do.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B320550

Gdi+window is game developing software,
this is thier website you might get some info that could help you disable it.www.gamedev.com.Do you have windows xp on disc? if so try running that it will ask you if you want to reinstall or repair choose repair this will reinstall all your drivers,dll's and what ever else come with your computer.

TW, you clever man.

DD, I will chek when home.