How do I remove an icon from the notification area?

I run XP and in the notification area there are 2 icons I can't seem to get rid of.  One is "safely remove hardware (for usb mass storage device)" and the other is "windows security alerts"   The security alert is because I disabled the automatic update.

 

How do I get rid of them?  If I right click there is no option to exit them. 

 

I could do the "hide inactive icons" until the tool and startup menu properties but it doesn't tell me why the remove hardware icon appears.  How can I stick this in the control panel - if possible? 

 

I ran tune-up utilities, ashampoo and tweaknow for the startup menu but the 2 programs dont appear on the startup list.   I took a look at msconfig but I'm really not about to mess around in there.

under = until.

The only way you are getting rid of that windows security alert is hacking the registry.  Don't do it.  The hardware notification icon usually stays on because of registry corruption.  Get or find someone that has norton systemworks.  You can run it from the cd instead of installing.  It has a program that will clean and fix your registry.

 

 

Thx lipps! 

If you want to remove icons from the taskbar.  Go to Control Panel....Appearances and Themes...Taskbar and Startup menu.  If your running classic view in the Control Panel, than just go straight to Taskbar and Startup menu from the Control Panel.  There you can remove any icons listed from the taskbar.