In Windows 7, some programs that you are used to running & minimizing to the system tray notification area instead minimize to the Taskbar. And I am not talking about items that are pinned to the Taskbar. some examples are Windows Live Messenger & Skype 4.2.
They are instead minimized to the Taskbar as an icon or button when the main window is closed, whereas previously they were minimized to the system tray right beside the clock on Windows Taskbar when the main window is closed. This is not only not very helpful, but annoying when various notifications pop up, the Taskbar button is accidentally clicked or subjected to Alt+Tab or Win+Tab keyboard shortcut rotations.
Here is a cool little trick I found to get programs that you are used to running & minimizing to the system tray notification area as existed in XP or Vista:
• Exit the Messenger/Skype/whatever program
• Right-click on the program’s icon on the ‘Desktop‘ or ‘Start Menu‘ shortcut > select ‘Properties‘
• Go to ‘Compatibility‘ tab
• Under ‘Compatibility Mode’ section, place check mark for the option ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:‘
• Select ‘Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)‘ from drop-down box > click ‘OK‘
Start the the program & now it should minimize to system tray notification area! 
