Yes, they are a pain in the a#se. If you download "powertoys for windows XP" from <a href="http://www.xp-erience.org/download.php?op=getit&lid=2" target="_blank">http://www.xp-erience.org/download.php?op=getit&lid=2</a> and install it, then select "TweakUI/ taskbar", you will have the option to disable them. TweakUI gives you loads of other really useful options too.