I had 25 entries and about the same number of png images.  I deleted the png's and since I run NextShelf and the dock and leave NextStart off, I prefer WindowBlinds, I think I'll leave the reg entries alone.  These 25 entries will not likely grow. 

Thanks for the info kku.

kku, I'm going to make Jorge aware of this thread. Then we can hear from him directly.

I have deleted the tray cache entries can yo safely delete the PNG's in C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Winstep\Systray.

Let me make myself quite clear. Both Winstep and System Explorer are excellent products, but the combination of the two is trouble. Only applications like System Explorer and apparently Net Balancer that create unique system tray icons can create this large number of PNG files and registry entries. More conventional applications that have just a handful of unique system tray icons will not contribute to this issue.

When I first stumbled over this problem, I had over 5500 PNG files that had been created by NextStart because of System Explorer system tray icon updates. Once I understood the problem, I would just delete the PNG files whenever I needed to (re)start NextStart. However, Jorge never said a word about the registry entries, so even though I was cleaning up the PNG file issue, the registry entries just kept growing to probably 10's of thousands.

I keep a very clean computer for my software contract business, so I am annoyed that I have easily spent over 20 hours of my time tracking down this performance problem. I can only wonder how many less sophisticated Winstep users went to one of those "Speed Up My PC" scam-sites thinking that they had been infected by a virus or other mal-ware.

This "stealth feature" should never have been released on the public unless it was disabled by default and had provision to clean up the PNG files and registry entries as easily as it created them. Better yet, it should never have left the beta testing environment.

Not really a "stealth feature". Has to do with obtaining higher res systray icon png's to use on Nexus systray dock, as you pointed out.  

The issue occurs because of the animated icons for these apps presenting 'different' icons to the Nexus feature.

Jorge's answer here:

http://forums.winstep.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4401&p=16669&hilit=systray+and+pngs#p16669 

is worth the read. He says it will be resolved in the next beta, and I believe him. He comes through. I also understand why it presents such an annoyance to you, kku.

A less time consuming solution (in the meantime) could be:

1. Delete all png's in the Nexus systray folder.

2. Open CCleaner to the registry tool.

3. Scan for problems.

4. Select "fix all" and make the registry backup! 

5. delete the (now) empty keys. 

I've tested this method and it works. 

Saving this one

Good to see you, Uvah!