I have been using Windows 7 Release candidate since its release on my Lenovo laptop (RC 7100 on Intel Celeron 1.73ghz w/2 1/2 gigs of memory) and its been running great.  However there is one thing that has been bugging me until recently that I discovered the solution.

     – Windows Live Messenger minimizes to the task bar (the area next to the start menu where you normally see other programs appear) when in the older versions it would minimize to the Systray ( the area next to the clock).

     The simple way to get Windows Live Messenger back into the Systray for anyone like me that likes to limit programs on the task bar (considering I normally have 15 or 20 windows on average open on the taskbar usually is –

1 -  Exit Live Messenger completely

2 – On the icon you click on to open Windows Live Messenger, right click and go to properties (left click on properties) 

2 – Click on the compatibility tab and the change the compatibility mode to Vista and press ok.

3 – Click and start your Windows Live Messenger as usual from the icon, now when you minimize you will see Messenger minimize to the SysTray.*

* If you have more than one icon you use for Windows Live Messenger (Desktop, Start Menu, Quick Launch Bar, etc) you need to make the change on each one, if you don’t and use that icon without the change, then it will not go to the Systray. 

Enjoy…