Systray too small and overcrowded

[#1]

The icons in my systray are very small and overcrowded, and using the << button does very little to help and is not permanent.
I have been unable to find a way to enlarge icons and expand the tray lengthwise.
Please help.

[#2]

Do you use the desktop search? If not turn that off.
Do you use the language toolbar? Ditto
You could also stretch the task bar to be multi-line (you'd probably also want auto-hide on as well) so that the system tray goes over multiple lines.

[#3]

Have looked for way to turn off or reduce Desktop search, but am confused. How is it best and simply done, please?

[#4]

1) right click the taskbar. Click properties. Untick 'hide inactive icons'. Click OK. This should show you everything in your system tray all the time.
2) right click the taskbar, go to 'toolbars' at the top. Untick the desktop search (and probably the language bar as well, though that will ask for confirmation that you really want to turn it off - you do ;)). That should remove the desktop search bar
Hope that helps,

[#5]

Thx all. All is done, but the << button has walked and the tray is still the same size with v. small icons and crowded.

[#6]

Assuming you are on XP:
In the control panel open Display. Select the appearance tab. Now click Advanced.
From the Item dropdown select Caption Buttons. From your screen shot I'm guessing the size is 20 or lower - try 25.

[#7]

Actually 18
Thanks problem solved

[#8]

worked on the wifes netbook, had to up it to 35 on that