Solved: How to disable highlighting new programs in Windows 7, Vista & XP

Thanks to HowToGeek instruction, I was able to disable the annoying persistent highlight of new programs installed in Windows 7. Refer to the post here with pictorials.

First, move mouse cursor to taskbar, right click to bring out a menu option, then go to properties. Click on the Start Menu tab. Click on Customize… (to customize how links, icons, and menus look and behave in the Start Menu). Scroll down a list and search for “Highlight newly installed programs”. Deselect that. Done.