diff --git a/include/wx/msw/app.h b/include/wx/msw/app.h
index a0843efed0..29285adeab 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/app.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/app.h
@@ -102,10 +102,6 @@ public:
     // wasn't found at all
     static int GetComCtl32Version();
 
-    // the same for shell32.dll: returns 400, 471, 500, 600, ... (4.70 not
-    // currently detected)
-    static int GetShell32Version();
-
     // the SW_XXX value to be used for the frames opened by the application
     // (currently seems unused which is a bug -- TODO)
     static int m_nCmdShow;
diff --git a/src/msw/app.cpp b/src/msw/app.cpp
index 2f6a62fb87..450605f09f 100644
--- a/src/msw/app.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/app.cpp
@@ -892,37 +892,6 @@ int wxApp::GetComCtl32Version()
     return s_verComCtl32;
 }
 
-/* static */
-int wxApp::GetShell32Version()
-{
-    static int s_verShell32 = -1;
-    if ( s_verShell32 == -1 )
-    {
-        // we're prepared to handle the errors
-        wxLogNull noLog;
-
-        wxDynamicLibrary dllShell32(wxT("shell32.dll"), wxDL_VERBATIM);
-        if ( dllShell32.IsLoaded() )
-        {
-            s_verShell32 = CallDllGetVersion(dllShell32);
-
-            if ( !s_verShell32 )
-            {
-                // there doesn't seem to be any way to distinguish between 4.00
-                // and 4.70 (starting from 4.71 we have DllGetVersion()) so
-                // just assume it is 4.0
-                s_verShell32 = 400;
-            }
-        }
-        else // failed load the DLL?
-        {
-            s_verShell32 = 0;
-        }
-    }
-
-    return s_verShell32;
-}
-
 #else // !wxUSE_DYNLIB_CLASS
 
 /* static */
@@ -931,12 +900,6 @@ int wxApp::GetComCtl32Version()
     return 0;
 }
 
-/* static */
-int wxApp::GetShell32Version()
-{
-    return 0;
-}
-
 #endif // wxUSE_DYNLIB_CLASS/!wxUSE_DYNLIB_CLASS
 
 #if wxUSE_EXCEPTIONS
diff --git a/src/msw/notifmsg.cpp b/src/msw/notifmsg.cpp
index 61d3d656ad..d25e9ab5fe 100644
--- a/src/msw/notifmsg.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/notifmsg.cpp
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ bool wxNotificationMessage::Show(int timeout)
 {
     if ( !m_impl )
     {
-        if ( !ms_alwaysUseGeneric && wxTheApp->GetShell32Version() >= 500 )
+        if ( !ms_alwaysUseGeneric )
         {
             if ( timeout == Timeout_Never )
                 m_impl = new wxManualNotifMsgImpl(GetParent());
diff --git a/src/msw/taskbar.cpp b/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
index f5d9fd1368..a09cff9964 100644
--- a/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/taskbar.cpp
@@ -45,14 +45,6 @@
     #define NIF_INFO        0x00000010
 #endif
 
-#ifndef NOTIFYICONDATA_V1_SIZE
-    #ifdef UNICODE
-        #define NOTIFYICONDATA_V1_SIZE 0x0098
-    #else
-        #define NOTIFYICONDATA_V1_SIZE 0x0058
-    #endif
-#endif
-
 #ifndef NOTIFYICONDATA_V2_SIZE
     #ifdef UNICODE
         #define NOTIFYICONDATA_V2_SIZE 0x03A8
@@ -122,12 +114,8 @@ struct NotifyIconData : public NOTIFYICONDATA
         // we could do complicated tests for the exact system version it's
         // easier to just use an old size which should be supported everywhere
         // from Windows 2000 up and which is all we need as we don't use any
-        // newer features so far. But if we're running under a really ancient
-        // system (Win9x), fall back to even smaller size -- then the balloon
-        // related features won't be available but the rest will still work.
-        cbSize = wxTheApp->GetShell32Version() >= 500
-                    ? NOTIFYICONDATA_V2_SIZE
-                    : NOTIFYICONDATA_V1_SIZE;
+        // newer features so far.
+        cbSize = NOTIFYICONDATA_V2_SIZE;
 
         hWnd = (HWND) hwnd;
         uCallbackMessage = gs_msgTaskbar;