Windows 7: how to turn off visual and sound notifications

This problem is driving me crazy for few years to the extend that I spend time registering on the forum in hope of getting clear solution. One USB device on my desktop computer running Win 7 professional does not work. Maintenance service told me that they cannot repair dysfunctional USB because it is build into the case (chassis). But one dysfunctional USB is not a problem at all, because I have 7 other USB slots operating normally. Anyway, now I am getting non-stop notifications of this non-problem!!! Why? The frequency is sometimes very high and always extremely annoying: it varies greatly, it can be between 5-10 per minute. Aural notifications have this annoying sound and visual notifications are popping up in a sizable cloud in bottom right corner of a screen and are lingering there for far too long, and when I click to close it, it pops back immediately. This is a spoiler (I could tolerate one or two dysfunctional notification a day). It is bothering me visually and aurally, greatly diminishing my user experience, disturbing my work, my listening to the music and watching the pictures or movies. After much tinkering I succeeded to turn off sound notification (via Sounds customization), but I cannot turn off visual notifications. I cannot customize Notification area icons - when I try to "Hide icons and notifications" in category Windows explorer where there is this unwanted visual message USB DEVICE NOT RECOGNIZED and click OK, it does not work, because it pops up again immediately - next time I check Notification area icons customization this category is back to "Only show notifications" although I changed it to "Hide". What the hack is going on, guys!?! This is completely unacceptable annoyance!!! To make a comparison - it is like ancient Chinese form of torture of constant drops of water on someone's head - one, two or three drops mean nothing, but constant dropping for some time can drive the victim crazy. Finally, I would not want to turn off all visual and sound notifications, just this one in Windows explorer - the message USB device not recognized. Thanks!

Right click on Computer, select properties. On the lower left click Action Center. Expand Maintenance. Deselect Check solutions for problem reports and Troubleshooting system maintenance.

See if that helps? Personally, I'd get that fixed. If it's built into the case it can be replaced, but it's built into the motherboard, you're stuck with it.

Thanks Fumz, the access to Action center via computer properties was new to me. Unfortunately it did not solve my problem. I used the following path - expanding maintenance, in category Check for solutions to problem reports I clicked Settings and then next screen opens with an option Select programs to exclude form reporting - that should be the right one! But clicking on that one opens a blank screen and a window with the title Windows will not send the problem reports for programs listed bellow and there I could manually add the name (probably path) of the program which I have not a slightest idea how to do; on the left is the button Add and when I push it file directory of System 32 opens with hundred directories and with for me unknown acronyms as titles - I have no idea which program to enter and how. Very user unfriendly! Am I the only one on the planet with this rather mundane problem? Is there no simpler way to solve this?

So far I have been unsuccessful. I'll keep on fiddling around. Some more advice would come handy. I am afraid to simply turn off all Windows Checking for solutions in maintenance because I suppose that Windows is invisibly behind the curtain of user friendly GUI finding solutions to many other much more serious problems that cause occasional crashes. So far my experience with System 7 have been rather positive - Windows know how to fix itself, so I don't want to turn off all self-maintenance. My problem is that I am harassed by this constant and annoying reports on something that is no problem at all for me - why the hack has nonrecognition of USB be constantly reported? But I'll not going turn off all self maintenance. I am not proud of it, but I cannot afford that cause I am more or less comp illiterate and not a versatile in manual maintenance. I am an average user with a need for user friendly solutions.

hmmm... sorry that didn't work out... lemme dig around a bit.

Hey i have gotten the bubbles off but i cannot get the noise could you please tell me how to turn off the sound?

RightClick on Desktop > Personalize > Sounds > (In the "Program Events Box" select Device Connect and Device Disconnect and below them in the drop down menu select none for sounds)