diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 896600c..723ef36 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1 @@
-.idea/workspace.xml
-.idea/libraries/Go_SDK.xml
-.idea/vcs.xml
-.idea/libraries/GOPATH__w32_.xml
-.idea/w32.iml
-.idea/modules.xml
\ No newline at end of file
+.idea
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/advapi32.go b/advapi32.go
index a1e5612..0650db8 100644
--- a/advapi32.go
+++ b/advapi32.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func ControlTrace(hTrace TRACEHANDLE, lpSessionName string, props *EVENT_TRACE_P
 
 	ret, _, _ := procControlTrace.Call(
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(hTrace)),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpSessionName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpSessionName)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(props)),
 		uintptr(dwControl))
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func StartTrace(lpSessionName string, props *EVENT_TRACE_PROPERTIES) (hTrace TRA
 
 	ret, _, _ := procStartTrace.Call(
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&hTrace)),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpSessionName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpSessionName)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(props)))
 
 	if ret == ERROR_SUCCESS {
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func RegCreateKey(hKey HKEY, subKey string) HKEY {
 	var result HKEY
 	ret, _, _ := procRegCreateKeyEx.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
 		uintptr(0),
 		uintptr(0),
 		uintptr(0),
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func RegOpenKeyEx(hKey HKEY, subKey string, samDesired uint32) HKEY {
 	var result HKEY
 	ret, _, _ := procRegOpenKeyEx.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
 		uintptr(0),
 		uintptr(samDesired),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&result)))
@@ -161,11 +161,11 @@ func RegGetRaw(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) []byte {
 	var bufLen uint32
 	var valptr unsafe.Pointer
 	if len(value) > 0 {
-		valptr = unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(value))
+		valptr = pointerStringWithoutError(value)
 	}
 	procRegGetValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
 		uintptr(valptr),
 		uintptr(RRF_RT_ANY),
 		0,
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func RegGetRaw(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) []byte {
 	buf := make([]byte, bufLen)
 	ret, _, _ := procRegGetValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
 		uintptr(valptr),
 		uintptr(RRF_RT_ANY),
 		0,
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func RegGetRaw(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) []byte {
 func RegSetBinary(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value []byte) (errno int) {
 	var lptr, vptr unsafe.Pointer
 	if len(subKey) > 0 {
-		lptr = unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))
+		lptr = pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)
 	}
 	if len(value) > 0 {
 		vptr = unsafe.Pointer(&value[0])
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ func RegSetBinary(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value []byte) (errno int) {
 func RegSetString(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) (errno int) {
 	var lptr, vptr unsafe.Pointer
 	if len(subKey) > 0 {
-		lptr = unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))
+		lptr = pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)
 	}
 	var buf []uint16
 	if len(value) > 0 {
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ func RegSetString(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) (errno int) {
 func RegSetUint32(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value uint32) (errno int) {
 	var lptr unsafe.Pointer
 	if len(subKey) > 0 {
-		lptr = unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))
+		lptr = pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)
 	}
 	vptr := unsafe.Pointer(&value)
 	ret, _, _ := procRegSetValueEx.Call(
@@ -257,8 +257,8 @@ func RegGetString(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) string {
 	var bufLen uint32
 	procRegGetValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(value))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(value)),
 		uintptr(RRF_RT_REG_SZ),
 		0,
 		0,
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ func RegGetString(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) string {
 	buf := make([]uint16, bufLen)
 	ret, _, _ := procRegGetValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(value))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(value)),
 		uintptr(RRF_RT_REG_SZ),
 		0,
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&buf[0])),
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ func RegGetUint32(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) (data uint32, errno in
 	var dataLen uint32 = uint32(unsafe.Sizeof(data))
 	ret, _, _ := procRegGetValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(value))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(value)),
 		uintptr(RRF_RT_REG_DWORD),
 		0,
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&data)),
@@ -303,8 +303,8 @@ func RegGetUint32(hKey HKEY, subKey string, value string) (data uint32, errno in
 func RegSetKeyValue(hKey HKEY, subKey string, valueName string, dwType uint32, data uintptr, cbData uint16) (errno int) {
 	ret, _, _ := procRegSetKeyValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(valueName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(valueName))),
 		uintptr(dwType),
 		data,
 		uintptr(cbData))
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ func RegSetKeyValue(hKey HKEY, subKey string, valueName string, dwType uint32, d
 func RegDeleteKeyValue(hKey HKEY, subKey string, valueName string) (errno int) {
 	ret, _, _ := procRegDeleteKeyValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(valueName))))
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(valueName)))
 
 	return int(ret)
 }
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func RegDeleteKeyValue(hKey HKEY, subKey string, valueName string) (errno int) {
 func RegDeleteValue(hKey HKEY, valueName string) (errno int) {
 	ret, _, _ := procRegDeleteValue.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(valueName))))
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(valueName)))
 
 	return int(ret)
 }
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func RegDeleteValue(hKey HKEY, valueName string) (errno int) {
 func RegDeleteTree(hKey HKEY, subKey string) (errno int) {
 	ret, _, _ := procRegDeleteTree.Call(
 		uintptr(hKey),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(subKey))))
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(subKey)))
 
 	return int(ret)
 }
@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ func RegEnumKeyEx(hKey HKEY, index uint32) string {
 
 func OpenEventLog(servername string, sourcename string) HANDLE {
 	ret, _, _ := procOpenEventLog.Call(
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(servername))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(sourcename))))
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(servername)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(sourcename)))
 
 	return HANDLE(ret)
 }
@@ -384,10 +384,10 @@ func CloseEventLog(eventlog HANDLE) bool {
 func OpenSCManager(lpMachineName, lpDatabaseName string, dwDesiredAccess uint32) (HANDLE, error) {
 	var p1, p2 uintptr
 	if len(lpMachineName) > 0 {
-		p1 = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpMachineName)))
+		p1 = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpMachineName))
 	}
 	if len(lpDatabaseName) > 0 {
-		p2 = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpDatabaseName)))
+		p2 = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpDatabaseName))
 	}
 	ret, _, _ := procOpenSCManager.Call(
 		p1,
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ func CloseServiceHandle(hSCObject HANDLE) error {
 func OpenService(hSCManager HANDLE, lpServiceName string, dwDesiredAccess uint32) (HANDLE, error) {
 	ret, _, _ := procOpenService.Call(
 		uintptr(hSCManager),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpServiceName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpServiceName)),
 		uintptr(dwDesiredAccess))
 
 	if ret == 0 {
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ func StartService(hService HANDLE, lpServiceArgVectors []string) error {
 	} else {
 		lpArgs := make([]uintptr, l)
 		for i := 0; i < l; i++ {
-			lpArgs[i] = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpServiceArgVectors[i])))
+			lpArgs[i] = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpServiceArgVectors[i]))
 		}
 
 		ret, _, _ = procStartService.Call(
diff --git a/gdiplus.go b/gdiplus.go
index f3a8fca..9190ef8 100644
--- a/gdiplus.go
+++ b/gdiplus.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ var (
 func GdipCreateBitmapFromFile(filename string) (*uintptr, error) {
 	var bitmap *uintptr
 	ret, _, _ := procGdipCreateBitmapFromFile.Call(
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(filename))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(filename)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&bitmap)))
 
 	if ret != Ok {
diff --git a/kernel32.go b/kernel32.go
index b2d0be2..b96260d 100644
--- a/kernel32.go
+++ b/kernel32.go
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ func CreateProcessA(lpApplicationName *string,
 	}
 
 	procCreateProcessA.Call(
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*lpApplicationName))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpCommandLine))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(*lpApplicationName)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpCommandLine)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(lpProcessAttributes)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(lpThreadAttributes)),
 		uintptr(inherit),
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func GetProcAddress(hProcess HANDLE, procname string) (addr uintptr, err error)
 	if procname == "" {
 		pn = 0
 	} else {
-		pn = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(procname)))
+		pn = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(procname))
 	}
 
 	ret, _, err := procGetProcAddress.Call(uintptr(hProcess), pn)
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func GetModuleHandle(modulename string) HINSTANCE {
 	if modulename == "" {
 		mn = 0
 	} else {
-		mn = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(modulename)))
+		mn = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(modulename))
 	}
 	ret, _, _ := procGetModuleHandle.Call(mn)
 	return HINSTANCE(ret)
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ func SetConsoleTextAttribute(hConsoleOutput HANDLE, wAttributes uint16) bool {
 func GetDiskFreeSpaceEx(dirName string) (r bool,
 	freeBytesAvailable, totalNumberOfBytes, totalNumberOfFreeBytes uint64) {
 	ret, _, _ := procGetDiskFreeSpaceEx.Call(
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(dirName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(dirName)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&freeBytesAvailable)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&totalNumberOfBytes)),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&totalNumberOfFreeBytes)))
diff --git a/oleaut32.go b/oleaut32.go
index 379b832..dc9f8f7 100644
--- a/oleaut32.go
+++ b/oleaut32.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func VariantInit(v *VARIANT) {
 }
 
 func SysAllocString(v string) (ss *int16) {
-	pss, _, _ := procSysAllocString.Call(uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(v))))
+	pss, _, _ := procSysAllocString.Call(uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(v)))
 	ss = (*int16)(unsafe.Pointer(pss))
 	return
 }
diff --git a/shell32.go b/shell32.go
index 09cba52..afa537f 100644
--- a/shell32.go
+++ b/shell32.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ var (
 	procSHBrowseForFolder   = modshell32.NewProc("SHBrowseForFolderW")
 	procSHGetPathFromIDList = modshell32.NewProc("SHGetPathFromIDListW")
 	procShellExecute        = modshell32.NewProc("ShellExecuteW")
+	procShellNotifyIconW    = modshell32.NewProc("Shell_NotifyIconW")
 )
 
 func SHBrowseForFolder(bi *BROWSEINFO) uintptr {
@@ -89,19 +90,19 @@ func DragFinish(hDrop HDROP) {
 func ShellExecute(hwnd HWND, lpOperation, lpFile, lpParameters, lpDirectory string, nShowCmd int) error {
 	var op, param, directory uintptr
 	if len(lpOperation) != 0 {
-		op = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpOperation)))
+		op = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpOperation))
 	}
 	if len(lpParameters) != 0 {
-		param = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpParameters)))
+		param = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpParameters))
 	}
 	if len(lpDirectory) != 0 {
-		directory = uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpDirectory)))
+		directory = uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpDirectory))
 	}
 
 	ret, _, _ := procShellExecute.Call(
 		uintptr(hwnd),
 		op,
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpFile))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpFile)),
 		param,
 		directory,
 		uintptr(nShowCmd))
@@ -146,8 +147,18 @@ func ShellExecute(hwnd HWND, lpOperation, lpFile, lpParameters, lpDirectory stri
 func ExtractIcon(lpszExeFileName string, nIconIndex int) HICON {
 	ret, _, _ := procExtractIcon.Call(
 		0,
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(lpszExeFileName))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpszExeFileName)),
 		uintptr(nIconIndex))
 
 	return HICON(ret)
 }
+
+// Shell_NotifyIconW Sends a message to the taskbar's status area.
+func Shell_NotifyIconW(dwMessage string, lpData int) bool {
+	ret, _, _ := procShellNotifyIconW.Call(
+		0,
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(lpszExeFileName)),
+		uintptr(nIconIndex))
+
+	return bool(ret)
+}
diff --git a/user32.go b/user32.go
index a31bdcf..ad22f49 100644
--- a/user32.go
+++ b/user32.go
@@ -186,11 +186,11 @@ func FindWindowExW(hwndParent, hwndChildAfter HWND, className, windowName *uint1
 func FindWindowExS(hwndParent, hwndChildAfter HWND, className, windowName *string) HWND {
 	var class *uint16 = nil
 	if className != nil {
-		class = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*className)
+		class, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*className)
 	}
 	var window *uint16 = nil
 	if windowName != nil {
-		window = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*windowName)
+		window, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*windowName)
 	}
 	return FindWindowExW(hwndParent, hwndChildAfter, class, window)
 }
@@ -207,11 +207,11 @@ func FindWindowW(className, windowName *uint16) HWND {
 func FindWindowS(className, windowName *string) HWND {
 	var class *uint16 = nil
 	if className != nil {
-		class = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*className)
+		class, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*className)
 	}
 	var window *uint16 = nil
 	if windowName != nil {
-		window = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*windowName)
+		window, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*windowName)
 	}
 	return FindWindowW(class, window)
 }
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ func LoadIcon(instance HINSTANCE, iconName *uint16) HICON {
 func LoadIconS(instance HINSTANCE, iconName *string) HICON {
 	var icon *uint16 = nil
 	if iconName != nil {
-		icon = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*iconName)
+		icon, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*iconName)
 	}
 	return LoadIcon(instance, icon)
 }
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ func LoadCursor(instance HINSTANCE, cursorName *uint16) HCURSOR {
 func LoadCursorS(instance HINSTANCE, cursorName *string) HCURSOR {
 	var cursor *uint16 = nil
 	if cursorName != nil {
-		cursor = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*cursorName)
+		cursor, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*cursorName)
 	}
 	return LoadCursor(instance, cursor)
 }
@@ -329,11 +329,11 @@ func CreateWindowExS(exStyle uint, className, windowName *string,
 	instance HINSTANCE, param unsafe.Pointer) HWND {
 	var class *uint16 = nil
 	if className != nil {
-		class = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*className)
+		class, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*className)
 	}
 	var window *uint16 = nil
 	if windowName != nil {
-		window = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(*windowName)
+		window, _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(*windowName)
 	}
 	return CreateWindowEx(
 		exStyle,
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ func WaitMessage() bool {
 func SetWindowText(hwnd HWND, text string) {
 	procSetWindowText.Call(
 		uintptr(hwnd),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(text))))
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(text)))
 }
 
 func GetWindowTextLength(hwnd HWND) int {
@@ -644,8 +644,8 @@ func GetWindowThreadProcessId(hwnd HWND) (HANDLE, int) {
 func MessageBox(hwnd HWND, text, caption string, flags uint) int {
 	ret, _, _ := procMessageBox.Call(
 		uintptr(hwnd),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(text))),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(caption))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(text)),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(caption)),
 		uintptr(flags))
 
 	return int(ret)
@@ -875,7 +875,7 @@ func FillRect(hDC HDC, lprc *RECT, hbr HBRUSH) bool {
 func DrawText(hDC HDC, text string, uCount int, lpRect *RECT, uFormat uint) int {
 	ret, _, _ := procDrawText.Call(
 		uintptr(hDC),
-		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(text))),
+		uintptr(pointerStringWithoutError(text)),
 		uintptr(uCount),
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(lpRect)),
 		uintptr(uFormat))
diff --git a/utils.go b/utils.go
index 208bbca..c11334b 100644
--- a/utils.go
+++ b/utils.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func ComGetIDsOfName(disp *IDispatch, names []string) []int32 {
 	wnames := make([]*uint16, len(names))
 	dispid := make([]int32, len(names))
 	for i := 0; i < len(names); i++ {
-		wnames[i] = syscall.StringToUTF16Ptr(names[i])
+		wnames[i], _ = syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(names[i])
 	}
 	hr, _, _ := syscall.Syscall6(disp.lpVtbl.pGetIDsOfNames, 6,
 		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(disp)),
@@ -242,3 +242,13 @@ func IsErrSuccess(err error) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+func pointerStringWithError(data string) (unsafe.Pointer, error) {
+	pp, err := syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(data)
+	return unsafe.Pointer(pp), err
+}
+
+func pointerStringWithoutError(data string) unsafe.Pointer {
+	pp, _ := syscall.UTF16PtrFromString(data)
+	return unsafe.Pointer(pp)
+}