eTakeoff displays hint windows to guide new and occassional users through multi-step processes. Here are a few:
- Scale setting (calibration and borders)
- Multi-page measurements
- Pattern search (pattern drag and search area drag)
For experienced users, these tags can be a nuisance. Fortunately, it's easy to get rid of them. Hint windows have a checkbox at the bottom to display that hint.

Simply un-check that box and the hint won't be displayed again. Starting with release 2.5, you can close hint windows when they're in the way. But if you don't uncheck the box, they'll be displayed the next time.
In some cases, you may decide that the hint window is more useful than you thought. If you want to restore display of a hint window, go to the Hint tab of the User Preferences and re-check the hints you want.