How to disable messenger

[Guest]

Is there a way to disable windows messenger. I get a pop
up requiring windows messenger update before I can do
anything else, yet it will not update no matter what I
do. I do not use messenger. How do I get rid of it?

 

[David]

What version of Windows are you using?

If you are using Windows XP, you should be able to un-install it via control
panel, add/remove programs/windows components.

I got rid of mine this way but had to completely un-install MSN Explorer and
MSN Messenger.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

Firstly, remove your saved Passport login in Windows XP, so it can't automatically sign you
in to the service (you can readd this back in the future if you like), click the Start
Button, then click the Control Panel. Then, click User Accounts in the Control Panel. Select
your account name, and then on the left side of the screen, under Related Tasks, click
'Manage my Network Passwords'. In the window that opens, click the Passport.Net\* (Passport)
entry and click 'Remove'.

Then, do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging
scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause some
of this behavior. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon
in the System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click
Options, then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

If the window is still open with the upgrade question, say No, it should now stop trying.

Then open up Windows Messenger (click Start, then All Programs, then Windows Messenger if you
can't find it), choose the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab, uncheck 'Run this
Program when Windows starts' and click OK. Then right-click on its icon in the notification
area/system tray (by the clock) and click Exit. It shouldn't bother you again.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Jeff J.]

I'm having a similar problem. I want to upgrade and use
MSN Messenger 6 to use its enhanced features, and I want
to know if there's any way that I can tie MSN Messenger
to Outlook Express, etc. instead of Windows Messenger.
(So if one of them is starting up automatically, it'll be
MSN.)

Do you happen to know if there are any upgrades planned
to update/change Windows Messenger 4.7 to the
standards/features of MSN Messenger 6 any time soon? I
remember earlier this year when an update came out to
Windows Messenger that, I thought, ugraded it to MSN
Messenger (or maybe just gave the program MSN Messenger
functionalities).

I noticed above that you posted a link to a .reg file to
stop Windows Messenger from opening with Outlook Express.
I could go ahead and run that .reg file as a partial fix
to this problem, but I have a question: Will this disable
the run-with-OE behavior for my user alone, or for every
user on the computer? (Mine is an administrator account,
but not Owner.)

Thank you,
Jeff J.
(e-mail address removed)

-----Original Message-----
Greetings,

Firstly, remove your saved Passport login in Windows XP,

so it can't automatically sign you

in to the service (you can readd this back in the future if you like), click the Start
Button, then click the Control Panel. Then, click User

Accounts in the Control Panel. Select

your account name, and then on the left side of the

screen, under Related Tasks, click

'Manage my Network Passwords'. In the window that

opens, click the Passport.Net\* (Passport)

entry and click 'Remove'.

Then, do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed?

Norton added a new "instant messaging

scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can

conflict with Messenger and cause some

of this behavior. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus

(Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon

in the System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock),

choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click

Options, then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

If the window is still open with the upgrade question,

say No, it should now stop trying.

Then open up Windows Messenger (click Start, then All

Programs, then Windows Messenger if you

can't find it), choose the Tools menu, then Options,

then Preferences tab, uncheck 'Run this

Program when Windows starts' and click OK. Then right-

click on its icon in the notification

 

[JeffO]

Try disabling the Windows Messenger service.
Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools,
Services. Disable the "Messenger" service.
Are you on a business network domain? Depending on how
your systems group operates, this could cause problems for
a few things. Home users should notice no harm and should
even notice a decline in popups when on the Internet.
Instant Messenger isn't the same as Windows Messenger,
although Instant Messenger seems to use Windows Messenger
channels.
Also, it seems that there are Instant Messenger/Windows
Messenger components that will install with Office
XP/Office 2003. MS has threaded Instant Messenger into
Outlook. Not sure but looks like uninstalling the Instant
Messenger components in Outlook will break your personal
folders, address book, and other things.