msn messenger ghost

  • Thread starter Thread starter rusty
  • Start date Start date
R

rusty

i installed the latest mwnmesenger 6.x... but the old
messenger sometimes opens up on boot up and some times
doesn't. i removed the program through "add / remove
programs". still there. i went to explore and tried to
delete the folder but there are some files that it says
are being used and will not let me delete them.... what
next?
 
Greetings Rusty,

Actually your "old messenger" is Windows Messenger 4.x which is a completely separate product
from MSN Messenger. You can completely remove Windows Messenger (the "older version"), but
if you do, you will be preventing Remote Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any
other applications that utilize Messenger from working (or loading without problems).
Instead, you should simply disable it. To do so, open it up (click Start, then Run, type
"msmsgs" and click OK), click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this
Program when Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on
version).

As well, do you have Norton Antivirus installed? Recent versions of Norton Antivirus added a
new "instant messaging scanning" feature, which can conflict with Messenger and cause it to
keep Messenger active. 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.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
I have tried the Norton thing as that was the only thing I haven't tried. I hope it works. I was browsing topics and discovered this thread as I was having similar problems . The Norton fools you because the instant messenger is recommended.
 
Hi Dana,

Yes I know, and also for reference, that feature within Norton doesn't really do all that
much -- it simply scans files *immediately* when they're received through Messenger --
normally you would execute or view a file after you've received it anyway, and the normal
Norton engine will scan it then (with this feature off), so it doesn't really do much.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
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