Attn: Jonathan Kay

[Ian]

With all the versions running around and the problems I've had installing
different versions in the past, I was wondering if you could set the record
straight.

As I understand it:

Windows Messenger is the messenger client that ships with Windows XP which
has now been transformed into the client for the upcoming Greenwich IM
Server, hence the stripping away of "public IM" features still found in MSN
Messenger. However, certain other software such as Outlook Express still
requires Windows Messenger for some functionality. This version of the
client is up to v5.0 which strips away a number of features found in the 4.7
release.

MSN Messenger is the "general-consumption" IM client for the non-Enterprise
user. This includes the more public-IM features such as webcam, audio,
Hotmail integration, etc. This version of the client is up to v6.0.

My question is:

Is is possible to install MSN Messenger and use that as the sole IM client
without any loss of functionality that I gain from Windows Messenger being
on the system and without Windows Messenger ever rearing its head (i.e. I
don't want two icons in the system-tray, I don't want Windows Messenger
starting up and kicking me off MSN Messenger, etc.)

Thanks

 

[Bruce Lawrence]

Good question. I've wanted to do this as well and here's at least what I've
done to try and stop it.

There is a registry file floating around this newsgroup somewhwere that
Jonathan posted which removes Windows Messenger from starting up when you go
into outlook express. Good fix.

The other way is to go into windows messengers options and tell it to NOT
startup when windows starts and just pretty much turn off any "auto login"
or "auto start" type options.

Since doing this I have not seen it pop up anywhere.

Keep in mind that I "think" you need Windows Messenger 4.7 on the system in
order to install and use MSN Messenger v.6 so removing it from the system
all together may not be an options. Not sure.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Ian,

Actually, Windows Messenger has been "transformed" into a multi-use Messenger client that can
support the .NET Messenger network as before, Exchange Instant Messenger servers, and
SIP-based Communications Services (aka Office Live Communications Server/Greenwich). The
only "public IM" features that were "stripped away" were the MSN features (*MSN* Hotmail,
*MSN* Mobile, etc.). Outlook Express, Outlook 2002 (even the upcoming Outlook 2003) use
Messenger integration features which by default use Windows Messenger (on Windows XP). This
is primarily the result of the initial use of Windows Messenger, which was just MSN Messenger
with a different name on XP.

MSN Messenger is the Messenger client to fit into the MSN-base of MSN technologies. MSN
Hotmail, MSN Mobile, etc. are all supported. You're already aware of the new features that
are in MSN Messenger 6, so I won't go on about those.

You are right however, that Windows Messenger is more focused on the Enterprise (just like
Outlook is) and MSN Messenger is more focused on the Consumer (like Outlook Express is). Of
course, like Outlook and Outlook Express, you'll find both in use in both situations.

You cannot completely remove Windows Messenger from Windows XP and still retail all
functionality in MSN Messenger (this is primarily due to the fact that a lot of Windows XP
components were designed on the basis that Windows Messenger would be the only client
installed and wouldn't be uninstalled). As Bruce indicated however, you can however disable
Windows Messenger so that it doesn't come up [except on rare occasions]. To do so, open up
the main Windows Messenger window, click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab,
uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts" and click OK. You can then disable the
Windows Messenger features in Outlook (and therefore it won't attempt to load Windows
Messenger) by closing Outlook Express, then downloading and running this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

After this, you should be able to use MSN Messenger 6 as your main client and Windows
Messenger will remain installed but not running.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Ian]

That's great - thanks.

In the event I try this and later decide to reverse the process is it as
easy as uninstalling MSN Messenger and re-registering Windows Messenger?

Greetings Ian,

Actually, Windows Messenger has been "transformed" into a multi-use Messenger client that can
support the .NET Messenger network as before, Exchange Instant Messenger servers, and
SIP-based Communications Services (aka Office Live Communications Server/Greenwich). The
only "public IM" features that were "stripped away" were the MSN features (*MSN* Hotmail,
*MSN* Mobile, etc.). Outlook Express, Outlook 2002 (even the upcoming Outlook 2003) use
Messenger integration features which by default use Windows Messenger (on Windows XP). This
is primarily the result of the initial use of Windows Messenger, which was just MSN Messenger
with a different name on XP.

MSN Messenger is the Messenger client to fit into the MSN-base of MSN technologies. MSN
Hotmail, MSN Mobile, etc. are all supported. You're already aware of the new features that
are in MSN Messenger 6, so I won't go on about those.

You are right however, that Windows Messenger is more focused on the Enterprise (just like
Outlook is) and MSN Messenger is more focused on the Consumer (like Outlook Express is). Of
course, like Outlook and Outlook Express, you'll find both in use in both situations.

You cannot completely remove Windows Messenger from Windows XP and still retail all
functionality in MSN Messenger (this is primarily due to the fact that a lot of Windows XP
components were designed on the basis that Windows Messenger would be the only client
installed and wouldn't be uninstalled). As Bruce indicated however, you can however disable
Windows Messenger so that it doesn't come up [except on rare occasions]. To do so, open up
the main Windows Messenger window, click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab,
uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts" and click OK. You can then disable the
Windows Messenger features in Outlook (and therefore it won't attempt to load Windows
Messenger) by closing Outlook Express, then downloading and running this ..reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

After this, you should be able to use MSN Messenger 6 as your main client and Windows
Messenger will remain installed but not running.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

With all the versions running around and the problems I've had installing
different versions in the past, I was wondering if you could set the record
straight.

As I understand it:

Windows Messenger is the messenger client that ships with Windows XP which
has now been transformed into the client for the upcoming Greenwich IM
Server, hence the stripping away of "public IM" features still found in MSN
Messenger. However, certain other software such as Outlook Express still
requires Windows Messenger for some functionality. This version of the
client is up to v5.0 which strips away a number of features found in the 4.7
release.

MSN Messenger is the "general-consumption" IM client for the non-Enterprise
user. This includes the more public-IM features such as webcam, audio,
Hotmail integration, etc. This version of the client is up to v6.0.

My question is:

Is is possible to install MSN Messenger and use that as the sole IM client
without any loss of functionality that I gain from Windows Messenger being
on the system and without Windows Messenger ever rearing its head (i.e. I
don't want two icons in the system-tray, I don't want Windows Messenger
starting up and kicking me off MSN Messenger, etc.)

Thanks

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Ian,

If you want Outlook Express Messenger integration back on, you just download and run this
..reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/enablemessenger_oe.reg
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

That's great - thanks.

In the event I try this and later decide to reverse the process is it as
easy as uninstalling MSN Messenger and re-registering Windows Messenger?

Greetings Ian,

Actually, Windows Messenger has been "transformed" into a multi-use Messenger client that can
support the .NET Messenger network as before, Exchange Instant Messenger servers, and
SIP-based Communications Services (aka Office Live Communications Server/Greenwich). The
only "public IM" features that were "stripped away" were the MSN features (*MSN* Hotmail,
*MSN* Mobile, etc.). Outlook Express, Outlook 2002 (even the upcoming Outlook 2003) use
Messenger integration features which by default use Windows Messenger (on Windows XP). This
is primarily the result of the initial use of Windows Messenger, which was just MSN Messenger
with a different name on XP.

MSN Messenger is the Messenger client to fit into the MSN-base of MSN technologies. MSN
Hotmail, MSN Mobile, etc. are all supported. You're already aware of the new features that
are in MSN Messenger 6, so I won't go on about those.

You are right however, that Windows Messenger is more focused on the Enterprise (just like
Outlook is) and MSN Messenger is more focused on the Consumer (like Outlook Express is). Of
course, like Outlook and Outlook Express, you'll find both in use in both situations.

You cannot completely remove Windows Messenger from Windows XP and still retail all
functionality in MSN Messenger (this is primarily due to the fact that a lot of Windows XP
components were designed on the basis that Windows Messenger would be the only client
installed and wouldn't be uninstalled). As Bruce indicated however, you can however disable
Windows Messenger so that it doesn't come up [except on rare occasions]. To do so, open up
the main Windows Messenger window, click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab,
uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts" and click OK. You can then disable the
Windows Messenger features in Outlook (and therefore it won't attempt to load Windows
Messenger) by closing Outlook Express, then downloading and running this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

After this, you should be able to use MSN Messenger 6 as your main client and Windows
Messenger will remain installed but not running.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

With all the versions running around and the problems I've had installing
different versions in the past, I was wondering if you could set the record
straight.

As I understand it:

Windows Messenger is the messenger client that ships with Windows XP which
has now been transformed into the client for the upcoming Greenwich IM
Server, hence the stripping away of "public IM" features still found in MSN
Messenger. However, certain other software such as Outlook Express still
requires Windows Messenger for some functionality. This version of the
client is up to v5.0 which strips away a number of features found in the 4.7
release.

MSN Messenger is the "general-consumption" IM client for the non-Enterprise
user. This includes the more public-IM features such as webcam, audio,
Hotmail integration, etc. This version of the client is up to v6.0.

My question is:

Is is possible to install MSN Messenger and use that as the sole IM client
without any loss of functionality that I gain from Windows Messenger being
on the system and without Windows Messenger ever rearing its head (i.e. I
don't want two icons in the system-tray, I don't want Windows Messenger
starting up and kicking me off MSN Messenger, etc.)

Thanks