Can't disable Windows Messenger after Updating Windows

[Bob Stringer]

I recently installed several priority updates to WinXP Home
SP1. One of them was a security patch to Windows Messenger.
Although I have Messenger disabled, I applied the patch just
to be current with all security updates.

Now that the patch has been installed, every time I boot up
an icon appears in the system tray, stating that I'm not
signed in to Windows Messenger.

Based on what Microsoft says about Messenger here:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/windowsmessenger/default.mspx>
I have no interest in running it. I'm not interested in
instant communication. (Of course, if someone can tell me a
different and good reason to run Messenger, I'd appreciate
hearing.)

In any case, Messenger is still shown as being disabled when
I look here:

1. Right-click My Computer
2. Manage | Services & Applications
3. Services

Also, I when I look at the Startup tab of the System
Configuration Utility, I don't see anything that looks (at
least to me) like Messenger.

I therefore don't understand why the icon keeps appearing.

Does the icon mean that Messenger is now running (although
I'm not signed in)? If not, what's the icon doing there? How
can I get rid of it?

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

To disable "Windows Messenger":

Open "Windows Messenger" and from the Toolbar select
Tools > Options > Preferences and uncheck:

"Run this program when Windows starts" and
"Allow this program to run in the background", then
click OK.

Next, open Outlook Express and from the Toolbar select
Tools > Options and under the General tab uncheck
"Automatically log on to Windows Messenger" and click
APPLY.


Alternatives:

Prevent Windows Messenger from automatically running
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_messenger_autorun.htm

or

Remove Windows Messenger
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remove.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I recently installed several priority updates to WinXP Home
| SP1. One of them was a security patch to Windows Messenger.
| Although I have Messenger disabled, I applied the patch just
| to be current with all security updates.
|
| Now that the patch has been installed, every time I boot up
| an icon appears in the system tray, stating that I'm not
| signed in to Windows Messenger.
|
| Based on what Microsoft says about Messenger here:
| <http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/windowsmessenger/default.mspx>
| I have no interest in running it. I'm not interested in
| instant communication. (Of course, if someone can tell me a
| different and good reason to run Messenger, I'd appreciate
| hearing.)
|
| In any case, Messenger is still shown as being disabled when
| I look here:
|
| 1. Right-click My Computer
| 2. Manage | Services & Applications
| 3. Services
|
| Also, I when I look at the Startup tab of the System
| Configuration Utility, I don't see anything that looks (at
| least to me) like Messenger.
|
| I therefore don't understand why the icon keeps appearing.
|
| Does the icon mean that Messenger is now running (although
| I'm not signed in)? If not, what's the icon doing there? How
| can I get rid of it?
|
| Thanks.
| --
|
| Bob Stringer

 

[Bob Stringer]

To disable "Windows Messenger":

[snip]

Thanks very much, Carey.

 

[Wondering]

If you really do not want it, use the script here
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remove.htm to remove it. Doug
and a microsoft mvp.

--

Steven

There are two kind of people
1) Those who finish what they started an