msmsgs.exe and task list

[Guest]

How do I stop msmsgs.exe from reappearing in the task list as a running
process?
I can select it and "end process" which does stop it - - for aout 40 seconds
- then it reappears. I can do this at least 6 times before it stops
completely.

I am a very occassional user of Messenger so I don't want to delete it
completely but feel that there is a security issue if msmsgs.exe is running
all the time. I see burst of activity with the process even though messenger
is not running. Why does msmsgs.exe have to keep running whilst Messenger is
not? Why does it need to keep restarting - even when no other activity is
using it?

What is the difference between "Windows Messenger" and "MS Messenger"? They
are both on my PC. Can I get rid of one of them? If so, which should go?

I use XP Professional and have upgraded to SP2.

regards
harry E.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Harry,

You'll simply need to disable Windows Messenger. To do so, open it up (click Start, then
Run, type "msmsgs" and click OK), click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this
Program when Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on
version) as well as 'Allow this program to run in the background' or 'Allow Windows Messenger
to run in the background' (depending on version). This won't remove Windows Messenger, so
features like Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing will continue to work,
but it will let it stay out of your way.

Also, 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
also keep starting. 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.

As for the differences, there is no "MS Messenger", there is Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger
and the built-in Messenger Service. All 3 of these are different (although the first two are
more similar).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2004 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Guest]

Good on ya, Blue!!
Excellent diagnosis. I had already disabled "Messenger" as per your first
suggestion but it appears to be Norton Antivirus. I have unchecked the box
as stated and we confidently await results. I can presumably re-check the
box on the odd occassions that I do use Messenger.

So, we have three "messenger" applications........ Why three? I don't want
three! I am not sure that I even want to keep one! Can I keep MSN Messenger
which many people seem to use and delete the other two (how? - using
"add/remove programs???)?

I only seem to have two, one as "Windows Messenger" which I did not load so
it seems it came with XP, and the other as "MSN Messenger" which I thought I
loaded as an upgrade to the first. Is the first "deletable"?

Many thanks for an excellent service.
regards
harry E.
in the state of excitement

 

[Guest]

Restarting a computer always fixes some problem

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Harry,

Glad to hear it =).

The "Messenger Service" within Windows is just to communicate short messages across local
networks, it's been built-into Windows in some form or another for over a decade (nothing
really new about it).

Windows Messenger is built-in to Windows XP as a client for the public .NET Messenger network
and although it's fully removable (if you "remove" it from Add/Remove Windows Components
you'll simply be erasing the shortcuts, not the actual application), if you do fully remove
it, some features within Windows and MSN Messenger will no longer work (for instance, Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing). The best is just to keep Windows Messenger
disabled and just use MSN Messenger instead (assuming that's what you want to use).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2004 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Alex Nichol]

You'll simply need to disable Windows Messenger. To do so, open it up (click Start, then
Run, type "msmsgs" and click OK), click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this
Program when Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on
version) as well as 'Allow this program to run in the background' or 'Allow Windows Messenger
to run in the background' (depending on version). This won't remove Windows Messenger, so
features like Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing will continue to work,
but it will let it stay out of your way.

Those using Outlook Express may also need in that to go to Tools -
Options and uncheck 'Automatically logon to Windows Messenger' and to
View - Layout and uncheck 'Contacts'. Otherwise loading OE may bring
Messenger in its wake

 

[Guest]

Thank you all for your very prompt and useful help and advice. For one of
the few occassions, I now know where I am going .

Keep it up. A very useful service - I hope I dn't need to bother you too
often.
Many thanks,
harry E.

 

[Guest]

Hey Jonathan

I am unable to create new post for help.
I hope you can help me.

I have my messenger running but it seems as if another old version is
running and when I open it it looks very old and there is this message on top:

There is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful" message

and I cannot get rid of it.
What can I do? I never logged in to that version. I have uninstalled
messenger and ran it again, but it seems that it is still in my computer.

Also, when I see the task manager two processes are running:
msmsgs and msnmsgr. When I abort msmsgs the old creepy version stops running.

Please help!

THANKS!