msmsgs.exe keeps connecting

[Richard]

Hi,

Ever since I've installed my firewall (norton personal firewall 2003) it
keeps giving me a pop-up saying that "c:\progr...etc...msmsgs.exe is
preparing to access the internet". It happens every 2 minutes even when I'm
not e-mailing, surfing or using the computer at all. The messenger-icon in
the sys-tray is not visible, since I've closed messenger in it's
right-click-menu.
I know I can turn of the pop-up in the Norton-options, but I would like to
know if I can prevent messenger from doing this. Even when I kill the
process in the task-manager it somehow survives, returns and continues his
lifes task ("preparing to access the internet..."
Please tell me how I can kill it properly, without uninstalling it.

Btw:
I'm using:
Win XP sp1 (dutch)
Windows Messenger v. 4.79 (dutch)
connected by LAN
Norton Personal Firewall 2003

Thanks,
Richard

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Richard,

Since you are using the Norton firewall, do you also have Norton Antivirus installed as well?
Recent versions of Norton Antivirus added a new "instant messaging scanning" feature, which
can conflict with Messenger and cause 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.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[C Slovacek]

It's not the notification that we want stopped... It's
Messenger we want stopped. Is there a way to uninstall
Messenger in Win XP? Or tell it not to continue to
connect? I have already set it so that it doesn't start
when Windows starts and I don't allow it to run in the
background but it still does both. ZoneAlarm keeps
catching msmsgs.exe trying to access the internet. How
can I get rid of this once and for all????

Chris Slovacek

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

Since you are using the Norton firewall, do you also have

Norton Antivirus installed as well?

Recent versions of Norton Antivirus added a new "instant

messaging scanning" feature, which

can conflict with Messenger and cause 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

 

[Richard]

Seems to work for me...

Thanks!

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Richard,

Glad to hear it =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Chris,

This *will* stop Messenger from trying to connect -- it is Norton Antivirus' "feature" which
is automatically trying to make Messenger connect, not Messenger itself.

As well, you can completely remove Windows Messenger but *if you have not turned off the
Norton feature as I've already mentioned* Messenger will still continue to start, and it will
not be disabled or uninstalled using the following. If you do completely uninstall Windows
Messenger, you will be preventing Remote Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any
other applications that utilize Messenger from working (or loading without problems).
Instead (and this should solve your problem), you should simply disable it. To do so, open
it up, 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, you
can disable it further by going to Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove
Windows Components on the left, uncheck Windows Messenger in the components list and click
Next >. Note: this is only available if you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 -- if
you haven't, visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove Windows Messenger,
but it will let it stay out of your way.

However, if you really want to remove it completely, for Windows Messenger 4.7, close down
Messenger if it's running (right click the messenger icon in the notification area/system
tray and click close). Then click the start button, then click Run and type in (copy-paste
if you like):
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Then click OK.
Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and screenshots, go to,
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Guest]

Did you ever get a response to this. I want to turn it off as well and I am getting pretty frustrated by Microsofts lack of response.