Windows Messenger & SP2

[Jared Burford]

When SP2 starts it re-adds the Windows Messenger ie
(C:ath/Messenger/msmsgs.exe /background) value to registry even though
its gonna sit in systemtray doing nothing, as I don't use it. No point in
having things on the system if there not being used How can I fix this ?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Jared,

You just 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.
____________________________________________
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]

Hi Jonathan!

I have tried your solution but it does not work. In the Services tab, it
keeps reappearing no matter how many times I have "Ended" the process. Also,
in the Options applet of the Windows Messenger, the "Run In the background"
and "run when Computer Starts" are not checked.

Am I doing something wrong? Or there is no way to get rid of it? I'm tired
of being interrupted by people who see me online and I don't feel like
talking to no one..ugh! LOL.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

HI JCR,

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 or Windows 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
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I do have Norton Antivirus and yes, I did what you said, and still it is
there. It just won't quit, would it?

 

[Guest]

try.. start/run type in msconfig/ok/.. go to startup tab look for windows
messenger
uncheck the box next to it..on your next restart you will see a box says you
changed system config.. click dont show again

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi,

MSConfig will not stop Windows Messenger.
____________________________________________
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) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi JCR,

You may need to reboot for everything to work properly.
____________________________________________
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) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Guest]

I have rebooted so many times and still comes up. Also, using MSCONF showed
me that it does not appear anywhere in any of the tabs (startup, system,
etc.), so it begs the question, is this some kind of hidden app provided by
MS?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi JCR,

Nope not hidden. What's happening here (as proved by your little test) is some application
(like Norton was) is calling the Messenger API, which automatically starts it up.
____________________________________________
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) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.