Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?

[Sue]

I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times
the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I
can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to
disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger.

You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live
Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and
Application Sharing.

That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click
Run and enter:
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
Then click OK.

If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation

 

[Sue]

Thank you for your time and expertise.

I poked around on the board & found a response from you that was several
years old on the same topic (should have done that first). In that, you
mentioned disabling Windows Messenger rather than deleting it by using
"tools/options" & unclicking the options to open the program on login, etc.
In light of the fact that I'm exclusively using Live Messenger now, which
would you advise? Are there hidden advantages and disadvantages I may not be
thinking of?

Also, I'd like to pose another unrelated question under a different heading
in case someone else would benefit from being able lt find the issue via
searching. I'd appreciate your response to that issue as well. I'll put it
under the XP General board.

Appreciate your time!

Thanks so much.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Sue,

It's less of an issue removing it nowadays just because applications like Outlook Express and
others were updated to work when it doesn't exist. The only real issues are those which I've
already highlighted regarding Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing (which
just won't work without it). Myself, on my XP systems I simply keep it disabled and have
long since forgotten about it.

Note that if you remove Windows Messenger, you can always reinstall it should you come under
some circumstance where you do need it installed (and you'll be prompted to do so).

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation

 

[Mike]

Jonathan,

3 Questions:

1.
I have a fresh install of XP SP2 with SP3 overlayed.

In view of what you said about "It's less of an issue removing it
nowadays... ", if I use your windows messenger 'uninstall' (rundll... )
method, can the folder C:\Program Files\Messenger be deleted?
And what (if any) application/dependancy issues migh come up in the future?

2.
Re. "If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can
always reinstall it"

What is the 'reinstall' procedure?

3.
In: C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components
I see - msnmsgs.msi

This looks like an installer for MSN Messenger!
Can this folder tree be deleted?
Please advise.

Mike.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi,

1. Some very old applications which made use of Messenger API require Windows Messenger to
exist or they'll freeze up. I can't even think any that weren't fixed in this regard. That
and of course Remote Assistance, App Sharing and Whiteboard as previously mentioned in
Windows Live Messenger. Delete the folder if you want.

2. You can grab it again from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update.

3. MSN Messenger is a component of MSN 8/9 (aka MSN Explorer), which is what that folder is.
If you're not using this, then you can delete it. If you are using it, don't bother deleting
it as it will just re-download Messenger again the next time it's used. I usually just
delete this entire \Program Files\MSN folder as it serves no real purpose if you don't use
MSN Explorer.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation

 

[Mike]

Hi Jonathan and thanks again.

I haven't re-installed MSN Live (8.1) yet.
Have still a virgin install of XP SP3 & Office 2003 SP3.

I'm surprised & curious about how the MSN messenger related folder got there
because it was never bundled with XP but I know windows messenger was in the
\Program Files\Messenger folder..

Did it maybe sneak in with XP SP3 or Office SP3 updates?

Mike.

 

[race07]

Hi,

1. Some very old applications which made use of Messenger API requir
Windows Messenger to
exist or they'll freeze up. I can't even think any that weren't fixe
in this regard. That
and of course Remote Assistance, App Sharing and Whiteboard a
previously mentioned in
Windows Live Messenger. Delete the folder if you want.

 

[antonio]

I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times
the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I
can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to
disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used?