Messenger & Messenger Plus Questions

[Joe727]

Hi - right now I have Messenger 4.7 disabled on my XP Pro PCs. Earlier, I
decided to run Messenger on one of them and I also downloaded Messenger
Plus.

Question 1 - What is the difference between Messenger version 4.7 and
version 5?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...9f-6388-4193-8002-be55584c1ac1&DisplayLang=en

Question 2 - Can version 5 be installed without version 4.7 being installed
first?

I downloaded Messenger Plus from http://www.msgplus.net/. Four additional
executables came along with the program. One of them began dropping icons
on the desktop for what I can best describe as websites chock full of pop-up
ads. I allowed those executables to pass Zone Alarm, because I thought they
were needed to run Messenger Plus. Of course, Messenger Plus is now gone
along with the four executables it planted on my PC.

Question 3 - Is this normal behavior for Messenger Plus?

Thanks for any assistance you can offer.

Joe

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Joe,

Answer 1:
Windows Messenger 5 adds support for SIP-based communications services (like Office Live
Communications Server 2003), Exchange IM and the .NET Messenger Service all in one package.
As well, support for "digital ink" from TabletPCs is supported and UPnP file transfer.
However, support for Add-Ins has been removed and as such, there is no support for
MSN-specific features like Hotmail, MSN Mobile, MSN Profiles, etc.

Answer 2:
Yes, there is no "upgrade" installer, the installer will install whether or not Windows
Messenger 4.7 is installed (and will also install on Windows 2000, where the only previous
Messenger client was MSN Messenger).

Answer 3:
It is if you install the "sponsor" program during the setup. If you do not install the
sponsor program, then you can use Messenger Plus without this added spyware.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Joe727]

Thanks for the prompt answers. I reinstalled Messenger 4.7 from Windows
Update. I am not sure if advertising is part of the program or if I am
being spammed. Here's a screen shot:

http://home.cfl.rr.com/jbmsbink/Messenger Screen shot.jpg

If it's spam, how do I block it?

I also downloaded the Messenger Add-ins from the Microsoft Website.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/addin.asp

Where can I see these Add-ins? Unless I overlooked them, I didn't see them
in the preferences tab.

Thanks again.

Joe

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Joe,

What you're showing in that screenshot is part of the MSN Add-In (and is normal). If you
want it gone, all you need to do is turn off the MSN Add-In by clicking the Tools menu, then
Add-Ins, then click MSN.

Where the Add-Ins should be located should be obvious now
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Joe727]

Hi Jonathan - once again thanks for your assistance. That MSN check mark
got rid of the advertising.

I've had XP Pro on both of my PCs for about a year now. I removed Messenger
because of the way it interacted with Outlook Express and the fact that I
couldn't find the "on/off" switch. I believe that is why Messenger
frustrates many people to the point that they just want to get rid of it.

However, I really want to use the Remote Desktop function, so I'll need to
have Messenger up and running. At this point, I'm on the low end of the
learning curve, so I'll likely be posting additonal questions.

Joe

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Joe,

You're very welcome =). There is an on/off switch (just there's no actual button) for just
about all Messenger functions, including support with Outlook Express. You can completely
separate Outlook Express and Messenger by closing Outlook Express, then downloading and
running this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

Post all you like =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Joe727]

Thanks again. I UNchecked the box in OE6, and Messenger no longer tries to
open when I open Outlook Express.

There's one other curious thing. I have a Messenger shortcut on my Desktop
which in effect turns it on and off. At least I think it does - LOL.

When I reboot, Zone Alarm keeps reporting that Messenger is trying to
connect to the internet. The ZA popups appear every minute or so and they
won't stop until I click the Messenger shortcut and allow it to connect.

If I allow Messenger to connect, then close it down, I no longer get the ZA
popups.

Even if I have Messenger disabled through Steve Gibson's Shoot the
Messenger, this behavior still occurs. There's also a Shoot the Messenger
shortcut on my Desktop as well.

Question 1 - any idea why this happens?

Question 2 - In the Messenger online choices, there are several icons in the
dropdown. If I click Appear Offline, a red Messenger icon appears in the
Taskbar. Where are these icons stored?

Joe

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Joe,

Just unchecking the box in Outlook Express *won't* do what my .reg file does, as the option
in Outlook Express will still Outlook Express to integrate with Messenger.

What you're disabling in Mr. Gibson's "Shoot the Messenger" is actually the Messenger Service
built-in to Windows XP -- it has nothing to do with Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger.

Answer 1:
Unless you've specifically turned off Messenger on startup, it will automatically load. To
stop it, simply up the main Windows Messenger window, click the Tools menu, then Options,
then Preferences tab, uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts" and click OK. Also, if
you're Do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging
scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause some
of 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.

Answer 2:
The icons are stored in the Messenger executable, you can use a resource editor to look at
them.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Joe727]

LOL - Messenger, MSN Messenger, and Messenger Service. Someone at Microsoft
didn't get the message to come up with different names.

If I understand correctly, I can leave Messenger Service disabled and still
use Remote Desktop. So I can simply use Steve Gibson's Shoot the Messenger
(Service) to leave it disabled and it will have no effect on Messenger. Is
this correct?

The box "Run this program when Windows starts" in Messenger is already
Unchecked.

I have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed. I'll disable the Messenger scanning
option to see if that stops Messenger from trying to connect when the
computer is rebooted.

I used icon collector to open the Messenger executable in Program
Files/Messenger, but all that was there were the green icons that you can
access through the "change icon" button by right clicking the shortcut and
choosing Properties. No red icons.

Thanks

Joe

 

[Joe727]

Hi Jonathan - Here's an update since my last post. I merged the modified
registry key on both computers. The Messenger connection with Outlook
Express is definitely gone.

I disabled the Messenger part of Norton Anti Virus 2003. Sure enough - no
more Messenger trying to connect. There's an added bonus. If Messenger is
checked in NAV 2003, then the Web Cleanup part of Norton System Works 2003
will not work. It shows Internet Explorer as being connected to the
internet. Once the Messenger part of NAV 2003 is Unchecked, Web Cleanup
works fine.

Thanks again.

Joe

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Joe,

Glad to hear it =).

The icons are in the Messenger executable, but there just embedded bitmaps -- you will need a
resource editor, a simple icon editor will not show them.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Joe727]

Ok - thanks.

Joe

Hi Joe,

Glad to hear it =).

The icons are in the Messenger executable, but there just embedded bitmaps -- you will need a
resource editor, a simple icon editor will not show them.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...9f-6388-4193-8002-be55584c1ac1&DisplayLang=en