Messenger Probs. (windows messenger-MSN6)

[Tam Darcy]

Hi,
I recently installed MSN Messenger 6.
I assumed that it become the default messenger prog.
Instead it is turned off by windows messenger (or vice
versa) I can't understand why you can install the MSN
Messenger when there will be an obvious conflict.
I presume I can just un-install MSN6? or is there
something else that I should do to resolve this prob?
The message that I get when either prog. switches the
other off is;
Closing down messenger because you have logged on from
another location...
Any ideas.
Thanks.
Tam.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Tam,

What you can do is simply disable Windows Messenger. You can do so by opening it up, click
Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this program when Windows starts'. This
won't stop it from being loaded by some other application though. 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, and allow MSN Messenger 6 to work properly.

Of course, if you wish to use Windows Messenger instead you can simply uninstall MSN
Messenger 6.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[blariz]

While I completely understand that Windows Messenger (comes with XP)
is slightly different to MSN Messenger (downloadable version for all
current
Windows OS's), they do perform the same basic functions.

Certainly one would think that Microsoft has the smarts to build software
(Messenger) that sees that a previous version exists (Windows Messenger
4.x ) so that when installing the newer MSN Messenger 6.0, itupdates the
previous version rather than installing itself along side the older version.
To me,
this implementation of MSN Messenger by Microsoft is completely without any
forethought.

Microsoft should have either allowed the upgrade of Windows Messenger 4.x to
MSN Messenger 6.0 (ie.replacment) , OR they should provide the ability to
completely remove version 4.7 in XP (not just the partial disabling that is
described below). Functionally, it does not make sense to have 2 programs
from the same software vendor that do basically the same things.

Would Microsoft allow the installation of IE5 and IE6 side-by-side? I would
say not.
So, why would they allow the same type of scenario with Messenger?
Curious if anyone has any idea what Microsoft was thinking with this
software.
blariz

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Blariz,

At this point, you can compare MSN Messenger 6 and Windows Messenger 5 like Microsoft Outlook
and Outlook Express. Both perform the same basic functions, but both have features that the
other does not have. For example, Outlook has Exchange server support, etc. whereas Outlook
Express includes newsgroup support. Would you only allow one "Outlook" installed, and you
have to choose between the two? Windows Messenger has support for Exchange IM Servers and
Office Live Communication Servers (SIP), whereas MSN Messenger 6 does not, but has features
like display pictures and custom emoticons.

Outlook and Outlook Express don't have the "problems" that we see in Windows Messenger/MSN
Messenger on XP, basically the "features" that work only in MSN Messenger 6 if Windows
Messenger is installed. This is primarily because when XP was released, Windows Messenger
was considered a part of the base operating system, and as such, components like Remote
Assistance were written with the knowledge that Windows Messenger would still be there. The
Messenger development teams can't start overwriting parts of Windows XP, and as such, until
these Windows components are updated, we'll see this restriction.

Unfortunately it's unlikely this will be "fixed" until the next Windows release. As a final
note, I believe Internet Explorer 4 and Internet Explorer 5 were allowed to work and be
installed at the same time on one Windows installation.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[uh huh]

jonathon,
interesting reply but it only enforces blarizs point.

re

"For example, Outlook has Exchange server support, etc.

whereas Outlook Express includes newsgroup support. Would
you only allow one "Outlook" installed, and you have to
choose between the two?"

No - i'd want one product that can do everything and that
is simple to use. not 2 that are interlinked and cause
problems for users!!
Duh! is this an example of ms thinking?

even if oexpress is free and outlook has to be bought you
would expect the outlook bought version to be able to do
at least everything the "free" version could do and when
it was installed to remove the old program (becuase its
functionality was incorporated in the new) but keep the
data and key settings.

same goes for messenger and msn messenger.

Are you as frustrated by this as much as mere users like
myself?

-----Original Message-----
Hi Blariz,

At this point, you can compare MSN Messenger 6 and

Windows Messenger 5 like Microsoft Outlook

and Outlook Express. Both perform the same basic

functions, but both have features that the

other does not have. For example, Outlook has Exchange

server support, etc. whereas Outlook

Express includes newsgroup support. Would you only allow

one "Outlook" installed, and you

have to choose between the two? Windows Messenger has

support for Exchange IM Servers and

Office Live Communication Servers (SIP), whereas MSN

Messenger 6 does not, but has features

like display pictures and custom emoticons.

Outlook and Outlook Express don't have the "problems"

that we see in Windows Messenger/MSN

Messenger on XP, basically the "features" that work only in MSN Messenger 6 if Windows
Messenger is installed. This is primarily because when

XP was released, Windows Messenger

was considered a part of the base operating system, and

as such, components like Remote

Assistance were written with the knowledge that Windows

Messenger would still be there. The

Messenger development teams can't start overwriting parts

of Windows XP, and as such, until

these Windows components are updated, we'll see this restriction.

Unfortunately it's unlikely this will be "fixed" until

the next Windows release. As a final