MSMSGS.EXE, can I remove it?

[Jeff]

I am running XP Home, SP1 in a small home network. I do not use Instant
messaging or AOL.

I notice that MSMSGS.EXE is one my always running processes, using 5.5 MB of
memory. Do I need this? If not, how do I disable it and what would be the
consequences of doing that?

Thanks.

 

[Phil]

To uninstall Messenger, try this:
Close down Messenger (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

 

[S.Sengupta]

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/tune-05.html
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remove.htm

regards,
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org

I am running XP Home, SP1 in a small home network. I do not use Instant
messagi

ng or AOL.

 

[Jeff]

Thank you. It worked.

What exactly am I giving up when I remove messenger? There are 2 meesengers
in XP and I am confused which does what.
Thanks.

--

Jeff Williams
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Phil]

There is only one windows messenger that comes with windows xp. The
messenger service in xp has nothing to do with the instant message program
windows messenger. MSN messenger is similar to windows messenger, but a
separate app that you have to download and install.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am running XP Home, SP1 in a small home network. I do not use Instant
messaging or AOL.

I notice that MSMSGS.EXE is one my always running processes, using 5.5 MB of
memory. Do I need this? If not, how do I disable it and what would be the
consequences of doing that?

That is the Windows Instant Messenger. It will probably have been
loaded as a side matter when loading Outlook express. In OE Tools -
Options, uncheck 'Logon to Windows Messenger' and in its View - Layout
uncheck 'Contacts' (which uses Messenger to manage them).

Also Start - Run MSConfig.exe and make sure in the startup page that
there is not a line to load msmsgs.exe - if so, uncheck it. Exit - do
not bother to reboot, but next time you do there will be a message about
`System Configuration`. Check the `Do not show again` box and exit

 

[Jeff]

Thank you very much.