Need Help with Windows Messenger and Outlook Express!

[Wade S.]

I am using XP Home with all current updates. I also use
Outlook Express ver. 6 for e-mail. Also, I occasionally
use Windows Messenger ver. 5.0. to chat live with
friends. I use cable modem and of course, am always
connected to the Internet.
In Outlook Express/Options I have "unchecked" the
setting for "Automatically Log On To Windows Messenger".
Within Windows Messenger/Options settings, I have
also "unchecked" the setting "Run Windows Messenger When
Windows Starts".
Here is the problem....About 80% of the time, as I
launch and connect to the Internet with Outlook Express,
Windows Messenger usually (and properly)only launches
onto the taskbar, but is NOT "signed in". Then, if I so
choose, I can "sign in" when I wish, and my contacts that
may happen to have Windows Messenger open, will see that
I am now "online".
The behavior that I am asking for advice on, is that
about 20% of the time, when I launch Outlook Express to
check e-mail, Windows Messenger will not only launch, but
it incorrectly will automatically "sign in"!!! Even
though, I have set my options properly to not have this
happen, as described above!
As stated, this seems to happen about only 1 out of
every 5 times I open Outlook Express and doesn't seem to
fall into pattern that I can identify. Most of the time
it works properly. Am I missing something or am I right
in thinking that it SHOULD NOT EVER be "signing in" at
all since I have unchecked those settings?
I am quite savvy with Windows Messenger and with using
Outlook Express but this one has stumped me! Can anyone
offer some info as to why I am occasionally getting the
automatic sign-in? Is it a bug perhaps?
Lastly, I only noticed this happening when I got cable
modem and am always online.

Thanks so much in advance for any tips!
Wade

 

[PA Bear]

OE View>Layout>Contacts (uncheck).

More: http://kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_oe.htm
--
HTH...Please post back to this thread

~Robear Dyer (aka PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

 

[Wade]

Thanks so much PA Bear!

Thanks for the link to that website. There is a lot of
good info there about Outlook Express. Also, I unchecked"
Contacts and now Windows Messenger doesn't even start at
all when Outlook Express opens. Of course, Outlook
Express is opening faster because of that. Nice bonus!
I created a shortcut to now just manually launch Windows
Messenger whenever I want to without having to have
Outlook Express open. However, I am noticing that Windows
Messenger is automatically "signing in" as soon as I
launch it. I would prefer to just launch it without it
immediately signing me in, and check out which of my
contacts are online without myself being seen. Is that
possible?
I realize that AFTER I sign in, that I can click on my
status and change it to "Appear Offline", but that isn't
the best alternative, as it's too late at that point. I
have already been shown to my other contacts as signed
in. As you can tell, my objective is to just check if the
contact I may want to send an instant message to is
online, THEN I will sign in briefly, send them my message
and sign out shortly afterward.
Does anyone know of a setting I can make to achieve this?

TIA!,
Wade

 

[PA Bear]

YW, Wade.

You'll need to customize Windows Messenger so that it doesn't automatically
log on when started. Tools>Options>General, maybe?[/QUOTE]