Removing Windows Messenger Icon from Tray

[Regina Litman]

I'd like to remove the Windows Messenger icon from my tray. Is there a
way to do this.

Windows XP Professional. Probably Service Pack 1.

Just signed up for Microsoft .Net Passport within past few days to
register newly installed Plus!

Now noticing new icon in tray in bottom right corner of screen. Mostly
green with a red circle containing white "x" in on bottom right corner
of icon.

Put mouse over new icon - displayed "Windows Messenger - Not Signed In".
Right clicked on icon - got mostly shaded-out options, but three were
available to me: Sign in, Open, Exit.

Naturally, I wanted Exit, but I got a message saying that other programs
were running using this, so I couldn't exit. Examples of possible
programs that were running were Outlook (don't use), Outlook Express
(don't use), MSN Explorer (don't use), and Internet Explorer. The
last-named one was running, so I closed it down. Tried to Exit again,
got same message.

After exploring Google Groups for postings to Microsoft newsgroups that
could help me, I did the following:

1. Right-clicked on icon and chose Open.

2. Tools | Options | Preferences, with intention of unchecking "Run this
program when Windows starts". However, it was already unchecked.
Explored other options to see if I can keep the icon from showing up in
the tray, but I didn't see anything.

3. Cancelled out of this. Closed program. Got balloon message coming out
of icon at bottom of screen telling me that Windows Messenger was still
running.

To reiterate, is there any way I can remove the Windows Messenger icon
from the tray.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Regina,

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 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.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Regina Litman]

Yes, I have Norton Antivirus Twenty-oh-three installed. I tried to
follow your instructions, but when I got to Options (this is the Options
in the yellow area that has a drop-down area, correct?), there was no
Instant Messenger choice. The choices I could see are: Norton Utilities,
Norton AntiVirus, Norton CleanSweep, and Web Tools. Am I in the wrong
place, or do I need to go into one of these (probably Web Tools)?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Regina,

Choose Norton Antivirus and then look through the Options there, unfortunately I don't have a
copy of Norton Systemworks 2003, (which is what I believe you have and does include Norton
Antivirus) to be more specific about where this option actually is in that package.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Regina Litman]

Thanks for the advice. Apparently, rebooting took the icon away from my
tray, so I don't have the problem any more. If it occurs again, I will
try your suggestion.