Should I uninstall Windows Messenging, now that I have MSN Messenger?

[Rod]

My sister and I were chatting online recently. She is using MSN Messenger
and I've been using Windows Messenger (which I think comes with XP) for a
couple of years. She sent me a "smile" which could only be seen via MSN
Messenger, so I went out, downloaded it and installed it. Now it appears to
me that both MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger are competing for the same
port/service/whatever.

So, I am wondering if I should uninstall Windows Messenger to leave MSN
Messenger. And if so, how do I uninstall Windows Messenger?

Rod

 

[Guest]

You can use all of the little icons such as smile etc. and a whole lot more of
them with windows messenger 4.7 w/o msn messenger.When communicating
with messenger,to another person,you need to use the instant message,and
you need a .NET passport from microsoft,or go to:http://passport.net
As for uninstalling windows messenger,add/remove programs,windows compon-
ents,uncheck the box for messenger,you shouldnt run both.....

 

[Russell JF Kirk]

It is possible to run both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger at the
same time. I do this as I separate out work and personal usage of IM. I
use Windows Messenger for my work account, soon to move to Office
Communicator, and MSN Messenger for personal usage. There is one major
caveat to this being that you can not have both applications
automatically log you in as they use the same registry key for storing
the account info. So for my setup both applications automatically start
and Windows Messenger automatically logs my work account in. I then have
to manually change the account details and login to my personal account
via MSN Messenger.

If you do set both applications to automatically login then when the
application which is second to start logins the first will logout and
report that you have been logged in elsewhere. For example, Windows
Messenger starts first and logs in then MSN Messenger starts and logs in
the same account. Windows Messenger will be logged out stating you have
been logged in elsewhere and the account will be active under MSN
Messenger.

The reason you can run both applications at the same time is that whilst
Windows Messenger uses a SIP stack, MSN Messenger uses a proprietary
protocol.

 

[Rod]

Thanks, Andrew.

Rod

You can use all of the little icons such as smile etc. and a whole lot
more of
them with windows messenger 4.7 w/o msn messenger.When communicating
with messenger,to another person,you need to use the instant message,and
you need a .NET passport from microsoft,or go to:http://passport.net
As for uninstalling windows messenger,add/remove programs,windows compon-
ents,uncheck the box for messenger,you shouldnt run both.....

 

[Rod]

I only log into one service, so they're both competing to get to it. So, I
think I'll get rid of Windows Messenger.

What is Office Communicator?

Rod

 

[Russell JF Kirk]

Agreed, if you use just the one IM account and you're not in a corporate
environment then MSN Messenger is better suited to your needs. Note
though that if you use remote assistance or the desktop sharing tools
then Windows Messenger must still be installed on the machine. Note I've
not checked this out yet, but read it on somewhere reliable in the last
week or so.

Rather than uninstalling, I'd suggest you go to Tools, Options,
Preferences in Windows Messenger and make sure that the check box for
automatic start is unchecked. I would also suggest you uncheck the
"allow Windows Messenger to run in the background" check box for the
time being.

If this doesn't help, come back via the newsgroup, there are a few other
possible but I don't want to over-complicate things.

You can read about Office Communicator at
http://www.microsoft.com/office/rtc/client.mspx. To hugely simplify it's
an extension of Windows Messenger for a corporate environment whilst
further extending e-collaboration features.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Rod,

The latest client for Live Communications Server, if you're not in a corporation where Live
Comm. Server is deployed, then it's useless to you.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Rod,

You can uninstall Windows Messenger, but by doing so, Application Sharing, Whiteboard and
Remote Assistance (within MSN Messenger) will no longer function.

If this is fine with you, just remove Windows Messenger again by closing down Messenger if
it's running (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
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.