Uninstall messenger?

[Stavros]

Is there a way to completely uninstall windows messenger?
Removing it from the windows component, under add/remove
programs, will only remove the program from the start
list. The same goes for outlook express. Can't I unistall
these programs?
The problem is that I have downloaded a latest version of
msn messenger but the original windows messenger keeps
launching and signing in automatically when I run outlook
express. I also want to change the account that relates
to the 'local folders' in outlook express and I think the
only way is by re-installing it.
My computer is fully patched.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

To stop Windows Messenger from starting with Outlook Express, close Outlook Express, then
download and run this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

You can completely remove Windows Messenger, but if you do, you will be preventing Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any other applications that utilize Messenger
from working (or loading without problems). However, if you really want to remove it
completely, for Windows Messenger 4.7, close 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

For Windows Messenger 5, close 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):
msiexec.exe /x {ABEB838C-A1A7-4C5D-B7E1-8B4314B10138}
and then click OK.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com