I understand many people here love to utilize instant messaging with the variety of messenger services out there. I don't use any personally because I don't find it important enough in my life to have. One of the annoying things about MSN Messenger is that you have to sign up for a Passport account, which I absolutely refuse to do.

So, if you're like me, MSN Messenger is nothing more than an annoyance popping up on your computer every time you run IE or OE. I found this and it's a pretty good way to permenantly get rid of MSN Messenger.

First, exit anything that could be utilizing the Messenger, even if it's in the background. This includes Outlook Express, Internet Explorer....heck, just make sure you've got nothing running and close all the windows and exit the MSN Messenger icon in your notification tray. Click "Start", then "Run". At the command prompt, cut and paste the following line..

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Press enter. It'll ask you to exit everything before continuing. After pressing enter (or the "Return" key for you Commodore64 users out there ), you'll see a status bar removing the files for MSN Messenger. You'll have to restart your computer after it finishes removing the MSN Messenger.

I just opened it's preferences and unchecked load at startup right after i installed windows, havn't seen it since. I use trillian exclusevly for everything.

You can also remove it by going to Add/Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components and unselected Messanger.

you can also tell it not to load when windows starts instead of doing all the hard work of looking for the damn files!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Spectrum You can also remove it by going to Add/Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components and unselected Messanger.

That's how I stumbled upon this tweak. I had removed it from the Windows components list, restarted my computer, and opened OE6 and guess what? The MSN Messenger icon is still here in the notification tray. So, I right-clicked to open it and it was running (but I wasn't signed in). Went back to the Add/Remove Windows components and it was still unselected. Closed everything, opened a DOS prompt, and tried to use a DOS command to get rid of it. Still didn't work.

Since running that command line, I have yet to see it reappear nor does the Messenger folder appear under Program Files. MS would like you to believe that you've removed it from your system by using the Add/Remove option but it's still there. This option is for those that want it permenantly deleted off their computers.

Rob

Edit: Is this being directed towards me?

Quote: Originally Posted by stereomod you can also tell it not to load when windows starts instead of doing all the hard work of looking for the damn files!!!!

nope, just a hint in case yah don't want to have to root through the hdd!!

GO to program files, messenger, and rename the main Messenger exe to something but what its called right now. THat way windows cant find it and it wont load, thats how I get rid of it, it works great!!!!

I got this line of code from Potatoe Joe and keep it stored in my PM box for everytime I format

To remove Windows Messenger:

1. Copy / Paste the following to a RemoveMsgr.bat file:

@echo off
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
@echo REGEDIT4>%TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg
@echo.>>%TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg
@echo [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express]>>%TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg
@echo "Hide Messenger"=dword:00000002>>%TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg
@echo.>>%TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg
regedit /s %TMP%\RemoveMsgr.reg

2. Close all Outlook Express and Internet Explorer Windows.

3. Run the RemoveMsgr.bat file.

4. Press Yes to the dialog box that asks you to close all effected applications.

5. Shutdown and restart Windows XP.

6. When you log on, a dialog box will offer to cleanup your personal settings.