Windows Messenger... oops! - Stuart Gunter
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Stuart Gunter

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Windows Messenger... oops!

I've just tried to uninstall Windows Messenger from my Windows XP computer, but it seems it's impossible to remove it! What the hell?!?! It's a selectable component of Windows XP when you go to add or remove Windows components, but it doesn't actually make a difference! The only real difference is that now I can't control it!

Since “uninstalling” it, I've received a number of IM messages through Windows Messenger when I'm clearly signed out of MSN Messenger. That sounds correct, right? Well, yes, if I was running both IM applications. But Windows Messenger (which is really crap, if you don't mind me saying) has been removed... or so Windows has led me to believe.

So how does one uninstall Windows Messenger? I refuse to use it because I think it's really rubbish. I love MSN Messenger, so I use that instead. But it seems now that Windows Messenger keeps me signed in, whenever MSN Messenger is not signed in. So technically I'm seldom offline.

I just don't know. Maybe I should install Linux at home, and stop bothering with these small frustrations.

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Published Jun 11 2005, 11:25 PM by stuartg
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Comments

 

Justin Lovell (MVP) said:

Two things:

* In your Outlook and/or Outlook Express, just ensure that in the options the integration is not enabled. (Most probably the *real* cause of your frustration)

* Open the options window of the MSN Messenger and make double sure that it is not enabled to start up on log on.
June 12, 2005 9:26 AM
 

Stuart Gunter said:

Thanks Justin. I've never enabled integration with Outlook, so that won't be a problem. I just checked it now in case it's the default, but it's not enabled.

Also... I want MSN Messenger to run on startup. I use it a heck of a lot. What I don't want is for Windows Messenger to start up. I've "uninstalled" it, so theoretically it shouldn't even be able to run. But it does. And I have no way of controlling it now... not that I can see.

It's a weird one. And quite annoying. I think I'm going to "reinstall" Windows Messenger, and try changing options. Then "uninstall" Windows Messenger again.

This is so stupid. I should be able to uninstall it, regardless of the settings, and have it no longer running on my PC.

Windows Messenger now counts as "junkware".
June 12, 2005 10:19 AM
 

Paul Sainsbury said:

Hi,

I had the same problem... Do a search for something like "remove windows messenger" and you should find some useful help. What worked for me was some command line thing which bascially tells WinXP to remove it. After that it never came back... Its a pain in the butt to get rid of.

From
Paul
June 12, 2005 12:35 PM
 

Stuart Gunter said:

You legend... thanks for the help! Can't believe I didn't think of that. Sometimes I worry about myself.

For those who are battling with this issue, here's the MS support article on it:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302089

Surely this should be resolved in a Windows Update???
June 12, 2005 1:04 PM
 

PieterG said:

you could also remove it by using a sneaky little trick....
in your windows/inf/sysoc.inf
there is a line that looks like
msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
remove the hide like so
msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
then goto add/remove programs and click on the windows components and remove it. Reboot and it should be gone :)
Don't tell anyone I told you :), just kidding.
June 13, 2005 11:00 AM

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