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General discussion

How to Remove MSN Messenger Service?

Dec 17, 2003 4:24AM PST

All of a sudden MSN Messenger Service has started appearing in my Systray when I open my OE5. Adaware and Spybot won't pick it up and I want it outa' here. It is not listed in Startup, or in Add/Remove, but it does show in Start>Programs>Accessories>Communications. If I try to just delete the MSN Messenger.exe, I am prompted to use Add/Remove. How can I if it's not there? I don't mind going into the registry to get rid of this, but I will need to know exactly what to remove. Yes, I use Hotmail, but I have never installed any shortcuts to it on my computer, nor have I used it close to the time when this icon started to appear. From the dates of the files, it looks as if it has been on the computer since it was new, but now it's alive! Any help in its removal will be appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Re:How to Remove MSN Messenger Service?
Dec 17, 2003 4:54AM PST

Try this for Outlook Express
1) Open Outlook Express
2) Click Tools, Options
3) Click General tab
4) Uncheck the box for Automatically log on to Windows Messenger
5) Click OK

Bob

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It Was Hiding
Dec 17, 2003 8:51AM PST

It was already unchecked in OE Tools.
I finally found the program hiding in: Add/Remove>WindowsSetUp>Communications>Details, so I unchecked/removed it. There seem to be a few files with "MSN" "Chat" etc. still in Windows, but I am hesitant to just start deleting anything with "Windows" or "Microsoft" in the name. If anybody knows exactly what the file remnants of the program might be called, please let me know. Thanks.

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I once used MSN's online technical support to completely remove an older
Dec 17, 2003 9:10PM PST
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Do I Really Need A New Version?
Dec 18, 2003 2:15AM PST

I have no use for MSN Messenger -- that I know of. Do I need to have it installed in order to run some other program?

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Re:Do I Really Need A New Version?
Dec 20, 2003 10:47PM PST

Not that I know of. What has worked well for me is to simply rename the Messenger folder (found in Program Files) to something like "Messenger-no." As a result, Windows won't be able to locate the msmsgs.exe file and so Messenger will not load. Plus, you can always rename it again if you decide at some point to use it.