http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302089

find more by searching mskb for 'remove messenger'

amateur!

back to the shire!

Not only can't you remove a messenger apparently you are draining people's strength:

http://www.brains-n-brawn.com/

Cant you do that trick where you edit some.inf file and Messenger then shows up in add remove programs

I just installed MSN messenger which is the 6.x whatever version. Windows Messenger won't go away but ... MSN will be there and it works like a charm. What's the difference? I don't know but some people do.

"Instant Messenger"? What do you mean?

AOL Instant Messenger (aka AIM)?
Yahoo! Messenger?
MSN Messenger? (I'm guessing you're using 6.1 of this)
Windows Messenger? (I'm guessing you're using 4.7 of this)

You should note that none of the above products are the same thing. Yahoo Messenger won't replace AIM. MSN Messenger won't replace Windows Messenger.

And, unlike the others, Windows doesn't want you to remove Windows Messenger.

Chances are, you can "uninstall" Windows Messenger (or let Windows pretend you did, if you have XP SP1), uncheck Outlook Express's Messenger functionality, and Windows Messenger will mysteriously and magically appear in the notification area of your task bar every time you open Outlook Express.

That is because Windows is smarter than you and knows what's best for you. It's for your own good, just realize that you don't always know what you really *need*, so Windows has to look out for you.

Rory, one comment

here, here!

blasted software showing up in my process list is like a chigger under my skin.

Bilbo (if that is, in fact, your *real* name) -

"find more by searching mskb for 'remove messenger'

amateur!"

I'm fine with googling for things that are hard, but this shouldn't be hard.

I went to the Add/Remove Windows Components menu, and *removed* Messenger.

In spite of this, it's still there. When I delete it, something else copies it back.

Should there really have to be a Knowledge Base article called "How to Prevent Windows Messenger from Running on a Windows XP-Based Computer"?

WTF? It'd be nice if the uninstall feature worked.

The problem is that XP SP1 added a *fake* uninstall option for Windows Messenger. Before SP1, you had to hack the .ini file so that WM would appear in add/remove programs, and then you actually could uninstall. MS has faked the add/remove options for SP1 (just like they faked the crash after removing IE from Windows during the trial, damn that's some balls) and now you don't actually uninstall Windows Messenger, you just remove the option of starting it normally. Unfortunately, they didn't remove the ability for your programs to start Windows Messenger, so they will still do so, whether or not it will actually run or work.

Go ahead and try to use Windows Messenger after it appears in your notification area. It probably won't work. Isn't that wonderful? An uninstalled program that you can not uninstall that will still run occassionally but that you can't actually run.

THAT, my friends, is innovation.

Uh, it's easy -- Format c:, fdisk, reinstall Windows, reinstall 6.1. Geez, people make this so difficult, and all it takes are four easy steps.

Submit, bitch.

I also fought version 4.7 for some time while 6.x was already installed. It kept getting back because Outlook still thought it was the current one and kept starting it.

After some registry, file system and other hacking spread out over a couple of months (i.e. I have no idea what I did exactly) I managed to get it off my system.

And of course, just after that a colleague mailed me the following that he had found somewhere on the net.

=== BEGIN ===

An irritating program called .Net Messenger Service has installed itself on my computer, I don't know how, and can't be removed with Add/Remove Programs.

How can I get rid of it?

I consider it a type of virus, becaus it itstalled itself without my knowledge or permission.

~ Qunck

---------------------------------

1. Click on Start.

2. Click on Run.

3. Copy and paste this line into the box:

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

You'll get a prompt at the beginning of the process warning you to exit the program and make sure it isn't running.

You'll get another one afterwards showing that it's indeed gone.

=== END ===

Not sure if this is exactly what's also described in the KB article. I'm lazy that way... ;-)

Wait, a little update. The colleague I mentioned reacted to me sending him a copy of your open letter with the following: since finding the above 'solution' he found out that this older virus-like version seems to be needed as part of Windows XP remote assistance. If you remove it with the above hack, remote assistance seems to stop working. Freaky...

Amen, Rory

and thanks to Pattern Guru for the tip, removed my copy cleanly and its finally stopped loading now. Shame about remote assistance but I didnt use it anyway and I would put up with much worse to get rid of the 4.7 pest.

You can't uninstall evil.

Man, I had this *exact* same problem.

I came up with my own solution - kill the b*stard process with task manager, then rename the exe. Along with all the other 'run msconfig and remove it from the run progs' and 'use add/remove' this did the trick.

Now, when I install Windows, I purposely don't install Windows Messenger.

WTF is the difference between MSN Messenger and 'Windows' Messenger anyway!?

Andy - Windows Messenger is a thing that shipped with XP only (then later versions like v5 added support for other OSes). It supports SIP, Remote Assistance, is a client for Live Communications Server, etc.

MSN Messenger is nearly the same (of course), but (don't flame me for this!) is more targetted at consumers. It supports games, message logging, background images, etc.

They are nearly the same app, but slightly different. I'm really annoyed that Microsoft made two of them.

Rory, did you get your problem fixed? IIRC, you can also (without editing .inf files) execute this from the command line or run menu -

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\windows\inf\wmp.inf,Uninstall

I stopped using MSN messenger at version 6.0 when it's installer decided to add a reference all of my GAC assemblies. From then on I could never remove them with gacutil /u. Although this problem was posted on several boards, never heard a peep out of MSN devs. USE TRILLIAN.

Louis,

"RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\windows\inf\wmp.inf,Uninstall"

This command will uninstall Windows Media Player. I thought the point was to get rid of Windows Messenger.

My favorite method of "removing" Windows XP's Windows Messenger is by never installing it. If you're familiar with unattended installs, you'll know that you can use an unattend.txt/winnt.sif file to specify some or all of your installations options. Add the following to your unattended file to make sure you NEVER see Windows Messenger. You're then free to install the latest MSN Messenger 6.1 or whatever your favorite IM client happens to be that day.

[Components]
msmsgs=Off

Note: Yes, this is totally undocumented. No, it may not work forever. Yes, it works for Windows XP Gold, SP1, and the current SP2 beta.

Brad -

"My favorite method of "removing" Windows XP's Windows Messenger is by never installing it."

Little late now :)

Thanks for the tip, though...

I was happily using MSN Messenger 6.1 for a while without any need to uninstall Windows Messenger, and then one day Windows Messenger seemed to be silently auto-launching (and crashing) regularly.

I couldn't figure out why for about a week, but then I found out:
Norton AntiVirus InstantMessenger protection was launching it! By unchecking 'MSN Instant Messenger' from NAV Options -> Instant Messenger -> What instant messengers to protect, my machine returned to happy coexistence of MSN and Windows Messenger.

-i

Hey, I got the damned thing to stop launching when I ran Outlook Express - that was good enough for me :)

I'm sure that up in all those comments someone already said this, but I have a batch file with the following in it:
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

One of the first things I do every time I rebuild my machine because of accrual of strange and unnatural behaviors, which is WAY too often. The hazards of rabid experiementation with software I guess.

BTW, the one big downside I found: If you do this and then try to use the whiteboard or app sharing from MSN messenger, guess what. No worky. Must re-install Win Messenger to get those features back. Friggin bastards. Make the products separable, because they too closely resemble a virus when co-existing.

I dont know any other way to disable/delete or block Windows Explorer.

So, I did two things:

1. Denied Windows Messenger right to access the Internet(Using my firewall)

2. Got pissed one day and renamed the file "msmsgs.exe" to "msmsgs1.exe" but the damn thing worked even after that. Then I renamed it to "msmsgs.ex"

And now, I am a happy person... (atleast I have some satisfaction that *it* is not working!)

It didnt come back.. (though, I know its there)

Strange, i've never had this problem. But i always do this when i go to someone's Windows:

Run OE, find the messenger settings, disable auto start

Go to service manager, put the messenger service to manual start.

Please help me..

I have MSN Messenger version 6.x and I don't know how to remove the old version 4.x of MSN Messenger (I dont need it anymore)...Could someone help me please how to remove my old version..???...and also how to delete from task bar..???

Thank you very much...

Please help me..

I have MSN Messenger version 6.x and I don't know how to remove the old version 4.x of MSN Messenger (I dont need it anymore)...Could someone help me please how to remove my old version..???...and also how to delete from task bar..???

Thank you very much...

It's easy to remove version 4.7....

How to remove Windows Messenger 4.7 permanently
Click on Start.
Click on Run.
Copy and paste this line into the box: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove



You'll get a prompt at the beginning of the process warning you to exit the program and make sure it isn't running. You'll get another one afterwards showing that it's indeed gone.

1 word: nlite. Search it.
You can drop most, if not all, of Windows' biggest annoyances to the tune of a pretty hefty speed increase if you turn of indexing and thumbnails. The best thing is that you can load drivers directly into the install CD without any hassle at all.
I know there are geekier ways to do this, but I don't get paid to dick with Windows and I do get paid to do other things, so the easy way out is fine by me.

thank you for helping me to remove messenger 4.7 it was so quick and easy

Is really so easy?

how am i going to stop my old msn messesger?HELP!

Crikey, folks, just 'read' the thread! Honestly, some people are so fuckin' impatient.

Conflicts between these two instances can cause all sorts of problems, especially when combined with Norton. Random CTD's and BSOD's (crashes to desktop, and Blue Screens Of Death) tend to follow where two versions of MSN co-exist.

Just use the above quick fix, and if you need a mate to help you remotely assist you one day when your rig falls over, you just need to remember to first re-install MSN 4.7

P.S. With reference to not being able to 'uninstall evil', are you sure it doesnt mention it in Revelations somewhere?

I met a missionary once up this way, but he ate all my fish and was trying to convince me that crucifixion was a good thing...

Hi just wondering has anyone here had a problem with remote assitance , oepning it from start menu or you help and support programme ? since you have installed either expleore 7 or live messanger from windows

as my problem is i cant open anything to do with remote assistant from start

Today I installed the latest updates and then removed some useless programs/processe that were taking up memory - two being MSN messenger and wondows messenger (I use trillian for chat and e-mail access). First I had to do that stupid trick in the ini file to make messengers appear in the add/remove window components menu. I think it's cute how Microsoft made the menu so that you don't really know whether you are adding or removing the selected components and I also think it's cute how they purposely bugged the removal process so that you never really uninstall it. After several tries and reboots, I was at least rid of the programs running at start-up but to my dismay, I also lost Internet Explorer and Calculator!!! Is this my pennance for being so insulent as to want to trim some of Microsoft's fat from my computer? Intersting side-note...since I had to reinstall Internet Explorer, I decided to try 7.0 Beta 3. Once installed, a screen pops up asking you to set up certain "recommended" preferences (more like mandatory). I refuse to join their Customer Experience Improvement Program (which states "If you accept, we'll collect anonymous information about your hardware configuration and how you use Internet Explorer to identify trends and usage patterns." - maybe I think it's none of their damn business! Unfortunately, when I click "save your settings", I get an error message and the next time I open IE, the stupid screen shows up again. Another cute little bug...the " Go to your Home page now, and don't show this again." link doesn't work either. I hear Mac calling me...

Rory fights with Windows messenger.

Take Outs for 9 March 2004

Removing Windows Messenger 4.7

How to remove Windows Messenger 4.7 permanently

I also hate MSN Messenger

I also hate MSN Messenger

New MSN Messenger vulnerability: An open letter to the MSN Messenger group(s)

How to remove Windows Messenger 4.7 permanently