Deleting Windows Messenger

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 8 Jul 2002 4:18 pm

In Windows XP, does anyone know how to delete this program from 'msconfig'? The icon comes up in the lower right corner when Outlook Express opens, so I went in to Options and unchecked the "Automatically log on to Windows Messenger" box, AND unchecked the box under Tools, in the Windows Messenger area where it says "Run this program when Windows starts".

There must be someplace in 'msconfig' to disable this.

Any help would be appreciated.

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 8 Jul 2002 5:36 pm

You should remove this system bloat unless you actually use it for messaging. There are several different methods. Follow these links for specific instructions:

<ul>[*]One way</li>

[*]Another way</li>[/list]

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 8 Jul 2002 6:29 pm

Thanks Jeff,

I'll try that, however, in my 'Windows Components Wizard', I don't even have the Window Messenger listed, so there's no box to uncheck there. How can that be explained?

Thank you very much.

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 9 Jul 2002 6:42 am

It is my knowledge that Microsoft REALLY wants MS Messenger to run. Messenger is looking for your passport account, which you had to create when you loaded winXP. If you already had a Hotmail account it would accept that for your passport account.

This is why microsoft makes it very difficult to remove messenger from XP.

To me, it is not worth the hassle.

Mark

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 10 Jul 2002 3:24 am

I don't even have the Window Messenger listed, so there's no box to uncheck there. How can that be explained?

This is another example of Microsoft's vaunted "integration" of applications with the OS. Just like IE. As such, you can't remove it using the standard methods.

You can find it hiding amongst the list of running services and can disable it from there, but not remove it. The two methods I gave above, however, should take care of it.

If you aren't using Messenger, you really should delete it. Aside from being an unnecessary drain on system resources, it leaves a TCP/IP port open. That's a poor security practice, particularly if you use a broadband connection.

There are actually many unnecessary and unsafe services running under a standard XP install. The most notorious being Universal Plug 'n' Play, a known security hole. You can find several web sites that give a list of XP services, explain what they do, and tell you how to disable or remove them. I don't have the links handy at the moment but you should be able to find them. If not, let me know and I'll dig some up.

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 10 Jul 2002 6:16 am

Jeff,

I like to use ALL products and tests from GRC.com

Steve Gibson is the programmer and developer and he has a application called "unPlug & Pray" which disables that big opening in the system. He also has an application called "Leak Test" which lets you test your firewall.

GRC.com is always under attack by people with denial of service attacks. You can read about the most recent one here
The article is a little heavy on the tech jargon, but if you can get through that it is worth the read.

Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 10 July 2002 at 08:14 AM.]

Mark Krutke · Post by **Mark Krutke** » 10 Jul 2002 7:55 am

Jeff,

Thanks. If I remove just those 4 letters (hide) from the notepad and save it, should that disable the Messenger?

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 10 Jul 2002 9:12 am

If I remove just those 4 letters (hide) from the notepad and save it, should that disable the Messenger?

Ooops, forgot to answer that. Unhiding it will allow you to disable the service by the traditional method. Do this:

<ol>[*]Locate the "sysoc.inf" file.
[*]Open the file from within Notepad.
[*]Locate this line within the file:
<code>msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7</code>
[*]Remove the word "hide" but leave the commas. It should read:
<code>msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7</code>
[*]Go back to the services list and Messenger should now appear. Click Disable and reboot. This should prevent Messenger from loading at startup.[/list]

Disclaimer

At a minimum, run System Restore before making any changes to your configuration. This will save a snapshot of your settings which you can use to rebuild things if you screw up. Save it to a different drive, preferably external (floppy, CD, Zip). Better yet would be a true backup of your drive.

Mark A: An excellent site, I agree. I go back a looooong way with Steve's stuff (Spinrite 3.0 days)

Rob Hamilton · Post by **Rob Hamilton** » 13 Jul 2002 9:49 am

Yet another reason not to "upgrade" to XP. Microsoft seems to want its fingers and eyeballs in your wallet ALL the time.