Removing MSN Messenger from Windows 2K?

[High_Jumbllama]

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

[Kurt]

Originally posted by High_Jumbllama
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

If you can't bother with registry editing, there's always the JV Powertools (www.jv16.org). Go the preference menu in the registry tool, uninstall submenu and select show hidden items, select messenger then click the nice remove button.

[High_Jumbllama]

No editing needed. Just enter the command at a command prompt.

[Gurm]

That's not a good solution either, as it fails to work with the latest service packs to 2k and XP. Generates dependency errors and doesn't really uninstall it any more.

Gpar_

[High_Jumbllama]

In XP I've removed it in Add/Remove Programs Add/Remove Windows Components on the 6 XP machines where I work. That and MSN Explorer. This is with SP1.

In 2K, does it get installed with the service pack? I've never installed any messenger programs just removed them from work and school machines.

My curiosity is peaked now. I shall have to install and fight the little bugger.

Checking . . .

[KeiFront]

Originally posted by High_Jumbllama
In 2K, does it get installed with the service pack? I've never installed any messenger programs just removed them from work and school machines.

It doesn't get installed.

[Gurm]

Check again. Removing it with add/remove programs leaves the executable, and references to it in the registry.

Removing it with that command line gets rid of it, but mangles some dependencies. There is no known perfect way to rid yourself of it in XP SP1, so I just leave it installed but turned off.

Gpar_

[Zao]

*argh*
I used the command line, and now my system lack several cute DLLs.
Would it fix itself if I downloaded the latest one and installed it?

[Zao]

It decided that I didn't need the Visual C++ Runtime anymore.
Do anyone know where to download it?
Would it get fixed if I re-installed VS6 eller VS.NET 2003

I'm scared right now, who knows what else the uninstall removed.

[KeiFront]

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 SP5 Runtime

[High_Jumbllama]

Zao, did the runtimes linked to by Keifront fix your problem?

[Zao]

Haven't had time to download and install them yet.

[paulcs]

Oh my God. I'm having a big problem with this myself. Actually, it's not a real problem at all. At this point, it's just the principle. I spent a couple of hours that I will never get back attempting to disable it yesterday.

Unlike past installs of Windows XP, I installed the service pack before disabling Messenger. Then I used the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) to disable it both as a startup item and a service. This has worked for me in the past, but the damn Messenger icon started popping up in the system tray whenever I opened Outlook Express.

I disabled Messenger in the program itself, although that option has mysteriously disappeared.

I disabled in Outlook Express, which did exactly nothing.

I used the "install/unistall Windows componets" button on the Start Menu. That worked about as well as disabling it in Outlook Express. It did put on a bit of a show and made believe it was doing something.

It doesn't load at startup. It's not running as a service. It doesn't attempt to connect. It doesn't seem to do anything but stick that silly little icon in the system tray. It only appears when OE is opened and then disappears when it's closed.

Paul

[Admiral]

...but the damn Messenger icon started popping up in the system tray whenever I opened Outlook Express.

That's also the part that annoyed the heck out of me and renaming the executable did the job, real solution or not

[Gurm]

Umm...

Ok, how hard is this?

1. Install Windows XP.
2. Install as many damn service packs or whatever as you want.
3. Fire up Messenger. Yeah, run it yourself.
4. Go to its properties, under Tools->Options->Preferences.
5. Uncheck "Run this program when Windows Starts".
6. Uncheck "Allow this program to run in the background".
7. Close the program. It will NEVER COME UP AGAIN, unless you run OE. What in ****'s name are you using OE for?

Gpar_

P.S. There's a quick and simple registry key to disable it from running with OE.