How do I disable MS Messenger?

[Humilliation]

I've done everything I could think of to disable this commie messenger except delete it from my system. How can I get MS Messenger to stop popping up everytime I open outlook express? I don't want to have to delete it, I don't think I can, can I? Is it like incorporated into outlook or something?

[Todo]

heres a link to delete messenger, although i know you said disable it, but here ya go
<a href="http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=44" target="_blank">http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=44</a>

[Todo]

I found this link too. hope this helps

<a href="http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=533" target="_blank">http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/display.asp?id=533</a>

[confus-ed]

I think you are right its either - messenger installed then always run with Outlook Express or messenger not installed.

That's not very good.

I guess you want to run msn messenger just when you want to, seems eminantly sensible to me too, however after much trawling and a couple of installs/uninstalls I'm no further on...

Another e-mail client, though I really like outlook Express....presumably like you?

You can stop it running at startup from the tools menu in it, options, preferences and in the background too, but I think you know that already.

However you could try this :-

Rename msmsgs.exe (the offending beast) as something else and then change the shortcut from programs, messenger to that, outlook Express should start just fine, if you then want Messenger use the renamed link..

I guess MS never thought anyone would want it this way, that's why they have the hide option in it.

But if like me you don't want six hundred entries in your crash box....... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Humilliation]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, I just want to get that crap off my system or disable it, deleting MS Messenger would be best. It's bad enough I gotta use WinXP on my new laptop let alone having the messenger pop up everytime I go for e-mail. I've unchecked every box and it still pops up like the plague, I'll try the link Todo posted. Thanks again guys.

[Sowulo]

In your \windows\inf\ folder there is a file called 'sysoc.inf'. You can open this file with notepad and then do an Edit/Replace. For 'Find what' enter ',hide,' and for 'Replace with' enter ',,'. Save and exit. Now you can delete messenger under 'add/remove' Windows components in Control Panel.

[Humilliation]

Thanks guys, I removed Windows messenger and also downloaded powertoys. Powertoys enabled me to cut 20 seconds off of my boot time by way of making the waiting period before login choices shorter.

Thanks again to all of you who replied.