A lot of users don’t use MSN Messenger but it comes pre-installed and runing on most new machines. It can annoy the hell out of people who want to have control over their machine.
GO figure – you own the machine, the software and everything else but M$ dictates how everything is supposed to work!
Here is a quick way to get MSN Messenger to show up in Add/Remove programs. But note before you do this – if you use Outlook or Outlook Express it will slow down their load times as they try to start up MSN Messenger. (Maybe we can find a fix for this as well!) (Edit See below for the fix!)
- Locate SYSOC.INF in the \Windows\INF folder (hidden file and folder)
- Open it in Notepad
- Locate the line: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
- Remove the word “hide” from the line and save the file.
Now if you check your Add/Remove Windows components inside Add/Remove programs under your control panel.
MSN Messenger will now appear as two objects and allow you to remove them ! As always editing your registry or system files can do permanent harm to your machine. Back up before doing anything and Don’t make other changes just to make changes :)
(Edit: After removing it here is the registry key to prevent the outlook express or outlook delay:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
Right click in the right pane and select New, Dword value. Give it the name Hide Messenger Double click this new entry and set the value to 2.)
_TheHatesMsnAdmiN_
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Always wanted to do this. Thanks
I don’t know about Outlook, but in Outlook Express, you can click Tools -> Options -> General, and then clear the check box for “Automatically log on to Windows Messenger”. Would that stop OE from trying to load it after we follow the instructions in this article?
@Catester – It will still hang a little on load as it uses some of its components regardless! Gotta love Microsoft!
Thanks for stopping by.
Or uninstall Windows Messenger by going into Add Remove Programs, then selecting Add / Remove Windows components and at the bottom of the list that comes up is… Windows Messnger!! Deselect it, click next …. done!
@Chris – Thanks for the tip!
does this work for sp3 I tried it and ms messenger still does not show in add/remove programs
There is also a VB Script that works very well at removing messenger, and as far as I can tell it doesn't have the slow of load times in outlook. You can find the script at:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remo…“> “>http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remo…
There is also a VB Script that works very well at removing messenger, and as far as I can tell it doesn't have the slow of load times in outlook. You can find the script at:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remo…“> “>http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remo…
Yes it works in SP3 are you looking in Add/Remove Windows components inside add/remove programs?
After removing it here is the registry key to prevent the outlook express or outlook delay: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftOutlook Express Right click in the right pane and select New, Dword value. Give it the name Hide Messenger Double click this new entry and set the value to 2.
thanks, no I didn't look there at first. I removed it now I'm glad its gone.
Did you use the registry edit to fix the speed issue in Outlook / Express?
yep sure did, it opens real fast
Thanks for the tip. Yes it works in SP3.I removed it now I’m happy its gone.