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imported_Rugbee

Uninstall windows messenger
If it is safe to uninstall Windows Messenger dose anyone know how to uninstall or permanently delete it from the system lol
I attempted to disable windows messenger from staring up every time windows boots but it did not do any good and I am not sure if Windows Messenger is needed for other apps such as windows updates and so on. I figured that I would ask to see if it would be safe and not cause harm to my computer (I am running Win XP Pro)

 

PsYcHoLoGiCaL

How didn't disabling it work? Did you complete these (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302089) steps? I personally haven't uninstalled and if you are just using your computer for typical desktop use then disabling it should eliminate all of the problems that are associated with it, especially if you are running a firewall.

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BloodNOil

Why do you want to disable windows messenger?

Is it the chat client or the annoying pop-up service?

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imported_Rugbee

I do not use Window Messenger and when booting the system the little WM logo on the bottom of the computer takes to long to load. I figured since I never use windows messenger and it is delaying start up (takes a good minute and 30 seconds to fully load) that I might as well either delete, or uninstall it.(Plus I had herd that windows messenger is a spammers paradise,
I tried disabling windows messenger by doing the ole [start [administrative tolls {and running programs routine but it did not work, windows messenger is still running in the back round. I was at a website, cant remember the name, Dons windows xp tips and trips, something to that effect and they had a code that was supposed to be copied and pasted into the run command in order to parentally remove windows messenger from the computer. I did not try doing that though because I was not sure if windows messenger was needed by other parts of the OS to run properly.

FitShaced

have you tried going to the add/remove files in the control panel and removing it from there?thats the 1st thing id do if i didnt want messanger anyways

 

PsYcHoLoGiCaL

Ok, I think you are confused. First off there are two things called "Windows Messenger", one is a service, and the other is an instant messaging client. The service is mainly what you get spam though in the form of pop ups, and it’s also the service that contained an exploit that allowed the famous MS Blaster worm to spread in the form of pop ups. The IM client is self explanatory, and the two have absolutely nothing to do with one another.

It sounds to me like the you might have already disabled the Windows Messenger service, that is without a doubt what that tips page you were talking about was mentioning, so if you followed those steps mentioned in that article you are probably set there.

Now if you want to remove or disable the IM client, which would be the program showing that icon in your system tray, you can either go to add or remove programs and uninstall it, or you can disable it from starting up after a reboot by going to start --> run --> msconfig --> startup tab --> then uncheck the messenger.

Let me know if I interpreted everything correctly, because I'm still not 100% sure that this is what your question was regarding.

imported_Rugbee

This is a trip,
I done everything that everybody mentioned and windows messenger is still booting up when the computer starts up, well there is one thing that I did not try yet….
…. Under Add Remove Windows Components, there is an option that displays options to remove components in windows to free up space. the listed options are- accessories and utilities-indexing services-internet explorer( I don’t use IE) Msn explorer-(don’t use that either<) out look express-( don’t use out look express)< networking services- update root certificates-and Windows messenger.
I am not sure if windows messenger is needed for automatic updates or to keep other services running so I did not mess with it, in fear that if I did it would mess up the computer and force me to reinstall windows again. For some reason or another Microsoft wants windows messenger to start up every time the PC boots to desktop. Microsoft is probably selling out to spammer’s lol

BloodNOil

Are you talking about the little blue dude?

there's a menu within the program that will allow you to turn it off... it's
changed so many times though i couldn't tell you where it is in the version that
ships with XP.

imported_Rugbee

Yeah it is an icon with a red x with two little blue dudes
I am not sure, if messenger is a messenger for other programs such as automatic updates etc or if Messenger is some sort of chat client. I tried going through windows xp pros help menu to see if they had any info but for some reason or another every time I go to the help menu a message comes up saying that I am missing a DLL… what ever that is supposed to mean…. In addition, the help menu will not work. I am about tempted to uninstall Messenger through add remove (Windows Components) but not sure, what Microsoft’s definition of windows messenger means… Messenger for automatic updates, messenger for Critical updates or messenger for a chat client

PsYcHoLoGiCaL

Remove it, the service will not show up on the add or remove programs list so you don't have to worry about removing the wrong thing. Actually to tell you the truth I'm not even sure that there is a way to uninstall the service, also the service has nothing to do with windows update... Where did you read that the messenger has to to do with windows update?