Hello,
I noticed this long time ago:
Whenever I update or install MSN Messenger (or any other MSN products from what I hear) it places a nice little file caled "LoadQM.exe" if you catch it before reboot you can simply delete it and its friends "qmgr.dll qmgrprxy.dll Loadqm.lgc"
The .lgc file removal is optional as it is just a log. Remove those after updating MSN Messenger and you wont have the "Query Manager" watching you.
BUT for those of you who didnt know and let it create is-self, here is how to remove it.
Turn on "show hidden & system files" go to "Find files or folders" and type "QMGR" delete all files detected with QMGR in them, this is the Query Manager which is hidden. Also search for and delete the Loadqm.exe file if is found.
Ive done this after all MS updates and SO FAR no problems.
(Also one less program running in background).
Remove it at your own risk, It works for me but i dont know about anyone else.
Just thought i'd post this, enjoy :-)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309418 Description of the Loadqm.exe File there's microsofts info on it, for those interested.

thanks to both raptor & www for the useful tips. i have just blown away all the temp files from zonelarm pro (latest version) for deliberate reasons, & as part of that, had to reconfigure the security on the way back in. of course, QMGR files were included, & i figured it was about time i questioned what that was, hence a search on my google toolbar found you folks.

thanks again, & a tip for raptor:
loadqm.lgc (log file) becomes loadqm.lgx, where x is the drive you boot from (D:\ in my case)

cheers
the wizard from oz
www.youweightandsee.com

I, too, have come to believe that loadqm.exe is questionable as to it's necessity, intent and actions. in the beginning, i assumed this file was necessary and ok based on the properties dialog and put it out of my mind. using a great little program from PCmagazine--Startup Cop--you can, more easily than through msconfig.exe, halt it's ability to load at startup. just by sheer accident i had disabled it during startup and i could not believe the increase in speed my poor little 133mhz laptop experienced--which, of course, created suspicions. i then did a search using win98 resource kit-file information manager, which came up with the file loadwc.exe but not loadqm.exe, further justifying my suspscions. which lead me to search the net for an answers. beginning, as all good googlers do, with a google search justified my feelings of nervousness and lead me 2 threads in this forum...this one and for those of you who might not know of it, this, although last post a year ago, excellent Windows ME discussion on the matter:

"Subject: Loadqm Error!"

http://www.computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/7697.html

i now intend to purge my system of this suspect app that microsoft installed on our systems behind our back. i can't believe i didn't question it all this time, trusting microsoft, no questions asked. i hope i've learned my lesson...microsoft is not above reproach...question everything.

on a, possibly, related matter, i would like to pose a question to you all which has me completely stumped:

recently, all of a sudden, when i type in www.Windowsupdate.microsoft.com in the address bar or click on it on tools menu in ie or start menu-settings... something changes it to www.v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and the site i am taken to looks completely different than it always has...it looks old/archaic...text, dos-based looking. i figure i'm missing a file involved/used by "windowsupdate" but i can't figure out what it might be. as i said, these changes have occurred before dealing with loadqm.exe so it cannot be related to it's demise. anybody have any thoughts/experience or knowledge of this matter?? i have tried deleting winupdate files and letting them be reinstalled with no change. i've done a search of my registry for v4 and deleted all such references. i've tried everything i can think of...all to no avail. i would greatly appreciate any help i could get...it's driving me Crazy!! thxs for the ear, tst