Does anyone know how to permanently remove msmsgs.exe /background, short of removing MSN Messenger? I try to remove it through the system configuration utility, but it always comes back.

open MSN then goto tools -> options -> prefernces -> UNTICK run this programs when Windows starts

Have a look here: http://www.wackyb.co.nz/msn.html

Try this first: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/24746.html (" The best way to kill MS Messenger"), download the zipfile of two batch files - one for removal, another for restoring (http://213.40.196.62/media/779.zip), or execute the following batch script ("NOMSNGR.BAT", from the zipfile): @echo off cls echo. echo. echo. echo echo. echo This batch file will uninstall Windows Messenger echo from your computer and apply registry settings to echo prevent it from running in the future. echo. echo Press any key if you wish to continue, otherwise echo press CTRL-C to abort the procedure. echo. echo --- echo. pause>nul echo Removing Microsoft Messenger... rundll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %WinDir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove echo Disabling it from running in the future... echo REGEDIT4>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client]>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo "PreventRun"=dword:00000001>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo "PreventAutoRun"=dword:00000001>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo "PreventAutoUpdate"=dword:00000001>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo "PreventBackgroundDownload"=dword:00000001>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg echo "Disabled"=dword:00000001>>%temp%\nomsngr.reg regedit /s %temp%\nomsngr.reg echo. echo Operations complete.... echo. echo If you wish to restore your original settings please run echo WMRESET.BAT to remove the registry settings that prevent echo Windows Messenger from running. echo. echo You will then need to manually reinstall Windows Messenger echo on your computer. echo. echo. echo. pause