Since yesterday, for some odd reason, Windows Messenger has started loading with Windows at startup. (I don't even ever use Windows Messenger, I use MSN 7.0) I've checked the options to see if the checkbox "start with windows" is ticked, but it is not. Moreso, i've looked in the regstry and startup groups and it is not mentioned anywhere in the "run" sections of the registry - there's nothing!

I've ran a virus scan etc, and it's found nothing, why would this suddenly start happening?

Thanks,
Alex

Click START / RUN and type MSCONFIG. Click the Startup tab and uncheck MSN Messenger.

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Thanks for the instant reply, but i've tried that (Using startup control panel) and i can't see any referenced to MSMSGS.EXE or Windows Messenger anywhere. I'm stumped.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx

KPACHbIЙ OKTIABR

Try doing what I told you.

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Well I did - I tried that also and there isn't a thing.

Found this, which looks odd:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\explorer\run]
"notepad.exe"="msmsgs.exe"

http://www.theeldergeek.com/messenger_removal.htm

KPACHbIЙ OKTIABR

Here's a simple solution
Shoot the Messenger
works great

It's hard to do a good job
When you have a monkey on your back

Shoot the Messenger is for something else, but you should run it anyway to close up the security hole in the XP Mesenger Service.

However, to address your current problem... the uninstall for Windows Messenger is hidden. The easiest way to get rid of it is:

Start > Run > then copy/paste this:

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Dig

Open outlook express. Click on Tools/WindowsMessenger/Options/Preferences.
Untick "Run Windows Messenger when Windows Starts"

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and his wife will never forgive you.

go into GPEDIT.msc and change the policy to don't