Check out some similar questions!

mitchsc · Jun 5, 2008, 08:03 AM

I want to get rid of MS Messenger in Start Up since I never use it. Trying to keep PC running at top speed.

Several times, I have gone to Run, msconfig, Start-Up tab, and unchecked "msmsgs". (the full Command is "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe"/background)

When I reboot, the icon is gone from the system tray. Great!

Then, within a few days, it's back. When I check in msconfig, the same item is check marked again.

I have another PC that I turned off Messenger the same way, and it's stayed off for years.

Why does this keep turning itself back on?

What can I do to keep it off?

I haven't tried deleting the item from the start-up list in msconfig, because I'm not sure if this would do any harm.

Thanks...

progunr · Jun 5, 2008, 08:08 AM

I would just remove it from the start up menu completely.

I don't believe this will cause any problems.

If you want to use it, you can always open it up yourself when you want to.

Curlyben · Jun 5, 2008, 08:11 AM

Even easier.
Open it up Tools > Options > UNcheck start with windows ;)

mitchsc · Jun 5, 2008, 08:27 AM

Thanks All.

Curlyben, I don't follow. Open Tools from within WHAT program?

Can you be a bit more specific please?

Thanks...

Curlyben · Jun 5, 2008, 08:28 AM

From within Messenger ;)

mitchsc · Jun 5, 2008, 08:37 AM

Curlyben,

Thanks, I found it. Worked perfect!

mitchsc · Jun 5, 2008, 01:50 PM

Curlyben,

Messenger is back on in the system tray again, all by itself.

I didn't even power cycle the PC. Just put it in sleep mode for an hour.

I'm stumpped!

Help...

Curlyben · Jun 5, 2008, 01:53 PM

Do you use Outlook or outlook express for your e-mail as these also start up MSN messenger?

mitchsc · Jun 5, 2008, 02:13 PM

I use Outlook Express on both of my PCs.

The odd thing is I have exactly the same setup on my other PC, and this has never happened. A couple years ago, I just went into msconfig and unchecked msmsgs, and I never saw Messenger again. It's only happening on my wife's PC.

Ideas Please?

Curlyben · Jun 5, 2008, 02:16 PM

Well for starters DUMP OE as it sucks big time and is no longer supported by M$.
Go and get Thunderbird - Reclaim your inbox instead.
It's fast, easy to use and best of all FREE, from the people that brought you Firefox ;)

Then you only need worry about the start up setting in MSN itself.

Either that or dig through OE's options to find where to turn MSN off.

morgaine300 · Jun 5, 2008, 09:18 PM

I agree to dump the OE, but there's something more going on here. It wasn't Messenger, but I had the same problem with an IM program I need for my work. I didn't like it coming up every time I booted, simple cause it was very slow and everything would run slow until that thing started itself. I turned it off in msconfig also. But it kept coming back up about every other time I rebooted.

Until recently when I wiped out everything and installed Windows from scratch. And now I've got it turned off in start-up and it stays turned off. (So does Messenger.) Actually, several things fixed themselves with that last re-install.

Not that I know how to help. Just making a point that something else is screwy here and I don't think it's just using OE, like something corrupted. Someone may know exactly what that is and can get it fixed for you. But when I start having too many screwy things happening, I figure it's time for a clean install of Windows.

I know, this was terribly useful, huh?

mitchsc · Jun 6, 2008, 07:38 AM

Thanks for the feedback. Reinstall is such a hassle, I'll save it as a last resort.

I found an article on MS Help & Support.

How to prevent Windows Messenger from running on a Windows XP-based computer

How to Prevent Windows Messenger From Running in XP.

For Windows Messenger 4.5 or later, you must make a change to the registry. I haven't done it yet because registry changes make me nervous. I know I can back up the registry, but have never done this before.

According to the article, just unchecking Messenger in start up isn't enough

mitchsc · Jun 6, 2008, 01:25 PM

If anyone is interested, someone emailed me this other procedure:

Click start, go to control panel, open add / remove programs. On left side of window click add / remove windows components. Take check out of box for windows messenger and click OK or next. This will remove the messenger.

Sounds like it REMOVES the program?? I just want to turn it off.

morgaine300 · Jun 6, 2008, 08:27 PM

Do you use Messenger?

That's a fabulous idea, though. I never use the thing, so I just got done deleting it. Since XP doesn't give the install options when installing like 95 used to, I completely forgot the windows components thing even existed.

And I agree it's a hassle to re-install. I do it when "too many things" start going screwy. :-)