Messenger service help

[MARKBLACK]

hi I keep getting messages saying this computer is still in use, you are now committing a further offence, also other messages like are you as think as we think, its in a messenger service box.
any ideas how to get rid.
mb

[reboot]

Uninstall messenger.

[MARKBLACK]

my daughter uses it, I didn't want to lose her contacts, plus I don't see it in Add/remove.
MB

[reboot]

No, I didn't say uninstall msn messenger...;)
I meant, uninstall Windows messaging service.
They're two different things.

Open Explorer, browse to c:\windows\inf and open the file called sysoc.inf in Notepad.
Take out the word "HIDE" in all instances, leaving the two commas, so that a line that looked like this: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
would then look like this: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
Save and restart.
NOW you'll be able to uninstall it from Add/Remove programs, Windows Components.

[MARKBLACK]

Thanks uboot I have done as you say - is the program called MSN-Explorer? I'm sorry to sound daft but i'm treading carefully on this - whilst we are on this subject how is it somebody can contact me via this service without leaving any idea who the are - I have also had sex stuff with web address's which pop-up when my daughter and son are using my computer. My wife is very funny about these things this could have got me into all kinds of trouble - she already thinks computers are for perv's. I'm wondering what microsoft ware thinking when they introduced this program.
MB

[reboot]

It's a generic ad. A computer simply probes the internet for IP's that have Messenger installed, and shove it in your face.
There's a whole thread on this somewhere in here...
There's a windows update to close that problem off.
Read this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302089
This is NOT MSN Messenger we're dealing with, it's "Windows Messenger", a totally different program.

[glc]

Unless XP is drastically different than Windows 2000, all you have to do is right click on My Computer, select Manage, then open Services - and change "Messenger" to Disabled. This has nothing to do with MSN Messenger, which is an IM application.

[reboot]

XP Pro has that option. XP home does not. ;)

[MARKBLACK]

Thanks guys I have disabled this now.
for XP (home)


1. Click Start->Control Panel
2. Click Administrative Tools
3. Click Component Services
4. Double-click Services Local
5. Double-click "Messenger" to bring up the options panel
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties
7. Click the STOP button
8. Select Disabled or Manual on the Startup Type drop-down
9. Click OK

I'm wondering though how I was singled out - I had been on a newsgroup having a debate about copying CDs and I had said you are allowed to make one back up - then I started getting these messages about me breaking the law. So when I was putting this together in my head I thought they have got hold of my IP address, I can't think of any other way, they could be doing this.

MB

[reboot]

That's how they're doing it. They harvested the info needed while you were at that site.
I wasn't totally sure if XP home had the services option there or not, and the MSKB didn't specify anything except the article I linked to.

[MARKBLACK]

so what info is needed? can I stop them getting this info?
MB

[glc]

Only way I know of is post to newsgroups through a Web-based service that masks your information if any still exist - every news post has headers just like e-mail.

[MARKBLACK]

I have to admit I hadn't even heard of windows messenger until yesterday, obviously having a similar name as MSN messenger makes this confusing. this service seemed to have taken over my machine. I am thinking though it could be useful to contact your friends, because every machine must have it on win 98-winXP.
I'm not sure though how you would do this, obviously everybodies machine would have to be identified some way so the computers could talk, is this via IP address or what?
MB

[glc]

Windows Messenger is intended for use on a LAN. It works through NetBIOS names or IP address. If you want to contact your friends, use an instant messaging service like MSN Messenger, AIM, ICQ, or Yahoo Messenger.

[MARKBLACK]

the friend I am thinking about dosent use, these programs and he's contantly, reinstalling operater sysyems he like to try different ones out each week (strange I know - but he he is)
I was thinking it would be a suprize if I was able to contact him whilst he was typing away there one night.
MB