Windows Messenger

[Londoner]

Whilst online, I am constantly being barraged with unsolicited 'Windows Messenger' boxes sent to my IP address, with messages inviting me to take part in competitions, win money, get high paying work, visit personal websites, porn sites, the lot!! after two hours of playing online games i can come out and find as many as 20 of these grey messenger boxes on my desktop and their arrival is affecting my connection. I even changed ISP in the hope that a new IP address would stop this but it continued as previously.
How do i put a stop to this? how have these services got hold of my IP address? What can i do to ensure this doesn't happen again?
It is an extreme irritation.

[pointd]

This has already been covered. There are 2 options.

1. Disable the Messenger service from the Services section of Control Panel. This will stop the alerts showing (This is not the same as MSN Messenger)

2. Install a firewall to stop the messages arriving to your system in the first place. (www.zonelabs.com, www.agnitum.com, www.sygate.com)

[Londoner]

Thanks for your response.
Apologies if my question has been asked before.

I am using Windows XP and i don't see any 'services' section when i open control panels. Also, I am under the impression that firewalls restrict certain internet usage, I mostly play games such as Everquest, Anarchy Online, and Battlefield 42 online.

[pointd]

Start | Run and type services.msc. This will open the services dialog box.

If you don't want a firewall you don't have to have one, disabling the service will stop the messages appearing. I never play online games so this isn't an issue for me.

IMHO it is far better to use a firewall.

[Londoner]

Thanks again.

That works. Problem is it restarts itself each new time i connect and i don't see any way of permanently stopping it.

I read some of the earlier threads on this subject and agree with the point you made previously that it's really better to stop it at source than only switch off the visible part of it. Being fairly untech, i am unsure about firewalls, and which to install, and what repercussions it would have on my usage.
I will research this tho.

Thanx again

[pointd]

Don't just stop the service, disable it. In the services dialog box double click the Messenger service. In the box for Startup type change this to Disabled.

Good luck with the firewall hunt though all three I listed are well recommended.

[reboot]

Instead of disabling the service, or stopping the service, why not uninstall Messenger completely?
It won't affect MSN Messenger at all.
Browse to c:\windows\inf and open sysoc.inf in notepad.
Look for the line: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
Edit it to take out the word "hide", so it looks like this: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
Save it.
Open Add/Remove programs in control panel, Windows componenets, and Messenger will now be there, and uninstall it.

[glc]

Wait a minute, Jim - that IS MSN/Windows Messenger, not the "Messenger" service. I know, it's very confusing. The version of MSN Messenger that came with XP is called "Windows Messenger", that's what you are describing how to uninstall. This is not the same as the "Messenger" service which you want to disable.

[lil Jimmie]

I agree with Glc here just disable the "Messenger" service.

[BearEater]

From now on,call Windows Messanger as IM Win Messanger

and Service Messanger as...well Service Messanger!..well you CAN say Cr4ppy Software from M$,or Annoying Shed, or (edited by moderator)

LOL jk guys

[mike breck]

This has already been covered.

No offence pointd, but thousands of questions have already been covered at PCMech; so there's no point in telling that to people who looking looking for help.

What most of us do, is answer the question again from our own perspective or point them to a link by someone else that will answer the question.

I believe this approach helps to PCMech a friendly forum for users of all levels of expertise.

[pointd]

Point taken. It was more that it was so recent that it was still on the same page as the original post.

I'll stick to suggestions for problems in future, it's too easy to be misunderstood without typing an essay each time.

[reboot]

OOPS. I keep forgetting about that stupid messenger. I never use IM progs...sorry.

[MultiGroup]

I tried this and it did't work...I just downloaded MSN messanger V6 and now I have 2 of the icons on my task bar...want to get rid of the Windows Messanger one...I already have it disable.

When I remove "hide" Windows Messanger does not appear, would have be because it already has been disable?

Any advice?

Originally posted by reboot Instead of disabling the service, or stopping the service, why not uninstall Messenger completely? It won't affect MSN Messenger at all. Browse to c:\windows\inf and open sysoc.inf in notepad. Look for the line: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7 Edit it to take out the word "hide", so it looks like this: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7 Save it. Open Add/Remove programs in control panel, Windows componenets, and Messenger will now be there, and uninstall it.

[Aaaron]

If you are talking about the Windows Messenging Program (not an IM chat program) There is a blocking program for it a simple 22kb thing

http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

this will block the messages that have the phrase "Messenger Service" in the title bar

for more info visit the website

[MultiGroup]

That has already been deactivated, i just want to get rid of the icon on my task bar.

I have to icons now, the MSN Messanger 6 (icon) and the windows messanger...want to get rid of the Win Messanger.

[Panama Red]

To get rid of one of those icons, MG , I think you need to right click on the icon, open the program, then go into options from the tool or preferences area and find the box that says "start messenger when windows starts". Uncheck that box and close the program.