windows messenger gone haywire

[JetaJam]

Hello everyone,
I'm having this problem with my windows messenger application in xp home edition. It seems that every time windows messenger is opened and then left on for any given time, we are getting inappropriate messeges, that at first glance look like instant messeges. The problem is that these are really links to adult sites. It seems to me that this is one way of getting their advertisements through the spam blocks and such that are installed. Is there a way of blocking these messeges? I have gone as far as to turn off windows messenger through msconfig and in the add windows componets file, but they keep showing up. Do I really need messenger for any other programs, or is it just for instant messeging? Any help is very much appriciated.

[freptide]

Jetajam,
I generally remove MSN messenger when I install the OS. Also I dont use the XP firewall for obvious reasons. Check the info pasted below. It may give you some insight into resolving this problem.


Want to remove MSN Messenger?
A lot of people want to know how to remove the MSN Messenger service from XP... here's how:
Locate SYSOC.INF in the \Windows\INF folder (hidden file and folder), Open it in Notepad and locate the line: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
Remove the word "hide" from the line and save the file. You will now have an entry in add/remove programs. Do what you will
OR (XP Pro Only) leave it installed, but tell Windows to never let it run. If you're running XP Professional, you can use GPEDIT.MSC to prevent Messenger from loading. Otherwise, even disabling it in startup won't cause it to "always" not run. NOTE: Outlook, Outlook Express and some Microsoft web pages can still make it load.

Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Messenger
You can now modify whether it starts initially and/or whether it's to run at all.
UPDATE: I have recieved some email that say this fix slows down outlook when starting, that is because outlook wants to start messenger when it starts, the easiest and fastest way to disable messenger and still have a quickj starttime with outlook is to rename the exe file, located here c:\program files\messenger\msmsgs.exe, to something other than msmsgs.exe, such as msmsgsnew.exe.

[cuffs007]

Are you absolutely sure it's from MSN Messenger?... if it's the gray colored pop ups, it's not related to MSN Messenger...

if you have the gray pop ups... then go to: Start > Run > and type in "services.msc" (without the quotation marks) .. scroll down til you find Messenger... right click on it and choose Properties... and then you can set it to Automatic, Manual, or Disabled... i would choose Disable...

good luck!

[JetaJam]

Hey Freptide, I did the fast and easy fix you recommended by renaming the msmsgs.exe file and Outlook Express loaded fine, (no big delays). Also I noticed in the Tools area options/general tab, there is a check box for Automatically Log Onto Windows Messenger, so I unticked the box (it was ticked). We will see if this stops the problem. And Cuffs007, I was getting those gray messeges and disabled messenger through the services.msc, and by doing that they stopped. Thank you for the info. It's those instant messeges that I'm really worried about, have you ever seen them? It's like a sneaky way to get the crud through. I have kids that use this machine, and we keep the parental controls set pretty high and I don't want any of them to be exposed to this. Thanks for all the help. If the problem (pops up) again, I will be back, or if any body has any more information on this matter, feel free to reply........

[freptide]

I found that on an xp tips site and it was one of those that works good for me. Also I would reccommend using 'Ad aware' which you can download for free from their site. I noticed alot of 'gator' spyware when I newly installed XP.

[SKIPART]

Good tip 'bout the "grey messenger boxes" That's always driven me nutz...