Windows 'Messenger' at 'startup'(?)

[Tylex]

I just bought a new IBM laptop, with XP Pro installed. Everytime I start up the system, 'MSN Messenger' is running in the background, and sooner or later, a msg box from a friend pops up, when I'm busy working. I've un-selected 'run when windows starts' in the preferences of the program, and even unselected the option in Outlook Express that also has the option selectable.

MSN Messenger still is 'on' when I fire up my laptop. Yes, I've looked in 'msconfig' in the 'startup'configuration part of the system too, but don't *recognize* anything in there that looks like the program, to unselect at start-up. (Am I missing it in here?)

Can anyone help me disable the thing so I can turn it on, and log-in when I want??

My Dell 8200 desktop has it too, and I have to "log-on" everytime I need to use it, and thats the way I want it!


Thanks in advance, for your help & replies*

Bruce

[Cacstus]

Sounds like the windows messenger. If that's it then try this:

Right click [my computer] on your desktop, then click manage.
In the bottom left of the computer management window, expand the folder [services and applications].
Inside, left click [services].
Find [messenger] in the list that opens up, and double click it.
Change [startup type] to manual or disabled, and you should not have any more of those popups.

[Tylex]

Cacstus:

Thank you....this is why I come here for solutions: I've often needed help, and its always been very good, and on-topic, usually right away.

(I didn't even know about that area, 'manage' of your suggestion, above!)

Thanks to the PC Mech Forum, once again!


Bruce

[Tylex]

Well, damn if the above didn't work ! Messenger still starts up when I turn on the computer.

It could be in the 'msconfig' start up, but I don't recognize it in there, if it is....(?) So many things running in there, its not funny!

There must be some simple answer to making this thing come on only when wanted!

thanks again, in advance, for any other suggestions.

(If a person could contact Microsoft easier, I'm sure they could answer this issue)

Bruce

[Cacstus]

Well darn Bruce, sorry that didn't work for you.

I used to have those stupid spam popups all the time through windows messenger, and was I ever happy when I learned to disable that feature! Sorry that didn't solve your problem.

I never had MSN messenger, and other than right clicking it in the system tray ( I guess that's what the little window with the clock in it is called?) and adjusting it there, or possibly removing it from start>programs>startup, I wouldn't know how to help. Sounds like you are already way beyond the simple options though.

A real expert will show up soon no doubt and help you out!
You never know about this place, the person answering your question could be the same one that you can't reach at Microsoft

[Tylex]

I'm not receiving 'spam pop-ups'--but instead a notification box pops up with someone from my contact list messenging me. so Im appearing 'on-line'...upon starting up my computer. The 'systray' at the right-hand bottom of the screen you mention, doesn't even show the applet there as running, until I click on it in the start menu.

Anyone help with making this thing only start when I want--and then asking for a password??...like it does on my other computer??


Thanks again for any responses.

Bruce

[sdkfz]

Ah... the other messenger , windows messenger, to disable the windows messenger Chat service

check out this thread

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...dows+messenger

in re reading your last message I may have gone a little overboard in my answer, to disable instead of killing....open the service and click on options - un click everything. now you can open the service when you want it and close it too. On re boot it is not there, sometimes on windows updates it will come back if the update pertains to the service, but the fix is easy to re do.

[RayH]

I think there a patch to download from Microsoft. I had that propblem once. But after installing all the Microsoft updates, the problem disappeared.

In the MSCONFIG > Services, I have Messenger and Auto Notification unchecked. It stops a lot of the autonags.

[Tylex]

I think I found the solution myself, doing a little web search in google*

Windows XP 'Pro' has a cute little proggy called "Group Policy Editor" ('Run & type GPEDIT.MSC)

Drill down to: >Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Messenger. Double-click on "do not start Messenger, bla, bla..."

And there u have it....!

thanks for all replies---remember XP "Pro" does have this feature, and it can customize alot of other stuff in your Win XP('Pro'-only!) set-up.

Best,

Bruce