PCA Forums

Click Start - Run

Type the following line (just copy and paste):

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Will remove the windows messenger from XP.

Outlook Express should open much faster.

Nice one! I've seen lots of different MSN Messenger removal techniques, but they all involved multiple steps and seemed awkward/risky.

I tried your method on a couple of test systems here. VERY nice, it's GONE

Damn crap is like a virus.

I'll save that one in my bag of tricks for my clients. I usually just disable MSN from running in the background.

Thanks!

nice one... definately gonna save this puppy i hate msn and oh does outlook express opens so much faster now

http://www.theeldergeek.com

never had a problem taking something out I couldnt find there.

Good link. Thanks!

OE opens A LOT faster now. Thanks!

sweet. thanx

bump for a great tip

When I paste that into the run box it starts to do something then says Error cant unregister the OCX blah blah blah then it acts as though it completed normally (little dos window shows up for about a sec or two then disappears)

Reminds me, anyone know of a SURE and EASY way to completely remove Outlook and its variants?

Originally posted by Nomad
When I paste that into the run box it starts to do something then says Error cant unregister the OCX blah blah blah then it acts as though it completed normally (little dos window shows up for about a sec or two then disappears)

Probably because the OCX blah blah blah is currently being used, just click ok.

OMG! I thought i had it removed but i ran that any way and dear god does OE open fast! Thanks a bunch.

yea, this is a great old tip. OE and Outlook both are by default i think, intergrated with MSN messenger. You can stop this withour removing messenger, by going to the options, and unchecking the messenger checkbox somewhere in them. (not in front of my home pc with oe atm)

The only problem with doing it this way, is that OCX blah blah blah. A few other things use it, and you may see that error a few times. nothing to worry about. also, if you create any new user accounts on the pc that you ran that command on, they will popup the error unregistering ocx blah blah the first time you log into them as well. Other than that, yes, this is the best way to kill it. For the ast year or so, I have a batch file that I made with this command, and anytime i load up a computer at work, I just click that little batch, and "register you .net passport now!" doesnt even know what hit it

Please note: this hack does NOT remove MSN Messenger. It removes Windows Messenger. MSN Messenger can be easily uninstalled from Add/Remove Programs.

As FP alluded, Windows Messenger can run in the background as a process. Meaning, there is no UI, and it can log you on without you being visibly aware that you are logging on. This was a bug introduced in later builds of v4.7, and still exists in v5.0.

In addition, some features common to both clients will no longer work in MSN Messenger if Windows Messenger has been hacked off your XP machine.

There is a difference between the two clients. Referring to Windows Messenger as MSN Messenger is a mistake.

I actually use Microsfot messenger, but I would like to be able to load and unload it at will, does this enable you to do that? I would hate to do this and find out it's been erased as I use it for spam mail and stuff.