can't shut down

[traci]

since my automatic update a few days ago, I cannot shut
down windows messenger. It opens when I use Outlook to
check my mail, as it always has, but now won't shut down
when I'm done.
I can log out, but it stays running in the task bar,
even when no other programs at all are running. The only
way to shut it down is to reboot. Then it stays down
until I check mail again.
This is a bigger problem because it randomly
automatically signs in. This shuts down my MSN
messenger, causing me to lose messages on there, and
makes my friends leave me long rambling "you are ignoring
me" messages when Windows Messenger signs in while I'm
sleeping.
It's petty, but it's driving me NUTS!

Anyone have any ideas?

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Traci,

Firstly, do you have Norton Antivirus 2003 installed? Norton added a new "instant messaging
scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and display
this behavior. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon
in the System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click
Options, then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

Secondly, you can stop Messenger from loading with Outlook. For Outlook (XP/2002), just open
Outlook, click the Tools menu, then Options, then the Other tab, and uncheck 'Enable Instant
Messaging in Microsoft Outlook'. For Outlook Express, close Outlook Express, and run this
..reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg
You'll need to start Outlook Express to see the change.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"traci" > wrote in message ...
> since my automatic update a few days ago, I cannot shut
> down windows messenger. It opens when I use Outlook to
> check my mail, as it always has, but now won't shut down
> when I'm done.
> I can log out, but it stays running in the task bar,
> even when no other programs at all are running. The only
> way to shut it down is to reboot. Then it stays down
> until I check mail again.
> This is a bigger problem because it randomly
> automatically signs in. This shuts down my MSN
> messenger, causing me to lose messages on there, and
> makes my friends leave me long rambling "you are ignoring
> me" messages when Windows Messenger signs in while I'm
> sleeping.
> It's petty, but it's driving me NUTS!
>
> Anyone have any ideas?