Windows & MSN Messenger update problems on XP

[Gordon]

Xref: kermit microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger:42040

I downloaded MSN Messenger 5 and it installed fine.
However it didn't update Windows Messenger 4.7 and now I
have both in the tray. I've tried adding and removing
programs to get rid of Windows Messenger to no avail.
Why does the upgrade not get rid of the original or are
MSN and Windows Messengers different beasts altogether.

This looks like another typical Microsoft cockup we could
well do without.

[Edward Rozee]

MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger are two different, although similar
programs. Installing MSN Messenger 5.0 won't touch your Windows Messenger
installation. To remove Windows Messenger, do the following:

Close any instances of Windows Messenger. Go to Start -> Run and type
"RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove"
and click ok.

--
Hope this helps,
Edward Rozee

** Remove the "_NOSPAM" tag in to contact me by email.
"Gordon" > wrote in message
...
> I downloaded MSN Messenger 5 and it installed fine.
> However it didn't update Windows Messenger 4.7 and now I
> have both in the tray. I've tried adding and removing
> programs to get rid of Windows Messenger to no avail.
> Why does the upgrade not get rid of the original or are
> MSN and Windows Messengers different beasts altogether.
>
> This looks like another typical Microsoft cockup we could
> well do without.

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Gordon,

Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN Messenger 5.0 are separate products, hence why you know have
both (and why they have different names).

You can remove Windows Messenger 4.7, but if you do, you will be preventing Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any other applications that utilize Messenger
from working (or loading without problems). You can just disable Windows Messenger 4.7, by
opening it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this program when
Windows starts'. This won't stop it from being loaded by some other application though. As
well, you can disable it further by going to Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs,
Add/Remove Windows Components on the left, uncheck Windows Messenger in the components list
and click Next >. Note: this is only available if you've installed Windows XP Service Pack
1 -- if you haven't, visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove Windows
Messenger, but it will let it stay out of your way, and allow MSN Messenger 5 to work
properly.

Also see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330117 for more information on Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN
Messenger 5.0.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Gordon" > wrote in message
...
> I downloaded MSN Messenger 5 and it installed fine.
> However it didn't update Windows Messenger 4.7 and now I
> have both in the tray. I've tried adding and removing
> programs to get rid of Windows Messenger to no avail.
> Why does the upgrade not get rid of the original or are
> MSN and Windows Messengers different beasts altogether.
>
> This looks like another typical Microsoft cockup we could
> well do without.