Windows Messenger New Version Pop Up

[Lori]

I keep getting a pop up box every single time I log on to
the internet. This is what it says:

A new version is available. You must install the newer
version to continue. Would you like to do this now?
Yes ___
No ___
Then after selecting either "Yes" or "No", you can either
click the "Ok" button, or the "What's New?" button.

I check the NO mark and click OK and the box disappears.
Within 3 seconds a new box, exactly like the first one,
appears and I repeat the entire process. This goes on
indefinetely!!! I have NEVER used Windows Messenger, do
not have a password, screen name, or whatever is used by
this software...never even opened it. I went into the
Control Panel today and used the Add/Remove utility to
remove the Messenger component of Windows entirely. This
did not seem to change anything because this stupid box
continues to appear.

I am thoroughly frustrated with this...if anyone could
advise me, I'd sure appreciate it.

Peace, Lori

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Lori,

Firstly, remove your saved Passport login in Windows XP, so it can't automatically sign you
in to the service (you can readd this back in the future if you like), click the Start
Button, then click the Control Panel. Then, click User Accounts in the Control Panel. Select
your account name, and then on the left side of the screen, under Related Tasks, click
'Manage my Network Passwords'. In the window that opens, click the Passport.Net\* (Passport)
entry and click 'Remove'.

Then, 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 cause some
of 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.

If the window is still open with the upgrade question, say No, it should now stop trying.
Open up the main Windows Messenger window (double-click its icon in the system
tray/notification area, by the clock or click Start, All Programs, Windows Messenger to bring
it up), click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences, uncheck 'Run this program when
Windows starts' and click OK. Then right-click the on the Windows Messenger icon in the
notification area/system tray and choose Exit. You shouldn't see it again (unless some other
application starts it).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Lori" > wrote in message
...
> I keep getting a pop up box every single time I log on to
> the internet. This is what it says:
>
> A new version is available. You must install the newer
> version to continue. Would you like to do this now?
> Yes ___
> No ___
> Then after selecting either "Yes" or "No", you can either
> click the "Ok" button, or the "What's New?" button.
>
> I check the NO mark and click OK and the box disappears.
> Within 3 seconds a new box, exactly like the first one,
> appears and I repeat the entire process. This goes on
> indefinetely!!! I have NEVER used Windows Messenger, do
> not have a password, screen name, or whatever is used by
> this software...never even opened it. I went into the
> Control Panel today and used the Add/Remove utility to
> remove the Messenger component of Windows entirely. This
> did not seem to change anything because this stupid box
> continues to appear.
>
> I am thoroughly frustrated with this...if anyone could
> advise me, I'd sure appreciate it.
>
> Peace, Lori

[Mark]

Lori wrote:

> I keep getting a pop up box every single time I log on to
> the internet. This is what it says:
>
> A new version is available. You must install the newer
> version to continue. Would you like to do this now?
> Yes ___
> No ___
> Then after selecting either "Yes" or "No", you can either
> click the "Ok" button, or the "What's New?" button.
>
> I check the NO mark and click OK and the box disappears.
> Within 3 seconds a new box, exactly like the first one,
> appears and I repeat the entire process.

An acquaintance of mine reported the same behavior today. I was
unable to resolve the problem except by exiting Windows Messenger
and changing preferences so it is not run automatically upon Windows
startup. I guess that's OK if you don't WANT to run Windows
Messenger, but if you do, I don't know how to get past that infinite
series of popups.

--
Mark