Messenger "hiding" on start up

[Babs]

I'm running XP HE.

I used MSN Messenger 4.7 until I had to upgrade to 6.1, via a message
from Microsoft. I was surprised that 6.1 didn't replace the old
version, so now they are both listed in my program files.

When I open OE6, 4.7 is opening in the background - there is no icon
in the systray or taskbar to indicate this, nor is the contacts window
displayed. I only realised this when a contact signed in.

On both versions, the options to run Messenger on start up or to allow
it to run in the background are both unchecked.

Can anyone tell me how to cure this problem, please? And am I okay to
delete 4.7 without it affecting 6.1?

Thanks.

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Babs,

Actually, you were using Windows Messenger 4.7, not MSN Messenger 4.7. As such, the upgrade
message you're seeing is wrong (not quite sure why you got it, I can't seem to reproduce it
here). As such, MSN Messenger (6.1) does not upgrade Windows Messenger 4.7.

However, to stop Outlook Express from starting Windows Messenger 4.7, simply close Outlook
Express, then download and run this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

After this, it will no longer start with Outlook Express.

You can remove Windows Messenger completely, 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 by
opening it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this Program when
Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on version). 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

Besides the drawbacks above however, if you really want to remove it completely, for Windows
Messenger 4.7, close down Messenger if it's running (right click the messenger icon in the
notification area/system tray and click close). Then click the start button, then click Run
and type in (copy-paste if you like):
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Then click OK.
Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and screenshots, go to,
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Babs" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm running XP HE.
>
> I used MSN Messenger 4.7 until I had to upgrade to 6.1, via a message
> from Microsoft. I was surprised that 6.1 didn't replace the old
> version, so now they are both listed in my program files.
>
> When I open OE6, 4.7 is opening in the background - there is no icon
> in the systray or taskbar to indicate this, nor is the contacts window
> displayed. I only realised this when a contact signed in.
>
> On both versions, the options to run Messenger on start up or to allow
> it to run in the background are both unchecked.
>
> Can anyone tell me how to cure this problem, please? And am I okay to
> delete 4.7 without it affecting 6.1?
>
> Thanks.

[Babs]

Hello Jonathan,

Thank you for your prompt reply and your invaluable help.

You're right - it is Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN Messenger 6.1 I
have - why on earth does Microsoft confuse me like this :-)

Babs


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message >...
> Greetings Babs,
>
> Actually, you were using Windows Messenger 4.7, not MSN Messenger 4.7. As such, the upgrade
> message you're seeing is wrong (not quite sure why you got it, I can't seem to reproduce it
> here). As such, MSN Messenger (6.1) does not upgrade Windows Messenger 4.7.
>
> However, to stop Outlook Express from starting Windows Messenger 4.7, simply close Outlook
> Express, then download and run this .reg file:
> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg
>
> After this, it will no longer start with Outlook Express.
>
> You can remove Windows Messenger completely, 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 by
> opening it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this Program when
> Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on version). 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
>
> Besides the drawbacks above however, if you really want to remove it completely, for Windows
> Messenger 4.7, close down Messenger if it's running (right click the messenger icon in the
> notification area/system tray and click close). Then click the start button, then click Run
> and type in (copy-paste if you like):
> RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
>
> Then click OK.
> Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and screenshots, go to,
> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "Babs" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I'm running XP HE.
> >
> > I used MSN Messenger 4.7 until I had to upgrade to 6.1, via a message
> > from Microsoft. I was surprised that 6.1 didn't replace the old
> > version, so now they are both listed in my program files.
> >
> > When I open OE6, 4.7 is opening in the background - there is no icon
> > in the systray or taskbar to indicate this, nor is the contacts window
> > displayed. I only realised this when a contact signed in.
> >
> > On both versions, the options to run Messenger on start up or to allow
> > it to run in the background are both unchecked.
> >
> > Can anyone tell me how to cure this problem, please? And am I okay to
> > delete 4.7 without it affecting 6.1?
> >
> > Thanks.

[Dale]

Babs,
That was my problem. I am not an MSN member, only Hotmail
and got the same message to upgrade to 6.1, did so and
then could only resolve the issue by a system revert.

>-----Original Message-----
>Hello Jonathan,
>
>Thank you for your prompt reply and your invaluable help.
>
>You're right - it is Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN
Messenger 6.1 I
>have - why on earth does Microsoft confuse me like this :-
)
>
>Babs
>
>
>"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" >
wrote in message
>...
>> Greetings Babs,
>>
>> Actually, you were using Windows Messenger 4.7, not MSN
Messenger 4.7. As such, the upgrade
>> message you're seeing is wrong (not quite sure why you
got it, I can't seem to reproduce it
>> here). As such, MSN Messenger (6.1) does not upgrade
Windows Messenger 4.7.
>>
>> However, to stop Outlook Express from starting Windows
Messenger 4.7, simply close Outlook
>> Express, then download and run this .reg file:
>>
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe
..reg
>>
>> After this, it will no longer start with Outlook
Express.
>>
>> You can remove Windows Messenger completely, 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 by
>> opening it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab
and unchecking 'Run this Program when
>> Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' (depending on version). 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
>>
>> Besides the drawbacks above however, if you really want
to remove it completely, for Windows
>> Messenger 4.7, close down Messenger if it's running
(right click the messenger icon in the
>> notification area/system tray and click close). Then
click the start button, then click Run
>> and type in (copy-paste if you like):
>> RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%
\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
>>
>> Then click OK.
>> Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed
instructions and screenshots, go to,
>> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
>> ____________________________________________
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
>> Associate Expert
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>>
>> "Babs" > wrote in message
>> om...
>> > I'm running XP HE.
>> >
>> > I used MSN Messenger 4.7 until I had to upgrade to
6.1, via a message
>> > from Microsoft. I was surprised that 6.1 didn't
replace the old
>> > version, so now they are both listed in my program
files.
>> >
>> > When I open OE6, 4.7 is opening in the background -
there is no icon
>> > in the systray or taskbar to indicate this, nor is
the contacts window
>> > displayed. I only realised this when a contact signed
in.
>> >
>> > On both versions, the options to run Messenger on
start up or to allow
>> > it to run in the background are both unchecked.
>> >
>> > Can anyone tell me how to cure this problem, please?
And am I okay to
>> > delete 4.7 without it affecting 6.1?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>.
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Babs,

You're very welcome =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Babs" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello Jonathan,
>
> Thank you for your prompt reply and your invaluable help.
>
> You're right - it is Windows Messenger 4.7 and MSN Messenger 6.1 I
> have - why on earth does Microsoft confuse me like this :-)
>
> Babs
>
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
>...
> > Greetings Babs,
> >
> > Actually, you were using Windows Messenger 4.7, not MSN Messenger 4.7. As such, the
upgrade
> > message you're seeing is wrong (not quite sure why you got it, I can't seem to reproduce
it
> > here). As such, MSN Messenger (6.1) does not upgrade Windows Messenger 4.7.
> >
> > However, to stop Outlook Express from starting Windows Messenger 4.7, simply close
Outlook
> > Express, then download and run this .reg file:
> > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg
> >
> > After this, it will no longer start with Outlook Express.
> >
> > You can remove Windows Messenger completely, 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 by
> > opening it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab and unchecking 'Run this Program
when
> > Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on version).
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
> >
> > Besides the drawbacks above however, if you really want to remove it completely, for
Windows
> > Messenger 4.7, close down Messenger if it's running (right click the messenger icon in
the
> > notification area/system tray and click close). Then click the start button, then click
Run
> > and type in (copy-paste if you like):
> > RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
> >
> > Then click OK.
> > Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and screenshots, go
to,
> > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7
> > ____________________________________________
> > Jonathan Kay
> > Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >
> > "Babs" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > > I'm running XP HE.
> > >
> > > I used MSN Messenger 4.7 until I had to upgrade to 6.1, via a message
> > > from Microsoft. I was surprised that 6.1 didn't replace the old
> > > version, so now they are both listed in my program files.
> > >
> > > When I open OE6, 4.7 is opening in the background - there is no icon
> > > in the systray or taskbar to indicate this, nor is the contacts window
> > > displayed. I only realised this when a contact signed in.
> > >
> > > On both versions, the options to run Messenger on start up or to allow
> > > it to run in the background are both unchecked.
> > >
> > > Can anyone tell me how to cure this problem, please? And am I okay to
> > > delete 4.7 without it affecting 6.1?
> > >
> > > Thanks.