Greetings Ken,

If these options don't exist, then you'll need to reinstall Windows Messenger (no need to
uninstall it first), from he
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/download.asp
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Ken J" wrote in message
...
I don't have this option on my Windows Messenger to be
able to turn it off!


In Tools-Options-Preferences (Under General) there are
only 2 options, these being Allow this program to run in
the background and Show me "Away" when I'm ......






Then open up Messenger (you'll find it under the start
menu under either Windows Messenger or
MSN Messenger, depending on what's installed -- if both
are, you'll need to disable both),
click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab
(or General tab depending on
version), uncheck 'Run this program when Windows
starts', 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' or 'Automatically run Messenger when I log on to
Windows' (again, depending on
version) and click OK.

Then open up Messenger (you'll find it under the start
menu under either Windows Messenger or
MSN Messenger, depending on what's installed -- if both
are, you'll need to disable both),
click the Tools menu, then Options, then Preferences tab
(or General tab depending on
version), uncheck 'Run this program when Windows
starts', 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' or 'Automatically run Messenger when I log on to
Windows' (again, depending on
version) and click OK.