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#1
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times
the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used? -- Thanks for your time! |
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#2
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Greetings,
By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger. You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing. That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click Run and enter: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove Then click OK. If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it. -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Sue" wrote in message ... I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used? -- Thanks for your time! |
#3
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Thank you for your time and expertise.
I poked around on the board & found a response from you that was several years old on the same topic (should have done that first). In that, you mentioned disabling Windows Messenger rather than deleting it by using "tools/options" & unclicking the options to open the program on login, etc. In light of the fact that I'm exclusively using Live Messenger now, which would you advise? Are there hidden advantages and disadvantages I may not be thinking of? Also, I'd like to pose another unrelated question under a different heading in case someone else would benefit from being able lt find the issue via searching. I'd appreciate your response to that issue as well. I'll put it under the XP General board. Appreciate your time! Thanks so much. -- Thanks for your time! "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: Greetings, By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger. You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing. That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click Run and enter: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove Then click OK. If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it. -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Sue" wrote in message ... I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used? -- Thanks for your time! |
#4
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Hi Sue,
It's less of an issue removing it nowadays just because applications like Outlook Express and others were updated to work when it doesn't exist. The only real issues are those which I've already highlighted regarding Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing (which just won't work without it). Myself, on my XP systems I simply keep it disabled and have long since forgotten about it. Note that if you remove Windows Messenger, you can always reinstall it should you come under some circumstance where you do need it installed (and you'll be prompted to do so). -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Sue" wrote in message news Thank you for your time and expertise. I poked around on the board & found a response from you that was several years old on the same topic (should have done that first). In that, you mentioned disabling Windows Messenger rather than deleting it by using "tools/options" & unclicking the options to open the program on login, etc. In light of the fact that I'm exclusively using Live Messenger now, which would you advise? Are there hidden advantages and disadvantages I may not be thinking of? Also, I'd like to pose another unrelated question under a different heading in case someone else would benefit from being able lt find the issue via searching. I'd appreciate your response to that issue as well. I'll put it under the XP General board. Appreciate your time! Thanks so much. -- Thanks for your time! "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: Greetings, By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger. You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing. That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click Run and enter: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove Then click OK. If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it. -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Sue" wrote in message ... I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used? -- Thanks for your time! |
#5
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Jonathan,
3 Questions: 1. I have a fresh install of XP SP2 with SP3 overlayed. In view of what you said about "It's less of an issue removing it nowadays... ", if I use your windows messenger 'uninstall' (rundll... ) method, can the folder C:\Program Files\Messenger be deleted? And what (if any) application/dependancy issues migh come up in the future? 2. Re. "If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it" What is the 'reinstall' procedure? 3. In: C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components I see - msnmsgs.msi This looks like an installer for MSN Messenger! Can this folder tree be deleted? Please advise. Mike. "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: It's less of an issue removing it nowadays just because applications like Outlook Express and others were updated to work when it doesn't exist. The only real issues are those which I've already highlighted regarding Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing (which just won't work without it). Myself, on my XP systems I simply keep it disabled and have long since forgotten about it. Note that if you remove Windows Messenger, you can always reinstall it should you come under some circumstance where you do need it installed (and you'll be prompted to do so). -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: Greetings, By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger. You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing. That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click Run and enter: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove Then click OK. If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it. |
#6
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Hi,
1. Some very old applications which made use of Messenger API require Windows Messenger to exist or they'll freeze up. I can't even think any that weren't fixed in this regard. That and of course Remote Assistance, App Sharing and Whiteboard as previously mentioned in Windows Live Messenger. Delete the folder if you want. 2. You can grab it again from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update. 3. MSN Messenger is a component of MSN 8/9 (aka MSN Explorer), which is what that folder is. If you're not using this, then you can delete it. If you are using it, don't bother deleting it as it will just re-download Messenger again the next time it's used. I usually just delete this entire \Program Files\MSN folder as it serves no real purpose if you don't use MSN Explorer. -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Mike" wrote in message ... Jonathan, 3 Questions: 1. I have a fresh install of XP SP2 with SP3 overlayed. In view of what you said about "It's less of an issue removing it nowadays... ", if I use your windows messenger 'uninstall' (rundll... ) method, can the folder C:\Program Files\Messenger be deleted? And what (if any) application/dependancy issues migh come up in the future? 2. Re. "If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it" What is the 'reinstall' procedure? 3. In: C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\Install\MSN9Components I see - msnmsgs.msi This looks like an installer for MSN Messenger! Can this folder tree be deleted? Please advise. Mike. "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: It's less of an issue removing it nowadays just because applications like Outlook Express and others were updated to work when it doesn't exist. The only real issues are those which I've already highlighted regarding Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing (which just won't work without it). Myself, on my XP systems I simply keep it disabled and have long since forgotten about it. Note that if you remove Windows Messenger, you can always reinstall it should you come under some circumstance where you do need it installed (and you'll be prompted to do so). -- Jonathan Kay Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com (c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation -- "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: Greetings, By "old MSN Messenger" I assume you're referring to Windows Messenger. You can remove Windows Messenger, although there are a few components in Windows Live Messenger on XP that depend on its existence, namely Remote Assistance, Whiteboard and Application Sharing. That being said, you can remove Windows Messenger by clicking the Start button, then click Run and enter: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove Then click OK. If you ever need it again for the components discussed above, you can always reinstall it. |
#7
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
Hi Jonathan and thanks again.
I haven't re-installed MSN Live (8.1) yet. Have still a virgin install of XP SP3 & Office 2003 SP3. I'm surprised & curious about how the MSN messenger related folder got there because it was never bundled with XP but I know windows messenger was in the \Program Files\Messenger folder.. Did it maybe sneak in with XP SP3 or Office SP3 updates? Mike. "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote: 3. MSN Messenger is a component of MSN 8/9 (aka MSN Explorer), which is what that folder is. If you're not using this, then you can delete it. If you are using it, don't bother deleting it as it will just re-download Messenger again the next time it's used. I usually just delete this entire \Program Files\MSN folder as it serves no real purpose if you don't use MSN Explorer. |
#8
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Hi,
1. Some very old applications which made use of Messenger API require Windows Messenger to exist or they'll freeze up. I can't even think any that weren't fixed in this regard. That and of course Remote Assistance, App Sharing and Whiteboard as previously mentioned in Windows Live Messenger. Delete the folder if you want. Quote:
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#9
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Can I safely remove MSN Messenger?
"Sue" wrote: I want to use Windows Live Messenger & Live Mail exclusively, but at times the old MSN Messenger opens when I receive an IM from someone else. If I can't use control panel to safely delete MSN Messenger, is there a way to disable it so ONLY the Live Messenger will be used? -- Thanks for your time! |
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