Removing Instant Messenger

I have never used Instant Messenger and don't expect to so I did not knowingly install it

When I try to install some apps, in this case Express Assist that I downloaded from the MS site, it will not run, claiming that I cannot do a backup while Messenger is running. I cannot find it to stop it and would like to prevent IM from running at all.

 

If you want to get rid of it completely (uninstall it), then go to Start>Run, paste the following command in and hit the enter key.

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

If you just want to stop it from running, uncheck it under Startup in Msconfig and, if you're using Outlook Express, in OE's Tools, go to Options and uncheck "Automatically log on to Windows Messenger" on the General tab.

There may be a way to stop Messenger from loading on startup in Messenger's preferences but I got rid of it long ago so I can't tell you where to find that option.

 

Open messenger, uncheck the load at start up option in the options menu.