Messenger Service Pop-Up Windows

I recently got a new computer and it comes with Windows XP. I keep getting these annoying pop-up windows, even when I'm not on the internet, that say Messenger Service or maybe Message Service at the top of the window and they are all advertisements for stupid things that I have no interest in. I think they have also been contributing to my explorer.exe freezing up.

Does anyone know of anyway to remove these or at least disable this annoying feature of Windows XP?

Thank you so much!

 

Click the 'Start' button.
Left-click on 'My Computer.'
At the Menu Bar on top, left-click on 'Tools.'
Left-click on 'Folder Options' in the drop-down box.
Left-click on the 'View' tab.
Uncheck the checkbox next to "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)."
Click the 'OK' button.
Exit the 'My Computer' window.
Click on the 'Start' button.
Highlight 'All Programs,' then 'Accessories,' and click on 'Windows Explorer.'
In the left-pane window of Windows Explorer, click on 'My Computer.'
In the right-pane window, click on your drive C under "Hard Disk Drives" listing.
Click on the 'Windows' folder. (A Hidden Files warning screen may pop up, if so; just click on the words "Show the contents of this folder" at the bottom of the warning).
Locate and click on the 'INF' folder.
Locate and double-click on the "sysoc.inf" file. (Do not get confused with the SYSOC.PNF file, click on "sysoc.inf" only).
Notepad opens this file into a window. Locate the following line: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
Delete the word "hide" from this line. Be sure to leave the commas before and after the word intact. Now the line should appear as: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,ocEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7



Click on 'File' in the NotePad window.
Click on 'Save' in the drop-down menu.
Exit NotePad after the file is finished being saved.
Exit Windows Explorer.
Click on your 'Start' button.
Click on 'Control Panel.'
Click on 'Add or Remove Programs.'
Click on 'Add/Remove Windows Components' located on the left-side of the window.
Scroll to the bottom of the "Components:" listing and uncheck the checkbox next to "Windows Messenger."
Click the 'Next' button. A "Windows Components Wizard" will open up and perform it's digital magic to remove Messenger. When you see the 'Finish' button, click on it.
Click on the 'Close' button for the "Add or Remove Programs" window.
Exit the 'Control Panel' window.
Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
I have tested this 29-step process on both Windows XP Home and Professional with complete success.

after doing that any commercials created by msn messenger are gone

- of course if you still watn to keep msn messenger on your machine this is NOT a good solution

 

if you want to keep messenger, perform the operation above.
then install WINDOWS messenger, available on the microsoft download site.
MSN messenger has those annoying pop-ups, WINDOWS messenger don't.

grtz, mindbug

 

Or use this and control even more!

XpAntiSpy written for XP but works in 2K also.

http://www.webattack.com/get/xpantispy.shtml

Clear description and help on each item, chose what you do and do not want.

After the first reboot after you run XPAntiSpy go back to XpAntiSpy and uncheck the clear Pagefile at shutdown, as we only want to clear it once.


Mike

 

Go Here ....

Hi

Go here New form of Spam !

Type in Messenger service & search - just read the problems & answers.

Not MSN or Messenger ..... worrying form of Spam - being investigated.

A Firewall with blocked Ports TCP - 135, 139, 445 UDP - 135, 137&138
Anything NETBIOS & external RPC

I had 2 of these before my firewall was installed. Have had no more. I had my firewall on my LT and have never had them there.They are even appearing on Windows 2000 systems who do not have XP's messenger.

Hope this helps.

 

XpAntiSpy will control this. If you don't use it, it is better to disable it other than let the firewall handle it since it consumes some resources.

You can also stop and disable this service in "Services ".

Oh yes 2K has messenger also!


Mike

 

addlcove-- I tried to follow your instructions, but was unable to locate the 'INF' folder. Is it inside another folder?

 

OK, I just downloaded and installed the XP-AntiSpy.
What all do I need to check to disable the Messenger Service pop-up ads? By the way, where are these pop-ups coming from? Is it Windows itself or MSN or what?

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

 

Hi, All ~

There seems to be some very common confusion w/ the redundant naming, typical of MS.

'Windows Messenger' the instant messaging chat program, often incorrectly referred to as 'Messenger Service' in MS's own articles, has absolutely nothing to do with the Windows 'Messenger Service', whose actual proper name is Microsoft's 'Messenger Windows Service' (and sometimes a.k.a 'Messenger Communication Service') which simply transmits 'net send' & 'Alerter' service messages between clients and servers, designed to be used by administrators to send messages to users on a network.

This service is not related to either 'Windows Messenger' or 'MSN Messenger' instant messaging programs.

I had to re-read this 3 times because it does get confusing!

I do agree and recommend the 'Messenger Windows Service' (b.k.a 'Messenger Service' in MMC) be stopped and disabled, but this has no relevance nor bearing on the confusingly similarly named 'Windows Messenger' or 'MSN Messenger' IM programs.

You cannot get 'messenger spam' or 'pop-up spam' on 'Windows Messenger' or 'MSN Messenger' IM programs.

Other than the fact that only 'Windows Messenger' can connect to the 'Communications Service' and 'Exchange Instant Messaging', which are only used in corporations, the 'browsing the web together feature' and a few insignificant details, the difference is merely aesthetic with 'Windows Messenger' being tightly integrated into the XP OS.

For a side by side comparison of features, tile the MSN Messenger feature page juxtaposed with the Windows Messenger feature page. Microsoft refers to them as client 1 & client 0 respectively.

 

I don't understand the question about inf?

The messages come thru a feature called the netsend command that normally is used to messages to work stations on a lan. This also works on the WAN (internet).

Messenger is not to be confused with MSN messenger. These are 2 totally different animals.

I just noticed since I knew the difference anyway, I never noticed before but XpAntiSpy is a little vague on its naming. Where they say MS messenger they should say MSN Messenger. If they refer to only Messenger this is the one you are after.

These messages mostly come from 1 source a company that decided to misuse this service for spam. Messenger normally is used mostly by System Administrators.

The one you need to stop is under the SERVICES HEADING, click disable messaging service.


Mike

 

OK, the XP Anti-Spy is installed and I think I disabled the correct thing. It was under services and labeled messaging service or messenger service or something like that. So far I haven't seen any more pop-ups. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I fixed the problem successfully and didn't inadvertently ***** anything else up.

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

Bruce good info for her.

Sorry we overlaped, I began my reply before you, but I am at my office had a couple phone call so left it and came back later to finish my reply.

Mike