MSN or Windows Messenger for Video conferences?

This is more of a query then any particular fault, I am using Windows Messenger for Video conferences but I have been advised that I should be using MSN Messenger, what is the difference between the 2 (apart from the names) because I have heard that MSN can be quite obtrusive in the way it reacts with your system any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

At the moment I do not have MSN Messenger installed (not that I am aware of anyway).

Paul

 

The difference between the two is explained on this page.

 

Thanks, excellent description, I just need to make a choice between the two.

Paul

 

MSN Messenger certainly has a lot going for it, but one question can the adverts at the bottom be turned off? managed to turn off the tabs as some of the links are not for me.

Paul

 

Make sure your folder options are set to 'show all files' including hidden & system files - launch windows explorer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\(your name)\Local Setttings\Temp - locate the links.txt file - double click and then highlight all the text - delete and remember to save changes and exit. Right click - properties - make sure it is set to read only and this way the .txt cannot be written to. Next time you open MSN it will be ad free. Make sure and hide your system files again HTH

 

This would not work for me as this temp folder is cleared out most days and it would mean altering the text file every time I use MSN Messenger.

Paul

 

miniB's suggestion is the only way I know of to get rid of the ads. But, you could make creating a new one less of a hassle by using a batch file to do it. First create a blank text file, name it links.txt and put it wherever you want. Then create a batch file, name it links.bat and put the following two lines in it. The lines I'm providing assume that the links.txt file you created is in the root of your c: drive and that your temp folder is in the standard location (using XP). If you put it somewhere else, or if your temp folder is located somewhere else, you'll have to change the path(s) accordingly.

PHP:

copy c:\links.txt  "C:\Documents and Settings\your username\Local Settings\Temp "

PHP:

attrib +r  "c:\Documents and Settings\your username\Local Settings\Temp\links.txt "

Be sure to include the quotation marks. Then put a shortcut to the batch file in your quick launch toolbar. Now, whenever you want to create a links.txt file all you have to do is click on the batch file shortcut and it's done. One other option would be to put a shortcut to the batch file in your startup folder and it would create one each time you start windows. It's not perfect but it would get the job done rather easily.

 

Thanks for the info but I have found an even more permanent way of removing the adverts at:

http://www.matthijs.net/msn.php

Buy I am not sure how legal this is

Paul

 

I have used the HEX editor to do this before and it worked fine. The only problem is that you need one for the current version for it to work. As far as I know I wasn't doing anything illegal (at least I hope not as this would not be me at all!)

The .txt file is the simple way but the HEX editor will definitely clean the ads for you (just remember to save when you have used the edit) I forgot to the first time and had to go through it all over again

Edit: just noticed the link is for the current version

 

Thanks for the pointers minib. I have found that the ads disappear if I have ad blocking enabled on Norton Internet Security also. For me that's a lot less of a hassle. However I see where some would not want to do that. My 2 cents worth anywey