Pop up messages: how to turn off.

Occasionally, when my PC is connected to the internet, I will receive a popup message window - not a browser window, but a grey message window - from an external source (usually some company trying to sell me something). I find this rather disturbing, not to mention disrupting (especially with applications that don't like to be interrupted).

Is this something I can turn off? A service that is on that I don't need, or can adjust? If anyone has information on this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

 

This sounds like the Windows Messaging Service and it can be turned off. The following is copied from another tech letter answer to this issue:

"These are "Messenger Service" popups -- these aren't MSN/Windows Messenger or anything connecting to the .NET Messenger service or Microsoft -- this is the built-in Messenger service in NT/Windows 2000 and XP for sending quick "pop up" messages across networks. The best way to stop this from happening is to the Control Panel, choose Administrative Tools (if you're using XP, you may have to click Classic View on the left). Double-click Services, and Scroll down to "Messenger ", select it, right-click and then choose Properties. Under startup type, choose disabled and then choose the 'Stop' button. After the service is stopped, click OK. "

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks

I suspected that was the culprit, and will turn the service off. Thanks for the information!