How to get rid of those banners on ICQ messages!

[techg7]

nope. didnt help =( was there something else?

 

[SiliconVandal]

Thanks for the post on how to get rid of the SMS crap..

SV

 

[techg7]

ahhhh there has to be some way to get rid of this thing. maybe i didnt do it right...maybe there was some other small detail that i missed?

 

[Slikkster]

I don't think you have to do too much, at least to get rid of the "SMS" ad. Here's all I did (after some trial and error, I might add):

1. Open Regedit

2. Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs\UpdatedFiles\Partner

3. Click on the URL String Value to modify it. Totally erase the web address so there's nothing in the Data box.

4. Do the same for the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs\UpdatedFiles\Reader. Totally delete the data for the URL key. (not the key itself, but the web address in the data box for that key).

So, they should just say URL and no Data for those string values.


Now, go to the C:\Program Files\ICQ\Partner folder

Delete all 3 files there...the .xml file and the two sms gifs. NOTE: IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE REGISTRY THIS FOLDER WILL CONSTANTLY UPDATE ITSELF AND DOWNLOAD THESE THREE FILES AGAIN EVEN IF YOU DELETE THESE FILES IN IT. YOU MUST DELETE THE WEB ADDRESS IN THE KEYS ABOVE.

Presto. No more SMS ads, and just the ICQ2000B logo, which I assume was always there on the interface.

 

[techg7]

right. thats great, but after doing all that, the grey box with ICQ AteBrowser below messages is still there, and thats whats really making me mad. has anybody found a way to get rid of that??

 

[Slikkster]

Could you screen shot the ATE Browser deal look and post it on your site so I can see it?

In the meantime, take a look at the following key in your registry and see what's different from mine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\Owners\(your icq # here)\Windows


Here's my settings for the subkey "Message". I'm assuming this is the section that outlines how your outgoing messages will look to you. I left out the hex equiv of the decimal numbers. See if you have any additional entries.


Message Subkey:

ab(Default)
Back Color 16777215
Char Set 1
Font Effects 0
Font Pitch 0
Height 23527783
HistoryHeight 107
MsgHeight 107
New Font Height 200
ab New Font Name MS Sans Serif
Pen Color 0
Position 28115201
ab Send Minimize No
ab Sound Type No
Width 35062278

 

[techg7]

http://www.powerlink.net/acamarata/icqwtf3.gif

here you go, thats what it looks like. its driving me insane

-

i have one more thing, "Send Email Copy" "No"

 

[Elledan]

techg7, I used the method I described in my earlier posts for ICQ on my other PC as well, and it worked flawlessly again, no ad and no box.

I'm using ICQ2000b BTW.

 

[Slikkster]

I'm assuming just deleting the URL link in the "networks" subkey will work, as it does with the SMS ad deletion I posted above. By just modifying the link, you might risk the chance of getting an error sometime about not being able to find the page, etc. However, Elledan says it's working for him, and I won't argue with that.

 

[techg7]

i must really be doing something wrong. if it isnt too much trouble could somebody write out a detailed step-by step process (the entire thing) so i can see what i missed, and so other users will be able to do it too?

 

[Slikkster]

techg, what version of ICQ are you using? I mean, what build number?

I have 2000B 4.60 build #3278 here. (click help/about and it will tell ya)

By the way, there is a new update to ICQ out...ICQ 4.63 Build 3279...I'm almost afraid to download/install it as I've been ad-free thus far 'cept for the SMS thing.

 

[techg7]

right now im using 2000a Beta V4.31 Build #3143...

ive been switching back and forth between that and 2000b trying to get these banners to go away. i just installed 2000b build 3279....im starting fresh. now what do i do...in detail?

 

[Slikkster]

you know you can actually uninstall ICQ and not lose your contact list or history files, etc. The uninstall program will only uninstall what ICQ originally installed. Sounds like you might want to start fresh and try the registry hacks after that.

If you don't want to chance that, download this "icqbackup" freeware app and backup the contact lists...probably won't need them, but nice to feel secure.

ICQBACKUP

Then, just go to Add/Remove programs and uninstall ICQ. You'll be left with your contact lists and history in the main ICQ Folders and nothing else (except for received files you transferred from other users).

Then, reinstall the latest version, then try the registry hacks again. (Once you reinstall and enter your user number/password, your contact list and history will then show up as normal.)

 

[techg7]

ahhhhh! i started over entirely, i uninstalled icq, rebooted, reinstalled it, changed the keys in the registry (deleted the urls and set the transactions to No), i deleted the three files in the Partner folder, I deleted the three dlls. this is where i am now: icq 2000b (latest build), no sms banner, grey box that says icq atebrowser is still on the bottom of messages.

there is a folder in the icq dir called AteBrowser, there are also more icqate*.dll in the icq dir other than the three i deleted. could either of these things make a difference? im getting kind of fustrated here.

 

[SonOfZeuz]

techg7,

Have you tried searching your registry for "showAte" ? Do that and change all the values to "No" Then reboot and see if that window is still there. The solution i posted earlier only stops the ads from downloading/showing but it doesn't get rid of the gray box (You will get "ICQ ATEBROWSER 1.0" instead of advertisements)

Just something to try, Mine has never had a gray box like that on your main send message window.

 

[techg7]

tried that, found nothing for "showAte"...

 

[Slikkster]

Yo techg7, here's something else you might want to try. Go to the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\Owners\(your icq number here)\Windows\posAte

I can't say for sure, but this looks like it positions the ATE Browser window. Try setting it to my settings if it's different from yours and see if it doesn't tighten it up.

Look at the "Position" value. Mine is set for 4f0026 (hex) which is 5177382 (decimal). Just enter the decimal number. Make note of your original settings (at least the decimal number) to revert to if it hoses the look somehow by changing it.

 

[techg7]

hmph. i dont have that key. i tried making it, making a postion value, and putting in that number, no luck. do i have to restart for registry changes to take effect?

 

[Elledan]

techg, can you describe what you did to disable the ad and box? Since it worked perfectly for me on two PC's, I doubt it will fail for you...

 

[techg7]

from above:
"i uninstalled icq, rebooted, reinstalled it, changed the keys in the registry (deleted the urls and set the transactions to No), i deleted the three files in the Partner folder, I deleted the three dlls. this is where i am now: icq 2000b (latest build), no sms banner, grey box that says icq atebrowser is still on the bottom of messages."

thats what i did...

 

[Elledan]

Did you create a new text-file (.txt) and renamed it to 'Partner.xml'? Also: don't forget to make it read-only!

I deleted those three .dll files:

> icqateima32.dll
> icqateimg32.dll
> icqateres.dll

 

[techg7]

yep...did that, still no luck...box is still there

and i deleted those three files...

 

[Slikkster]

tech, I think what you really have to do is uninstall (arghh!) and then go through your registry deleting anything with an ICQ reference in it. For instance, in my registry (Win2K) under HKEY_CLASS_ROOT there's a ton of stuff referring to ICQ, some of which is ATE stuff. Who knows what actually got changed in your initial install, but it probably didn't come out of the registry on your uninstall. I'd use the regedit "Find" applet and (after you uninstall ICQ) go through and delete any reference to icq you find.

I know that's tedious, but you seem determined. I wish I could help more but I never had the ATE addition to my message box so I can't really track down something that's not there.

 

[techg7]

i will do that, i actually ran through all of the icq related entries earlier, and there are more than i can count. as you said, i am determined, and i will defeat this thing one way or another. i appreciate your, and everybody else's, help and dedication to the problem. right now im back to 99b, and there are no banners. but thats only temporary, im still working on fixing this

 

[MassMhz]

Try.......Hkey current user\software\mirabilis\icq\default prefs,
modify the value "auto update" to "No"and then delete the partner file in C:\programs\ICQ.........before you go online,after fresh install,this should not allow ICQ to load these updates. LMK what happens.Worked perfect for me!