How to keep MSN Messenger 5.0 from loading?

jrichrds

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,537
3
81
MSN Messenger 5.0 auto-loads when I access my Hotmail and any other passport-based site. I can't simply remove it because other people use MSN 8 on this computer, and MSN 8 won't run without it. Some fixes to disable MSN Messenger from running were for version 4.x and no longer work for version 5. I tried some other fixes to disable MSN Messenger from loading with Hotmail, and they didn't work.

Anyone find a solution that works?
 

Reliant

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
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Start/Run/gpedit.msc/Admistrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Messenger. Alter your settings in the right pane.
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,633
3
81
Reliant: MSN8 doesn't do Windows Messenger, and Hotmail no longer calls Windows Messenger APIs.

Sorry bud, you're out of luck. Hotmail (and some passport-enabled sites) call the MSN Messenger API. You could ask the Hotmail and Passport teams to remove those scripts, but people have been asking them to do that for years now...
 

jrichrds

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,537
3
81
In WinXP, Outlook Express will call Windows Messenger when it loads. But a simple registry tweak suppresses Windows Messenger from loading without having to force-uninstall Windows Messenger.

I was hoping for the same thing with Hotmail and MSN Messenger. Uninstalling MSN Messenger would work, but then MSN 8 refuses to run (even though MSN 8 runs perfectly fine after MSN Messenger 5 is forcibly shut down through task manager). So a similar registry tweak would be the only hope.

I thought it was annoying when AOL IM stuck "Free trial and unlimited Internet!" icons in every place possible, but MSN Messenger is much worse than that.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: Reliant
Start/Run/gpedit.msc/Admistrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Messenger. Alter your settings in the right pane.

That works... MSN Messenger doesn't load now when i start gamevoice or outlook express... BUT it takes FOREVER for them to load now. Damn MS.
 

dunkster

Golden Member
Nov 13, 1999
1,473
0
0
You've disabled Messenger, but it seems Outlook and Gamevoice are still trying to execute links to Messenger.

After I disabled Messenger, I ran Norton WinDoctor. WinDoctor reported about a dozen 'problems', which were links to Messenger. WinDoctor 'Fix All' cleared those links. No problems.

Problem is it might disable Messenger llinks for all users. You might try it by setting a restore point prior.

Might work for you.

Hope this helps!
 

Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
1
81
Do you even use MSN Messenger? I used to but got tired of the damn thing running all the time...so I just uninstalled Messenger totally. Do a google search for "remove MSN Messenger" and you will find several methods for doing so. Here is a link to one site that lists several methods: Remove MSN Messenger
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,633
3
81
Removing MSN Messenger is as simple as opening Add/Remove Programs, highlighting "MSN Messenger" and clicking the Remove button. Works fine on every operating system.
MSN Messenger doesn't load now when i start gamevoice or outlook express
GameVoice hasn't hooked MSN Messenger since version 4.6...but of course, that's only on downlevel. On XP, GameVoice has always, and will always, only hook Windows Messenger...it will never hook MSN Messenger on XP.

OE continues to hook MSN Messenger v5.0 on downlevel, tho' there are a few minor bugs that don't occur with 4.6. Like GameVoice, OE has always, and will always, only hook Windows Messenger on XP...it will never hook MSN Messenger on XP.
BUT it takes FOREVER for them to load now.
This issue has been known since XP shipped. Some people don't experience this problem...some do. You are obviously one of the unfortunate ones.
even though MSN 8 runs perfectly fine after MSN Messenger 5 is forcibly shut down through task manager
MSN8 will also run perfectly fine if Messenger were to crash, which is the equivilent of killing the process in TaskMan...not many customers would be very happy if their entire Internet session was ended due to one errant program blowing up. So MSN8 gracefully continues to work...