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"Windows Messenger @!%^@"

When I boot up messenger is running. I know this cause my friends message me and it is in the list of programs running in Task Manager (I run XP) but it's not in the system tray. I can't find how it starts. Allegedly it doesn't start on start-up but it clearly does. It's useful in the system tray but I don't want it when I start up. Any ideas how to stop it?

Just posted this on anther thread:

http://grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm

Chris.

I think I tried that once. It didn't work. MSN seems integral to XP.. like explorer.. but it went away when I installed SP1 from scratch.

Yes, that would stop it from signing in when it started, but this is how you stop it starting up at all when Windows boots up:

- Open Messenger
- In the Tools menu, click Options
- Click the General tab at the top
- Uncheck the box which says, "Run Messenger when Windows starts"

Hope that helps

You need to use XP SP1 and disable it in the programs and access options. MSN is part of XP.

Alternatively, tell it not to remember your password if you don't want it to sign in.

Go to run and type
msconfig

Then select start up from the list and see if it is there. Uncheck the box if you don't want it to start on start up.

When I boot up messenger is running. I know this cause my friends message me and it is in the list of programs running in Task Manager (I run XP) but it's not in the system tray. I can't find how it starts. Allegedly it doesn't start on start-up but it clearly does. It's useful in the system tray but I don't want it when I start up. Any ideas how to stop it?