How Do I Uninstall Windows Messenger?    

Both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger are useful tools for chatting and for video conferencing. Many users prefer to remove the application from their pc's altogether.  Windows Messenger is not the same as MSN Messenger which can be removed by the Windows Add and Remove Programs option.  Firstly this only applies to machines with Windows XP service packs one and two installed.

1. Click Start,Control Panel, Add/Remove.
2. Click the Add/Remove Windows components Icon in the left hand pane
3. Scroll down the list that appears until you come to the option marked Windows Messenger. Remove the tick from the box on the left for the option to Disable Windows Messenger and then click Next
4. After updating click Finish
5. Finally Reboot your pc for the alteration to take effect

Unofficial Windows Messenger Removal    

The default location for Windows Messenger is C:\Program Files\Messenger. When XP wants to fire up Messenger it will try and access the files at the default location. To prevent Messenger from loading, just rename the Messenger folder to something new. If you want to use Messenger at some point down the road, simply rename the folder to Messenger and you're back in business.

To prevent Windows Messenger from auto starting you need to enter the registry and make a few alterations. Making mistakes in the registry can cause problems, therefore, be sure to backup your registry and create a system restore point before attempting to make any alterations.

1. Click Start, Runnad type: regedit in the dialog box
2. Click on the plus sign to the left of HKEY_CURRENT_USER to expand the selection and from the drop down list click on the plus sign to expand the following folders Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. On the right of the screen, right click on the MSMSGS Option and from the drop down list that appears select Delete
4. Close the registry editor

How Do I Remove MSN Messenger From Outlook Express?    

Whenever you open Outlook Express MSN messenger always opens and attempts to log on to the Internet. To prevent this from happening proceed as follows:

1. Click Start, Run and type in: regedit (heed the warnings in the previous FAQ)
2. Click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand the contents of this folder and  the following folders Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
3. On the right  of the screen in the Outlook Express folder you will see a list of Options.
4. Choose the Value Name: Hide Messenger
5. If this doesn't exist then right click on the Outlook Express folder and select New
6. From the drop down menu select DWORD value
7. A New Value box will appear in the right hand screen. Right click on this and select Rename.
8. Rename the value to Hide Messenger
9. Now double click on the option Hide Messenger
10. In the Edit DWORD value window change the Value Data from 0 to 2 to remove messenger
11. The screen should look something like this:
12. Value Name: Hide Messenger
13. Data Type: REG_DWORD
14. Value Data: 0x00000002 (2)
15. Exit the registry editor. Your PC may need to restart before the changes take effect.