What you may be referring to, is the "MSN Today" window, "AIM Today" window, or the "Yahoo Insider" (the annoying windows that pop up when you sign in)
MSN:
(1) Sign in
(2) Click the menu
[Tools] -> [Options...]
(3) On the
[General] tab, uncheck
[ ] Display MSN Today when Messenger signs in
Yahoo:
(1) Sign in
(2) From the
[Login] menu, choose
[Preferences...]
(3) In the
[General] section, uncheck
[ ] Show Yahoo! Insider when I login
AOL Instant Messenger:
(1) Sign in
(2) Go to
[Preferences] by pressing
[F3] or choosing from the menus:
[My AIM] -> [Edit Options] -> [Edit Preferences...]
(3) In the
[Sign On/Off] section, uncheck
[ ] Show AIM Today window at sign on
I hope that cures some of your 'popup' issues
- rp