MSN Messenger

[fengshui]

I use Windows 98 (still holding out until my next PC) and recently upgraded MSN Messenger to 5.0. I've already seen a thread on this problem with XP...

I do NOT want MSN Messenger to start itself everytime I log into .NET (to check a hotmail account). Once its started, I have to close internet explorer to be able to shut it down (gives me that BS message that one or more programs requires messenger to operate properly). I had this problem before on the last version but eventually figured out where in the "options" I could turn it off however I've gone that route now and I'm thinking with this version there must be a registry entry somewhere; they didn't give a handy box to check for disabling the action.

I know its NOT in the Run, Run Once, etc. family of reg entries; that was the first thing I did after upgrading (turn off the autostart with computer start). I also looked in Interent Options for IE 6 and didn't see anything allowing me to disable MSN Messenger auto-start.

If anybody has the fix, let me know....thanks...
- Feng

Quick way to fix it is to move the MSN Messenger directory out of Program Files. It'll still work wherever you drop it, but when .net starts, it won't find it and it won't start. Theoretically anyway.

[goldenbuddha]

Hmm If you want to have MSN functionality, but without those feature. You could always remove MSN altogether and install another IM client, like Trillian, which lets you see/chat/do stuff like you could with MSN Messenger, as well as ICQ, AIM and the rest of them, if you choose to.

Indeed. I don't recommend Trillian, though I use it. It's a pain to get configured to look decent and sound decent. The stock setup just plain sucks, IMO.

[fengshui]

Thanks to all of you. I really appreciate it. The move directory/folder sounds good to me and I'll give that a go. Not wanting to mess with trillian although it sounds like something that consolidates all those chat client programs; I like using each for different things and to talk to different people so for me anyways....I'll stick with the separate progs.

- Feng

[iMaNeX]

Whir, by moving MSN Messenger out of it's correct installation directory wouldn't that cause a few problems itself? The sounds for the IM itself look into the standard install directory for "MSN Messenger 5.0" to "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\*.*" also in the registry MSN Messenger is told to look in that directory for event sounds.

I use the "MSN Messenger 6.0 (Beta)", it is an unnoficial release but I havent had a problem yet. When I go to hotmail to check my emails i dun have any problems at all.

I am aware however that the old MSN Messengers.... (v4.7 and Under) Open automatically when you open "Outlook Express" It should not open MSN Messenger 5 on its own, "well it doesnt for me", however goldenbuddha's idea i like. Trillian maybe complicated but at least it isnt a Microsoft Product.

Anyway, the reason that the IM opens when you are going to the page is because the Hotmail page has certain Java elements. For example: "Next to your received message it shows if the user is online or not." I am pretty sure that the site uses Java to get information from MSN Messenger to tell you if the user is online or not. (The Little Green Man Next To The Email...)

An easier way of stopping this would be to re-name the "msnmsgr.exe" file to something else, and then creating a shortcut for it if you actually use it. Then the sound files that are referred to in the registry are still located.

Not saying that Whir's way wouldnt work, but that is personally how i would do it.

'Good Luck'

[iMaNeX]

Oops, too late. He is gone