New MSN Messenger won't die!

RWBRWB Icrontian
edited January 2004 in Science & Tech
I am leaving Texas in a couple days, and I had installed MSN Messenger when Igot here on my mm's PC. But now that I have it uninstalled, it is there here? WTF?

It also still logs on as me, and I can't get rid of that, it just keeps on like a damned virus.

Anyone know what is going on? I never had any problem getting rid of MSN Messenger before.

Ohh yeah, and also, when I try to exit the program, it tells me it cannot quit becuase some other program like Outlook Express or something MAY be still using it.

Comments

  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Check you dont have outlook, outlook express or Internet explorer open.

    Then you can shut it down and uninstall it completely.

    Then control panel->Windows components... check its not there either.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    nothing s running in the background, yet I cannot shut it down. I have it set so that it cannot run in the background, so this way I can hit the "X" in the top right of the program and it dissapears, but I cannot help but notice it doesn't have to sign in when I open it up again.

    It is not in Windows Components, I already checked there, and even had MSN Explorer uninstalled. along with other prgrams she doesn't need or use. It isn't in the "Add/Remove Porgams" either... It's like a ghost or something. It is running now, even though it does't exist!? wtf?

    I hate XP, I never had issues like this on Windows 2000.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Its got service pack 1 in right?

    This is sounding more like Windows Messenger than MSN messenger.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    I just checked my running processes, and even though I hit the X of msn messenger, it doesn't show up in my taskbar, but it is in fact STILL running in the background, even though I have it set to NOT run in the background.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    No, I fully updated this machine. Service Pack 1, and all that. It is not Messenger, I know that for fact. Unless they got dumber than usual, and decided to combine MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger.

    Also, I disabled the messenger service when I was going through trying to get rid of the spyware/ad ware on this machine.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Not as far as I know..

    But I did find these instructions..
    1. Open C:\WINDOWS\INF\sysoc.inf with your favourite text editor. (Hint: The INF directory might be hidden)
    2. Identify the line that looks like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
    3. Delete the "hide" keyword. That line should look like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
    4. Save the file and exit your text editor
    5. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components
    6. Scroll down to the last components
    7. You should have 2 checkboxes for Windows Messenger now. Uncheck both of them.
    8. Click on Next. The Windows Messenger application is fully deinstalled.

    http://forums.belution.com/en/windows/000/000/13s.shtml
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Sorry, but that did nothing, didn't give me any extra uninstall stuff.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Have you installed anything SINCE you installed messenger? :)

    If not, backup the docs and do a system restore back to where you were before you installed it :)
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    maybe this can help...
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Shorty wrote:
    Have you installed anything SINCE you installed messenger? :)

    If not, backup the docs and do a system restore back to where you were before you installed it :)

    Thereis no system restore, I disabled it... :range:
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Im out of ideas for a moment, time to go hunt out some ideas...
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Shorty wrote:
    Im out of ideas for a moment, time to go hunt out some ideas...

    It may be this newer version, but if it does this crap when I get home on my Windows 2000, I am never installing MSN Messenger ever again. Microsoft seems to be getting worse and worse with every new release of... _anything_
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    XPAntiSpy has an option to remove MS Messenger. Give it a try.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Mr. Kwitko wrote:
    XPAntiSpy has an option to remove MS Messenger. Give it a try.


    THANK YOU! That took care oif it nicely!
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited January 2004
    I found the quickest and easiest way to get rid of it is to exit the program via right clicking on the icon on the taskbar then go to C:/programs and rename the MESSENGER folder to anything else...such as MESSENGEROLD and reboot the sytem.

    After that...tis gonzo'd.

    You can then follow that with START>RUN>MSCONFIG and remove the messenger process from the RUN folder.

    But you got rid of it anyhoo so's my instructions are a bit moot. :)
  • polarys425polarys425 Harrisonburg, VA
    edited January 2004
    Shorty wrote:
    Not as far as I know..

    But I did find these instructions..

    1. Open C:\WINDOWS\INF\sysoc.inf with your favourite text editor. (Hint: The INF directory might be hidden)
    2. Identify the line that looks like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
    3. Delete the "hide" keyword. That line should look like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
    4. Save the file and exit your text editor
    5. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components
    6. Scroll down to the last components
    7. You should have 2 checkboxes for Windows Messenger now. Uncheck both of them.
    8. Click on Next. The Windows Messenger application is fully deinstalled.




    http://forums.belution.com/en/windows/000/000/13s.shtml

    theres an update that prevents it from showing up to uninstall.
  • polarys425polarys425 Harrisonburg, VA
    edited January 2004
    MediaMan wrote:
    I found the quickest and easiest way to get rid of it is to exit the program via right clicking on the icon on the taskbar then go to C:/programs and rename the MESSENGER folder to anything else...such as MESSENGEROLD and reboot the sytem.

    After that...tis gonzo'd.

    You can then follow that with START>RUN>MSCONFIG and remove the messenger process from the RUN folder.

    But you got rid of it anyhoo so's my instructions are a bit moot. :)

    right on, i started renaming the msmsgs.exe, after one of the updates prevented doing the uninstall trick that Geeky mentioned
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited January 2004
    Renaming the folder when you choose VIEW and uncheck the radio buttons to hide system files will not uninstall the program but it will make it appear as if it were not even there to the OS. Same end result...no messenger. :)
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    What they did with 6.1 update to MSN Messenger stinks, IMHO. They tied it to email, a .NET passport, and several other things. It IS buggy, somewhat. Mine is getting its teeth pulled today. With a registry edit....

    John-- points are updating faster on F@H than here, now at 9348 points, just turned in....
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    MediaMan wrote:
    I found the quickest and easiest way to get rid of it is to exit the program via right clicking on the icon on the taskbar then go to C:/programs and rename the MESSENGER folder to anything else...such as MESSENGEROLD and reboot the sytem.

    After that...tis gonzo'd.

    You can then follow that with START>RUN>MSCONFIG and remove the messenger process from the RUN folder.

    But you got rid of it anyhoo so's my instructions are a bit moot. :)

    That IS the way I usually get rid of it. But as I said, when I tried to EXIT the program it would simply tell me that I CANNOT EXIT due to it being used by som other program that I DO NOT HAVE or IS NOT running.

    (BTW I am not bitching right now, but stressing what was the problem :))

    It simply would NOT quit. Drove me nutz, it required a special FORM of shut down. I had to click on the "X" instead of right clicking on the Task Bar area, and then go into my Task Manager under Processes and force it to quit there. Any other method didn't seem to work... If I forced it to quit while it was still in the Taskbar it would give me an error and continue running.

    Very odd.... I don't use any IM program much anymore, so when I get home and setup my A64 system, I may not install anything. Plus I am not gonna be around as much anymore when I get home... I don't plan too anyways.
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited January 2004
    I did the instructions shorty posted to get rid of the messenger that comes with XP and I install 6.1. In MSN options I tell it not to start with windows and it doesnt. I dont have any problems with it. Wierd!
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Look in your task manager... see if you see msnmsgs.exe running or something like it.

    Also, are you on XP?
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited January 2004
    1. Open C:\WINDOWS\INF\sysoc.inf with your favourite text editor. (Hint: The INF directory might be hidden)
    2. Identify the line that looks like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
    3. Delete the "hide" keyword. That line should look like:
    msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7
    4. Save the file and exit your text editor
    5. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components
    6. Scroll down to the last components
    7. You should have 2 checkboxes for Windows Messenger now. Uncheck both of them.
    8. Click on Next. The Windows Messenger application is fully deinstalled.
    right on, i started renaming the msmsgs.exe, after one of the updates prevented doing the uninstall trick that Geeky mentioned

    Unless I'm terribly mistaken, those instructions are applicable only to Windows Messenger not MSN Messenger. As the latter shows up in the add/remove programs list un-hidden and by default, even the latest build v6.1.0207. I think some people are getting the two Microsoft Messenger clients confused.

    Nevertheless, I suspect the problems experienced were a result of MSN Messenger not being properly closed down before the uninstall procedure was started, or something along those lines. The easiest way to ensure successful un-install is to uncheck MSN Messenger in the 'msconfig' start-up list and then uninstall then delete the appropriate directory (e.g. MSN Messenger) in your program file folder. Then use a regcleaner to swipe over any key or values that might have been overlooked.

    However MSN Messenger to my knowledge is not integrated at all into OE or IE, unlike Windows Messenger. MSN Messenger is an independent instant messaging client that works as a separate and individual application.

    I have never had any trouble removing it, unlike Windows Messenger which can only be removed properly by using the "RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove" command. Even if you can get Windows Messenger to show up in the add/remove programs list, uninstalling it that way, will not properly remove it, it will simply hide it from you.

    In short, Windows Messenger is the integrated one, the Messenger service is an unrelated admin' tool and MSN Messenger is the un-integrated non-service running client. Which if (MSN Messenger) you are having problems uninstalling, simply ending the task 'msnmsgr.exe' (or however many appear with that name) before uninstalling the app in add/remove programs, should result in a smooth and problem free uninstall.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    yes I am pretty sure the majority of us understand easily the differences between the 2, as I can see most of us are well adapted Windows Users.

    However, this WAS *MSN* Messenger that would NOT shut down for me. It was the latestrelease, which I am guessing incorporates .NET heavily into it. It would not shut down as a result of it "thinking" for whatever God awful reason, that some other application that uses MSN Messenger being open. *which NONE were in fact open*

    I had in fact, gone into mscofig to get rid of it from opening on startup. I had gone through the OPTIONS built in to tell it to not open. Yet it refused to do any of that.

    I know very well to not have the application you are running, _running_ while you uninstall it. That is common since. Strangely, as it comes to mind, I had no problems closing it, or shutting down MSN MESSENGER until AFTER I had uninstalled it.

    I too, NEVER had this, or ANY issue prior, with MSN Messenger. I have, however, been using Windows 2000Pro exclusivly, and this is an XP Home PC I am on ATM.
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited January 2004
    RWB wrote:
    yes I am pretty sure the majority of us understand easily the differences between the 2, as I can see most of us are well adapted Windows Users.

    However, this WAS *MSN* Messenger that would NOT shut down for me. It was the latestrelease, which I am guessing incorporates .NET heavily into it. It would not shut down as a result of it "thinking" for whatever God awful reason, that some other application that uses MSN Messenger being open. *which NONE were in fact open*

    I had in fact, gone into mscofig to get rid of it from opening on startup. I had gone through the OPTIONS built in to tell it to not open. Yet it refused to do any of that.

    I know very well to not have the application you are running, _running_ while you uninstall it. That is common since. Strangely, as it comes to mind, I had no problems closing it, or shutting down MSN MESSENGER until AFTER I had uninstalled it.

    I too, NEVER had this, or ANY issue prior, with MSN Messenger. I have, however, been using Windows 2000Pro exclusivly, and this is an XP Home PC I am on ATM.

    Indeed, I didn't mean to insinuate that I thought you were using anything other than MSN Messenger, as your task manager screenshot clearly showed you were. However, my post was simply an attempt to clear up certain facts revolving around this whole Messenger subject. As some posts indicated methods of removing MSN Messenger which were in fact only methods for removing Windows Messenger.

    Confusion surrounding Microsoft applications/services that carry the word 'Messenger' in their title, is still ripe, and I felt it was important to clarify a few points for any less experienced readers of this thread.

    And going back to your initial problem with MSN Messenger, don't forget about 'safe mode'. Booting windows into this mode, is one of the easiest methods of assuring most problem apps don't load up so you can easily and swiftly remove them. :)
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Very true, but in this case, on my XP Pro, had to manually edit registry to really pull MSN Messenger 6.1's teeth. No remove option, and somewhere in EULA or install notices it says it is not removable. Part of a securtiy thing AFAIK, security in part for Microsoft as it was intended to be uninstallable most deliberately.

    John.
  • citrixmetacitrixmeta Montreal, Quebec Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    start/ run

    RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

    worked for me.
Sign In or Register to comment.