How to uninstall Windows Messenger ?
Gili | Aug 04, 2007 | Comments 6
If you run a Windows XP operating system, you might be aware to the fact that Windows Messenger 5.0 is installed by default with the operating system. This utility was quite useful 4-5 years ago, but since the launch of MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger it became outdated.
Interestingly, Microsoft doesn’t allow you to upgrade your messenger, but only to install the new version additionally to the existing one. Therefore, once upgrading to MSN Messenger or Live Messenger you might want to get rid of Windows Messenger. Here, Microsoft strikes again: You can’t remove Windows Messenger from the Add/Remove Programs ( you cannot remove it via CCleaner or other known tweaking utility).
Luckily, you read A Virtual Exit 
, so you’ll be happy there’s a quick Windows tip for getting rid of Messenger 5.0 :
1. Close Messenger, Outlook and Outlook Express.
2. Click Start then Run.
3. Copy the following command and paste it into your Run line:
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove
4. Hit Enter.
5. That’s it, Windows Messenger 5.0 is gone!
I have seen some websites that indicated a degradation in Outlook Express startup performance following the deletion of Windows Messenger, but i tested this trick on 3 different machines and see no degradation.
Enjoy!
[tags] Messenger, Microsoft, Windows Tips [/tags]
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Filed Under: Windows Tweaks
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I had 3 different windows messengers still on my computer that I didn’t know how to get rid of till I read your post. I don’t understand why Windows would make it such a difficult task to delete the old Messengers. I know freed up space and won’t get confused. Thanks
A great tip. I was wondering how to do it and find the perfect solution. thanks
Chad,
Good point. I can’t understand why not make Messenger a simple entry in Add/Remove programs. But given the fact it’s not easy to uninstall MSN Messenger i am glad i could help.
I did uninstall windows messenger using the add/remove programs menu and the add/remove windows components option from there. I had no problems with that!
can you help me get rid of “orange messenger” off my computer?
I had “windows live messenger” and decided to try it linked to “orange messenger” but didn’t like it. I uninstalled live messenger and re-downloaded it from msn site,all ok,back to normal until I restarted my computer when it reverts back to “orange messenger by windows live” tried this three times,always the same orange just won’t go away.
hope you can help,H
Thanks for telling me how to finally rid myself of windows messenger that i did not use, want, nor install! I always wondered why it would not show up in the add/remove programs. Every split second counts when you’re waiting to boot up your computer.