Remove Windows Messenger

This is a Visual Basic Script file which will remove Windows® Messenger from Windows® XP. It will also adjust your System Registry to prevent a long delay when opening Outlook Express when Windows Messenger is removed or disabled.

To use: Download the xp_messenger_remove.vbs file and save it to your hard drive. Close Windows Messenger if its open, or active in your System Tray. Double-click the xp_messenger_remove.vbs file. You will be prompted that Messenger must be closed to continue. Click Yes. This script makes the same changes as the manual procedure, below.

If you prefer to remove Windows Messenger manually, click Start, Run or (Start Button + R) and enter the following command:

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

Note: This will prevent a long delay when opening Outlook Express if you have the Contacts pane enabled. To prevent this, click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Right click in the right pane and select New, Dword value. Give it the name Hide Messenger Double click this new entry and set the value to 2.