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How to Prevent Windows Messenger from Running on a Windows XP-Based Computer

PSS ID Number: 302089

Article Last Modified on 2/20/2004

The information in this article applies to:

This article was previously published under Q302089

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to prevent Windows Messenger from running. By default, Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition install Windows Messenger, and the user interface does not provide a way to remove or to uninstall Windows Messenger.

When you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows adds a new feature that is named "Set Program Access and Defaults" to the Add or Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. You can use this feature to remove Windows Messenger from the Start menu, the desktop, and other locations. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

332003 How to Change Your Default Programs and to Enable or Remove Access to Microsoft Windows and Non-Microsoft Programs

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To prevent Windows Messenger from running, use one of the following methods.

Windows Messenger 4.0 or Later on a Windows XP Professional-Based Computer

  1. Click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc, and then press ENTER.
  2. Double-click the following items to expand them:
  3. Double-click Do not allow Windows Messenger to run, and then click Enabled.
  4. Click OK, and then quit the Group Policy snap-in.

NOTE: Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc) is not available on Windows XP Home Edition-based computers.

NOTE: This method also prevents programs that use the Messenger Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from using Windows Messenger. Microsoft Outlook 2002, Microsoft Outlook Express 6, and the Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP are examples of programs that use these APIs and that depend on Windows Messenger.

Windows Messenger 4.0 on a Windows XP Home Edition-Based Computer

  1. Start Windows Messenger.
  2. Click Options on the Tools menu.
  3. Click the Preferences tab, click to clear the Run this program when Windows starts check box, and then click OK.

NOTE: This procedure does not prevent users from manually running Windows Messenger, but it does prevent Windows Messenger from running automatically each time that you start Windows. If you use Outlook Express or Outlook 2002, Windows Messenger may start automatically each time you run Outlook Express or Outlook. To prevent Windows Messenger from signing in when you run Outlook Express:

  1. In Outlook Express, click Options on the Tools menu.
  2. On the General tab, click to clear the Automatically log on to Windows Messenger check box.
  3. Click OK.

To prevent Windows Messenger from signing in when you run Outlook:

  1. In Outlook, click Options on the Tools menu.
  2. On the Other tab, click to clear the Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook check box.
  3. Click OK.

Windows Messenger 4.5 or Later on Windows XP Home Edition-Based or Windows XP Professional-Based Computers

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
  2. Locate and click the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft

  1. On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type Messenger for the name of the new registry key.
  2. Locate and click the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger

  1. On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type Client for the name of the new registry key.
  2. Locate and click the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client

  1. On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then type PreventRun for the name of the new DWORD value.
  2. Right-click the PreventRun value that you created, click Modify, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  3. Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE: This method also prevents programs that use the Messenger Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from using Windows Messenger. Outlook 2002, Outlook Express 6, and the Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP are examples of programs that use these APIs and that depend on Windows Messenger.

 

Additional query words: disable remove uninstall

Keywords: kbenv kbhowto KB302089
Technology: kbWinMessenger400 kbWinMessenger450 kbWinMessenger460 kbWinMessengerSearch kbWinXPSearch

 

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