FAQ - Go on, read it....you know you want to

Un-official microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger FAQ - version 0.2
Created: 24-06-03
Last update: 25-06-03

This FAQ is provided 'as is' and has been compiled from postings within the
newsgroup 'microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger'. Report errors and
omissions to 'assetsinc@hotmail.com'. Many thanks to Jonathan Kay for his
sterling work within this community.

Issues currently covered by this FAQ:
1. POP UP ADVERTS (part 1)
2. DELETING MESSENGER
3. REMOVING UNWANTED SIGN-IN ACCOUNTS
4. POP UP ADVERTS (part 2)

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1. POP UP ADVERTS

Do these "pop-ups" that are appearing have "Messenger Service" in their
titlebar? If so, what you're seeing is the Messenger service built-in to
Windows, *not* Windows Messenger (which are two different things) which
spammers are exploiting -- this is not Microsoft, nor can Microsoft control
them anymore then they can control spam to your e-mail inbox.

To get rid of these pop ups, you'll need to disable the "Messenger
Service", click Start, then Run, enter "services.msc"and click OK. Scroll
down to "Messenger", select it, right-click and then choose Properties.
Under startup type, choose 'Disabled' and then choose the 'Stop' button.
After the service is stopped, click OK. Nothing in Windows or any real
third-party applications should be effected by this.

Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
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2. DELETING MESSENGER

To remove MSN Messenger 5 or 6, click Start, then Control Panel, then Add or
Remove Programs, click MSN Messenger and then click the 'Remove' button.

For Windows Messenger, close down Messenger if it's running (right click the
messenger icon in the notification area/system tray and click close). Then
click the start button, then click Run and type in (copy-paste if you like):

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

Then click OK.
Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and
screenshots, go to, http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7

Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
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3. REMOVING UNWANTED SIGN-IN ACCOUNTS

To fix this, click the Start Button, then click the Control Panel. Then,
click User Accounts in the Control Panel. Select your account name, and then
on the left side of the screen, under Related Tasks, click 'Manage my
Network Passwords'. In the window that opens, click the Passport.Net\*
(Passport) entry and click 'Remove'.

Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
____________________________________________

4. POP UP ADVERTS (part 2)
For Messenger Service ads:
You need to install or enable a firewall:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;Q330904

Disabling Messenger Service can be a good idea, but it does not solve the
real problem.

The ads are not the real problem, the ads are only a symptom of a larger
issue. The real problem is open ports that allow unwanted traffic into the
computer.

Disabling Messenger does nothing for the open ports. You would need a
firewall that controls the traffic.

The above solution will not work if you have AOL as is not compatible with
Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). If you have AOL, you should
contact AOL and/or get a 3rd party firewall.

Disable Messenger Service:
Start/Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, click Services.
Go down to "Messenger".
Right click "Messenger" and select Properties.
Hit the Stop Button under Service Status section
Then under Start-up select DISABLE
Click OK and follow prompts

Check this link:
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.php
Run Ad-Aware (free version) or Spybot to check for spyware:
http://www.lavasoft.de/
Or
http://spybot.eon.net.au/

For internet pop-ups, try one of these:
http://www.panicware.com/
http://www.bysoft.se/sureshot/stopthepop/index.html
http://www.popupbuster.com/PopUpBuster/
http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/
http://www.endpopups.com/
http://www.adshield.org/

--
Gary Tsang
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