Things have moved on one heck of a lot since the default Windows Messenger that comes with Windows XP was the de-facto standard. These days, as you probably know, it’s Windows Live Messenger, still referred to by some as MSN; as in “Have you got msn?”.

- A lot of users are still using Windows XP though at time of writing, and from time to time the operating system gets so corrupt and derelict, or virus-infested even, that the only real way to proceed is to reformat, reinstall, and start again. – Which leaves you with a problem; the default Windows Messenger keeps popping up, whether or not you’ve installed the latest version of Windows Live Messenger.

When the default Windows Messenger in XP appears in your system tray and says that it’s running then it’s a total waste of CPU cycles and resources. Windows Messenger makes these unexpected appearances because Outlook, Outlook Express, and even some Microsoft Web pages make it load automatically at times. In short, it’s not only a damn nuisance, it’s also a security risk too, and you simply don’t need or want it whatsoever. Closing it down, on the other hand, can be quite a pain in the ass. – Wouldn’t it be better to be totally rid of it once and for all, to never have to see it or have it run again?

Geek to Make You Freak

You bet it would. Getting rid of it isn’t exactly rocket-science either; even though some sites try to make it sound like such: Some websites advise you to do it by making an alteration to the local group policy with the Group Policy Editor using the following 6-step procedure, which seems so geeky to some users of XP that it’s frightening:

1. Access the Run dialog box by pressing [Windows]R.
2. In the Open text box type Gpedit.msc and click OK to launch the Group Policy Editor.
3. Go to Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Messenger.
4. Double-click the Do Not Allow Windows Messenger To Be Run setting.
5. In the resulting dialog box, select the Enabled option and click OK.
6. Close the Group Policy Editor.

Also, in addition to its geekiness, this method only works if you’re running Windows XP Professional; but useless if you have XP Home as it can’t be done in XP Home, because the Group Policy Editor is disabled in XP Home. – Kinda sucks eh?

Keep it Simple, Stupid

Here’s a 3-step-process to accomplish the operation in both XP Home and XP Professional; and it has nothing to do with the Group Policy Editor.

Windows Messenger is a Windows Component; so let’s remove it as a Windows Component:

1) Click Start>Control Panel, (Ensure that the Classic View is applied to the Control Panel.) and click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

2) In the sidebar on the left; click the Add/Remove Windows Components icon.

3) Near to the bottom of the list that appears you’ll see Windows Messenger. (You’ll have to scroll down to find it.) Next to the entry on the left you’ll see a checkbox with a tick in it. Click the tick so that it vanishes and click on Next.

Windows removes the Windows Messenger component.

(*Please note: Doing this removes the default Windows Messenger that ships with the operating system ONLY. It doesn’t uninstall Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger.)

Click Finish and close.

That was easier.