mystified Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Well, I finally got XP in and working right...thanks for all the help Anyway, two questions:1. Is there a way to stop those popups on the bottom toolbar (install .net, take windows XP tour, etc.)?2. Is there a way to get rid of Messenger? It doesn't show up in Add/Remove, and when I try to exit, it pops up a message saying it's in use by another program and I can't exit. I don't use it, don't want it, and don't want it to keep trying to access the internet. I'd like to uninstall it, but have no clue as to how to do that (it was easy to uninstall in 98SE, but I see no way to get rid of it in XP).Thanks for any help..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CurlingSteve Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) (1) Those popups are also known as balloon tips.A quick RegEdit will quash themDisable Balloon Tips(2)Right-click My Computer and select Manage.Under "Services and Applications", highlight (click) the Services branch.In the right hand pane, scroll down then double click the Messenger service (to open its properties page).In the drop-down box for "Startup Type" select "Disabled".Click Apply (or OK).Reboot. Edited December 13, 2006 by CurlingSteve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Sometimes balloon tips can be helpful(but more of an annoyance). As to "take windows XP tour", open it once and then hit exit. It will not pop up again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 you can permanently remove windows messenger by unistalling this way:goto add/remove programs-->add/remove windows components Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CurlingSteve Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) Shanenin,If I'm not mistaken, going to Add/Remove - Windows Components only removes the shortcut from the Start Menu.And don't you need to click a "don't show this again" box in the Tour to disable it? Edited December 13, 2006 by CurlingSteve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) I think you are correct about just removing it from the start menu(I just tried it). As to the windows tour, I always just click the ballon, then click exit, no check mark needed.edit added later//mystified, sorry for the bad information, I am sure the real windows expert CurlingSteve is correct about windows messenger :-) Edited December 13, 2006 by shanenin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CurlingSteve Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I was thinking of the Tour nag one might get at boot/login time.That's where I think you need to find a "box" (but I could be wrong). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martymas Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 to disable all messenger options first go to add and remove on the leftwindows components open it scrol to messenger and uncheckthe boxthen go to start adminstrative tools servicesdisable alerta that is where those popups come from then scrol to messenger right click and disable it the last messenger start run typegpedit msccompt configuration--adminstrative templatesdouble click-windows componentson the right scrol to messenger [double click]on the right two options do not allow messenger to run and do nor automatically start messenger initailly right click either propertiescheck the boxes ENABLE in both optionsclick apply ok restart your comptthese options will stop all messengers dont forget alerta for those popupsmarty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mystified Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) Hey, that was kind of a fun read (the exchange above) Anyway, I really do appreciate the help....sounds like that'll take care of it. However, being brand new to XP, I'm sure I'll come up with more questions....hope that's OK Best.....LarryOOPS....hadn't seen yours yet, Marty.....thanks to you, too Edited December 13, 2006 by mystified Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CurlingSteve Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Hi Marty,I don't think you need to disable the Alerter service (but I don't think it needs to be running either).Disabling Messenger is enough.I have Alerter set to Automatic, with Messenger disabled, and get no "balloons". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martymas Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 the reason we all disabled alerta microsoft used it to alert customers on products but some smarty found it to be a hole and set those popups to shove ads and even porno sites which resulted many getting spyware and virus when i installed xp alerta and messenger was disabled by defaultmicrosoft had an option messenger begonenew users wore the brunt of those ads and spywarewe learned that at techtv i coppied them on a cd from techtvand ive used that method for years but every one to thier own marty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) mystified,I guess I am a little unsure on something. When you said "messenger", are you referring to the grey popup in the middle of your screen, or "windows messenger"(IM client) that is sitting in the system tray? Edited December 13, 2006 by shanenin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mystified Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I'm referring to the instant message one in the system tray. It's not really a problem, except when I least expect it, ZoneAlarm pops up a window saying it's trying to access the internet. The last time, I told it to remember the answer, and told it "no." Hopefully, that fixed it. It's still in the bottom tray, but I'm not signed in, so it doesn't seem to be doing any more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 If you open windows messenger, then goto options, their is a check mark to start messenger when windows starts, uncheck it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheTerrorist_75 Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Alerter is used for administration alerts within a networked setup. It isn't related to spam popups.Messenger Service should be disabled. This is where the spam popups come from.Disabling Messenger Service in Windows XPTo me Windows Messenger is also worthless and not needed.Simple way to Disable/Remove Windows Messenger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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