Windows Messenger and Outlook

[Weacey]

Does anyone know of a way of Disabling Messenger so it can't be used for instant messaging by end users on a network? I have tried disabling the service and enabling 'do not allow messenger to run' in group policy which both work but Outlook is very slow to start as a result. Any suggestions on how to disable messenger without other programs suffering would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tazuk]

From memory I think that the "Enable the Person Names Smart Tag" option in Outlook's Other Options makes use of Messenger (certainly Outlook 2003).

You could try disabling this option on one machine and see if this resolves the issue with Outlook.

TazUk

Programmer An organism that turns coffee into software.
Unknown Author

 

[linney]

The Messenger Service in XP is not related to Instant Messaging programs it is for things like Net Send, it is disabled by default in XP.

Have a look at this thread for a few ideas.

how to block aim port in my router
thread779-1321323

Have a look at some of these too, but there are many versions of Instant Messaging available for download.

Try some of these.

302089 - How to Prevent Windows Messenger from Running on a Windows XP-Based Computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302089&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

327390 - Windows Messenger Starts When You Start Outlook Express After You Remove Access to

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;327390&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remove.htm

How To uninstall Windows Messenger completely from your computer
faq779-1380

The other method to uninstall it completely,
Go to Start > Run, then type in this and run it. (one Line)

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

 

[tazuk]

Ooops - linney is of course correct.

My brains thrown a cog and I've mixed up Windows Messenger with MSN / Microsoft instant messenger. That'll teach me to cut down on my coffee intake..

Sorry 'bout that

TazUk

Programmer An organism that turns coffee into software.
Unknown Author

 

[Weacey]

Thanks for the replies Folk. I tried disabling messenger in the group policy again and then the registry entry that was suggested on the dougknox.com link from linney before I realised that was for Outlook Express. It didn't work and Outlook still opened slowly with Messenger disabled. Am I missing something glaringly obvious here? Forgive me if I'm being stupid...

I need to disable Windows Messenger so that people can't use it while at work but I also can't have Outlook affected by it. I think this would be the case if I removed it completely.

 

[linney]

There is this which was mentioned earlier by "tazuk".

Use instant messaging services with Outlook

http://office.microsoft.com/client/...&rt=2&ns=OUTLOOK&lcid=3081&pid=CH100788851033

 

[Weacey]

Thanks linney. Sorry about the moment of stupidity! I couldn't see the wood for the trees...