Haradim said:
Windows XP Home
Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
Click Performance and Maintenance
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK
(as pilfered from
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/)
XP Pro is essentially the same process, BTW. It's all on the site.
Hmm, according to Microsoft this is how to disable it:
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
Click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc, and then press ENTER.
Double-click the following items to expand them:
Local Computer Policy
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Messenger
Double-click Do not allow Windows Messenger to run, and then click Enabled.
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
Start Windows Messenger.
Click Options on the Tools menu.
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:
In Outlook Express, click Options on the Tools menu.
On the General tab, click to clear the Automatically log on to Windows Messenger check box.
Click OK.
To prevent Windows Messenger from signing in when you run Outlook:
In Outlook, click Options on the Tools menu.
On the Other tab, click to clear the Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook check box.
Click OK.
Windows Messenger 4.5 or Later on Windows XP Home Edition-Based or Windows XP Professional-Based Computers
Standard warning about messing with your registry!
Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft
On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type Messenger for the name of the new registry key.
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger
On the On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type Client for the name of the new registry key.
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client
On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then type PreventRun for the name of the new DWORD value.
Right-click the PreventRun value that you created, click Modify, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
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.
These are all from the MS KB article 302089 found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302089&Product=winxp
