How to uninstall Windows Messenger in Windows XP

Have you ever wondered how to uninstall Windows Messenger in Windows XP ? If you don't use instant messaging programs, you might just as well uninstall Windows Messenger so that Windows doesn't have to load it each time you start your computer.

It will speed up Windows XP startup.

Even if you do want to use an instant messaging program, you might want to uninstall Windows Messenger and use MSN Messenger or Windows Live Messenger instead.

Remove Windows Messenger

You might be disappointed when you look at the "Add or Remove Programs" category in your Control Panel. Not all of the accessories on the Start menu's Accessories submenu appear here. Many of them are actually removable, but by default, Windows hides them from the "Add / Remove Windows Components" dialog.

However, there's a little great tweak that will make Windows Messenger (and many other hidden programs) available for removal. Here's what to do :

• Right-click on your Start button and select "Explore"
• Navigate to your c:\windows\inf directory
• Double-click the file sysoc.inf to open it in your text editor
• In this file, under the "Components" section, there are several lines for different programs that are installed on your computer. Windows Messenger's name is msmsgs, so look for that line :

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

• Edit the line and remove the word "hide" and the comma preceding it. After you edit it, the line might look like this

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,7

• close your text editor and save the changes.

You are now ready to uninstall Windows Messenger in Windows XP.

Click the Start button and select "Control Panel". In Control Panel, Select "Add or Remove Programs".

If your Control Panel rather looks like this :

you might want to switch to "Category View" to make you Control Panel look like the previous image, but you can also select "Add or Remove Programs" from here. If you launch "Add or Remove Programs", Windows will come up with the "Add or Remove Programs" screen.

On the left of that screen, click "Add/Remove Windows Components" and wait while the list is being populated. If you scroll down that list, you will come across Windows Messenger. Uncheck it's box and click next to uninstall Windows Messenger in Windows XP.