# Here is how to Remove MSN Messenger from XP

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 16, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309 "2002-06-16T04:26:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![renigademaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@renigademaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renigademaster)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309/1 "2002-06-16T04:26:32Z")

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If you are anything like me, Having MSN Messenger with Windows XP bothers you, and you can’t remove it. Now you can. Here is how:  
Close MSN Messanger on the task bar by right clicking it an choosing Exit  
Then go to the Run Command on the start menu  
Paste: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove  
Click ok.  
Watch the purdy removal process.  
Restart your computer and smile. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309/2 "2002-06-16T04:30:42Z")

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Now if you can only tell me how to remove entries from MSCONFIG’s startup tab after they’ve been unchecked, you will be my hero of the day.

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**Author:** ![renigademaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@renigademaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renigademaster)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309/3 "2002-06-16T04:31:55Z")

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I’ll work on it for ya.  
Ben

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**Author:** ![renigademaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@renigademaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renigademaster)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309/4 "2002-06-16T04:37:37Z")

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There is a program called Starup Cop that appears to do that for you. if that does not work, you can selectively rebuild the registry for MSconfig and it will only find the valid startup programs.  
[http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s=1478&a=8066,00.asp](http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s=1478&a=8066,00.asp) (for the startup cop download)

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**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-is-how-to-remove-msn-messenger-from-xp/114309/5 "2002-06-16T08:21:45Z")

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But … but … but MSN Messenger is an [I[integral\* and _fundamental_ part of Windows! Removing it will cause your computer to spontaneously explode, killing you prematurely before you can discover the cure for the mutant space plague that’s coming next month to threaten humanity with mass extinction!

Good god, man, by removing MSN Messenger, you’ve _doomed_ the **entire human race!** WHAT HAVE YOU DONE???

😉