# IE Popus when it isn't being used **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429 "2004-10-21T16:47:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/1 "2004-10-21T16:47:48Z")
Okay fellas I have a really annoying popup problem. I never use IE and I still get random IE popups from time to time. This is EXTREMELY annoying. I am thinking about renaming my IE Explorer executable and only change it when I need to use WUpdate or something similar, because I have no clue how to get rid of them without uninstalling it, and I don’t want to have to reinstall everytime I need IE. Could the problem be MSN Messenger? Its the only IE connected thing that could do it, I think ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/2 "2004-10-21T16:56:28Z")
Have you run the standard Adaware/SpyBot stuff? My co-worker was getting that when she wasn’t using IE and that took care of it. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/3 "2004-10-21T19:54:45Z")
Have yu tried FIREFOX??? or some other browser? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/4 "2004-10-21T20:02:47Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > Okay fellas I have a really annoying popup problem. > > I never use IE and I still get random IE popups from time to time. This is EXTREMELY annoying. I am thinking about renaming my IE Explorer executable and only change it when I need to use WUpdate or something similar, because I have no clue how to get rid of them without uninstalling it, and I don’t want to have to reinstall everytime I need IE. > > Could the problem be MSN Messenger? > > Its the only IE connected thing that could do it, I think What OS are you using? What happens when you run AdAware and SpyBot? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/5 "2004-10-22T08:28:57Z")
If it happens when you don’t have IE running, it’s most likely the MS messenger ‘service’. This can be disabled by looking in Start --\> Settings -\> Control Panel -\> Administrative Tools. Find the Messenger service and turn it off, by setting Properties to Stop and Disable. This will vary a bit depending on which version of Windows you have. [See here](http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/) for more specific details. ---
**Author:** ![EsotericEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@EsotericEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EsotericEnigma)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-popus-when-it-isnt-being-used/270429/6 "2004-10-22T10:50:19Z")
If you have the latest security update for windows, then it’s almost definitely adware. Use adware removal tools like [adaware](http://www.lavasoftusa.com) or [spybot](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) to see if it will fix the problem. Some adware is so tenacious that you can’t get rid of it without serious measures such as formatting and reinstalling windows. If you have to reinstall windows, immediately download the windows security update that includes a built in firewall and popup blocker for IE.