I run Windows 98 with Office XP. I can’t really upgrade because it’s a slap together PC with pre-XP components.
I do use messenger a lot. REcently, it went on the fritz, I tried to remove and reinstall. Didn’t work. Now if I try to add/remove program for MSN Messenger 4.6, I get the follow error message:
To remove Messenger, you must first exit from it: Click the Messenger icon in the taskbar, then click exit.
The problem is that Messenger no longer appears as an icon, I can’t figure out how to exit from it. If I do a close program, and end task for MSMSGR, then my PC freezes up and I have to reboot.
I would like to be able to use Messenger.
Any suggestions on how to get operational again would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Try going to the Start menu, “Run…”, and then type “msconfig” without the quotes. Click on the “Startup” tab, and see if the Messenger shows up in the list there. If so, uncheck it, and restart. This should prevent it from loading in the first place.
Additionally, ensure that it’s not in the Startup items folder of your Start menu!
Also, if necessary, you can start up in Safe Mode and uninstall it from there as well - You can get into Safe Mode a few ways in 98:
Easy Way: Use msconfig, as above - on the General Tab, click the advanced button, and put a check mark in “Enable Startup Menu”
Slightly Less Easy Way: Shut your computer down(or restart it). While the computer is starting up BEFORE the Windows 98 splash screen appears, start hitting F8 on the keyboard. If you get a “keyboard stuck” error message just hit whatever key it says to continue, and keep hitting F8.
Even Less Easy Way That I Highly Do Not Recommend At All: Restart your computer. As soon as you see the Windows 98 splash screen, wait about 3 to 4 seconds, and while, the splash screen is still showing, hit the CTRL-ALT-DEL keys a few times until the system restarts
At some point, no matter which method you choose, you’ll be presented with the Startup Menu. Chose “3. Safe Mode” using the arrow keys or hitting 3 on your keyboard, then hit Enter. Windows will then start up in safe mode.
Those were some dang quick replies. Worked too. However…
Think I successfully removed messenger via add/remove. Also searched and removed what seemed like a few messenger files.
Ran Norton Utilities. Rebooted.
Tried to reinstall messenger. Same thing. Doesn’t work. No icon on the task bar. Tried to run by clicking on the program file messenger icon. Nothing. cntl-alt,del has Msmsgs in the window, but it’s not running. Try to close Msmsgs in close program and everything freezes up and I have to reboot.
I’d really like to run messenger, but not sure what to do at this point. any further suggestions would be appreciated.
Those were some dang quick replies. Worked too. However…
Think I successfully removed messenger via add/remove. Also searched and removed what seemed like a few messenger files.
Ran Norton Utilities. Rebooted.
Tried to reinstall messenger. Same thing. Doesn’t work. No icon on the task bar. Tried to run by clicking on the program file messenger icon. Nothing. cntl-alt,del has Msmsgs in the window, but it’s not running. Try to close Msmsgs in close program and everything freezes up and I have to reboot.
I’d really like to run messenger, but not sure what to do at this point. any further suggestions would be appreciated.