Stupid msmsg

Why does the process msmsgs.exe keep coming up on in task manager. I'm not using it. I never open it. I don't use outlook or even internet explorer any more. Yet even when I end the process it comes back a few minutes later. Why does it do this and how can I make it stop. Its not a big problem and it doesn't hinder my performance notibaly but its taking up my precious RAM! I am using windows XP and I have not gotten sp2 yet.

 

Msmsgs.exe is the XP built-in Windows Messenger, not to be confused with MSN Messenger.

It will just start again even if you kill the process unless you disable it properly.

There is a link on this forum I think that details the procedure, or you can use Add/Remove and remove Windows components.

There are quite a few ways to remove or disable it.

My preferred way is via Group Policy.

Start, Run, and type gpedit.msc, then navigate to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Messenger, then right click Windows Messenger in the right-hand side, properties, and disable.

 

BTW KOB0724, I have XP PRO, so I don't know if Group Policy will work on yours, but try the other methods I suggested.

 

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_messenger_remove.htm

In the event you don't want to simply disable it. Keep in mind that removing the entry in add/remove windows components does not actually remove it from the system.

 

I would either download SP2 or wait to delete msmsgs.exe. If you delete it now you will have to delete it again because SP2 will see that it is gone and put it back. Thats what it did to me. Sp2 thought it was damaged and repaired it.

 

oh i just thought is was msn messenger. Nevermind then. I guess its part of the OS and i don't wanna screw anything up.

 

Well it doesn't hurt anything to get rid of it. Also if you use msn messenger it will fight with msmsgs because you now have the 2 M$ messengers competing to get online. Plus msmsgs.exe is no longer updated by M$ and msn messenger is. Unless you need it for business I would delete it. Here is the same program made by Doug Knox but in .exe instead of .vbs.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2327