Eliminate Messenger Pop-Ups

One of the Microsoft Windows "Services" that runs in the background by default on Windows XP systems is the Messenger Service. The name may sound familiar, but it has nothing to do with the Windows Messenger utility that comes preinstalled in Windows XP along with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Since it normally runs in the background by default, it can cause a lot of SPAM disguised as Message Pop-Up windows to appear when you are logged onto the internet. You can eliminate these particular types of Pop-Up messages by disabling the Messenger service. Read on for a brief description on how to do this:

Notes:
(1) When navigating menus, be aware of the Start Menu Style you use (Classic vs XP View).
(2) When in the Control Panel, be aware of the view you use (Classic vs Category).
(3) Single-click or double-click items as required by your personalized Folder Option settings

PROCEDURE

XP/Category: Open Services window by clicking: Start | Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | Administrative Tools | Services

Classic View: Open Services window by clicking: Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services

You will see a window listing all the many Services that may run on your system. Some of these may be already disabled, and some may be set to Automatic, meaning that they will be started if necessary. They might also be listed as Manual, which means they will start only if you manually choose to run them.

Scroll down in this list until you see the name “Messenger”. Right click it, choose Properties from the Context Menu that scrolls out, and click the Stop button. In the Startup Type list box, click on the downward pointing arrow at the end in order to see the various startup types available, and then select either Disable or Manual, as you wish. Finally, click OK.