Outlook Express and Windows Messenger

I’ve always been annoyed that Outlook Express 6 is tied to Windows Messenger. In the default configuration, when you start OE6, it starts the Windows Messenger application. From my perspective, if I want Windows Messenger to run, I’ll start it.

In Windows XP Pro, there is a group policy you can set to keep Windows Messenger from running at all. Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that setting this policy introduces a huge lag when you start up Outlook Express. It seems that OE will pause for 30 seconds to a minute when it is starting up while it tries to start up Windows Messenger. Of course, since that policy is set to keep Windows Messenger from starting, it will eventually decide it can’t start it up and then finish starting up Outlook Express.

After noticing that, I thought I would solve my problem by simply uninstalling Windows Messenger. It turns out that you CAN’T uninstall Windows Messenger from Windows XP. The tools that Microsoft gives you only allow you to hide it, but not uninstall it. That wasn’t going to work either.

Finally, after doing a little searching on the net, I found my answer. If you change the name of the executable file for Windows Messenger to something else, Outlook Express will decide right away that it can’t start it. You now get the best of both worlds. Outlook Express starts up quickly AND Windows Messenger doesn’t start.

The executable file for Windows Messenger is found in C:\Program Files\Messenger\

–Pete

8 People have left comments on this post



» Natasha said: { May 16, 2004 - 12:05:49 }

Hi,
I found the messenger folder but I can’t find the executable file.
Please help me because windows messenger is very frustrating.
Thank you

» Jos'e said: { May 17, 2004 - 09:05:22 }

To stop “Windows Messenger” from starting when Windows is started, Open Windows Messenger, click on (Tools), select (Options), click on (Preferences), uncheck the box (Run this Program when Windows Starts) click (OK) Hope this helps. Jos’e

» pete_markham said: { May 17, 2004 - 09:05:44 }

The name of the executable file is msmsgs.exe. If you rename that you can keep it from starting when your open Outlook Express.

Jos’e – While is is true you can change the preferences to keep it from loading at the Windows start, that preference has no impact on the issue of it starting when you open Outlook Express.

–Pete

» Eugenia said: { Jul 18, 2004 - 12:07:38 }

I have installed WindowsXP and a 2.4 GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter for a Air wireless network (mobile access for your laptop DWL-610). Everything works fine, but Outlook express doesn’t want to open and it gives me the message that it cannot open and that the MSOE.DLL file cannot be initialized. I am lost, can somebody help me?
Thanks Eugenia

» Ron said: { Jul 23, 2004 - 08:07:23 }

Wow, works great. Now there is no delay when I start Outlook (No splash screen) and my MSN messenger still works. Thanks for sharing.

» Mark said: { Aug 9, 2004 - 11:08:13 }

Great tip. Just to let everyone know the exe file is hidden.

» Mal said: { Aug 11, 2004 - 07:08:52 }

Thanks forthe post. Very helpful
We all love M$ Gates – dont we ?

» Tomek Perlak said: { Aug 11, 2004 - 11:08:30 }

Very neat :- )

I was looking for a similiar tweak (there is a registry key to be changed), but this one rocks!

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