Microsoft Live Messenger

Unwanted window displayed

Has your PC suddenly started displaying the window on the right when you start up? Do you want to get rid of it? Read on!

An update (May 2010) from Microsoft seems to have updated Windows Live Messenger. This results in Messenger being loaded at startup and a Sign In screen being displayed on booting (right). I, for one, don't want this intrusion and have no interest in the messenger service - and folk are calling to say what an irritation it is and how do they get rid of it.

Investigation shows that it seems that Messenger was always installed but failed to start automatically even though the options were set for automatic start on booting. I presume that the update has corrected this error so that Messenger now starts automatically as intended by Microsoft. 

Automatic starting might be acceptable when you get a new PC and they are showing the user what services are available. However, it causes nothing but agro when this happens out of the blue - some users don't realise their machines are being updated. So when this screen comes up every time they switch on it concerns them, and they have no idea how to get rid of it.

Getting rid ...

It is possible to get rid of it but most average users will never find out how by themselves. So here is what to do ...

• Click on an empty space within the window;
• Press the Alt key to display the command line;
• Select Tools, Options - another window will open;
• Click on Sign In in the list at left;
• Click on the first and third items in the General section to remove the ticks;
• Click OK;
• Click the X Close button at the top right of the remaining window.

With luck it will never appear uninvited again.