I have MS IM. I'd like to be able to turn it off and on MANUALLY. It seems
to always come on when I re-boot, and unless it's my imagination, it seems
to be turning itself on at other times too.

I've tried various settings. For example, I think there is an option for
'start on boot-up' which I'm sure I've turned off, but it seems to start on
boot-up no matter what I do (that is, this setting seems to revert back on
re-boot, which kind of defeats its own purpose if true).

I NEVER use it anymore, so I wouldn't mind deleting it. But I think this is
impossible (short of re-installing Windows and/or formatting the drive),
since it seems to be permanently embedded in the operating system once
installed. But If there is just a way to MANUALLY control if it's on always
(meaning, for example, I don't want it to start at ANY TIME unless *I* start
it myself, and this includes boot-up) that would be good enough. Also, I
need to be able to use a browser when it's not up.

For me, IM is too 'intrusive'. First, for the reasons mentioned above (seems
to turn itself on, can't be deleted), and because it tells everyone whose
list I'm on whether or not I'm at my computer (yes, I know of the look
off-line mode, but when I re-boot it, once again, puts me back on-line as
default, which is what I don't want, since it tells everone I just re-booted
my computer (ala "Peter has just signed in")).

Thanx for help! : )

[==P==]

Hi Peter, You may have tried these steps before but here is what I did:
There are 2 ways to view what programs are opening during start up:
1)click on start/run/(type in)msconfig/click on the "start up tab" and
unclick on msmessenger.
2) log into messenger/tools/options/preferences/uncheck "Run Windows
Messenger when windows starts. Reboot and you should be able to run the
messenger only when you want.
Hop this helps
Cheryl

"Peter Oliphant" wrote:

Hello peter, ive used a registry key to disable windows messenger, as since
with msn messenger it can be uninstalled. Below is a little reg file i used
to prevent it from running, simple system policy.
*** BEGIN REG FILE BELOW ***
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Mes senger\Client]
"PreventRun"=dword:00000001
*** END REG FILE HERE ***

hope that helps
"Peter Oliphant" <poliphant@RoundTripInc.com> wrote in message
news:uzc9iRvQGHA.4536@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

"Peter Oliphant" wrote: