Standards & Guidelines - Disabling Windows Messenger Service

Should a pop-up box appear on your screen with the words "Messenger Service" in the title bar such as the one below, chances are that you have Windows Messenger Services enabled. Use the following to disable it.

Windows 2000

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services
2. Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
3. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
4. Click the STOP button.
5. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
6. Click OK

Windows XP Home

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. Click Performance and Maintenance
3. Click Administrative Tools
4. Double click Services
5. Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
7. Click the STOP button.
8. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
9. Click OK

Windows XP Professional

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. Click Administrative Tools
3. Click Services
4. Double click Services Scroll
5. down and highlight "Messenger"
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
7. Click the STOP button.
8. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
9. Click OK

Windows NT

1. Click Start > Control Panel
2. Double Click Administrative Tools
3. Select Services > Double-click on Messenger
4. In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop,
5. Choose Disable as the Startup Type
6. Click OK

Windows 98 & ME

• Windows Messenger Service cannot be disabled