Dottie wrote:
>Does this mean I am married to Windows Messenger and have to live with =
>it even it I don't use it?>>


No.

First you will need to disable it from your startups. Run Msconfig, open 
the Startup tab, and untick Messenger (and anything else you don't need in 
the background).

Check Add/Remove to make sure it isn't listed under Microsoft or Windows. 
If so, remove it.

Then you will have to disable the Messenger Service. In XP, open Control 
Panel/Administrative Tools/Services and scroll down to Messenger (it may be 
called Windows Messenger). Click on it and in the drop-down box you will 
see an item "disable". OK your way out.

Messenger is a security risk, by which malware can gain access to your 
computer. If you already have any malware on your computer which has 
hijacked Messenger, you may have to eliminate that malware first. Run 
whatever malware scans you have available.

If you go to Steve Gibson's "ShieldsUp" 
website  http://www.grc.com/default.htm   you will find a free utility 
called "Shoot the Messenger" which will do all this for you, along with 
some other very good small security utilities.

Don Penlington


 From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html

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