Summary: The term "Windows Messenger" can actually mean several different programs, each of which is uninstalled differently.
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How do I uninstall Windows Messenger? |
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NOTE: if you're here to uninstall the more recent versions of Windows Live Messenger please
see this article: How do I uninstall Windows Live Messenger? |
Well, first, let's make sure we're talking about the right thing: Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger, or the Windows Messenger Service? As outlined in a prior article, those three Messengers are all different beasts.
And of course uninstalling them is handled quite differently for each.
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Windows Messenger: Windows Messenger is considered a part of the Windows operating system, so to uninstall it:
Now OK your way back out, and Windows Setup will run and uninstall Windows Messenger.
MSN Messenger: MSN Messenger is a separately installed application. To uninstall it:
Follow the resulting prompts, and MSN Instant Messenger will be uninstalled.
Windows Messenger Service: The Windows Messenger Service is an unfortunately named component of Windows that cannot be uninstalled. It has nothing to do with Instant Messaging, really, and can almost always be safely turned off. Here's how:
Now OK your way back out, and the Windows Messenger Service will no longer run.
Related:
What's the difference between Windows Live Messenger, Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger Service? Windows Live Messenger, Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger Service are four names for three applications that do two different things, only one of which you really want. Confusing? Yes. But easy to clear up.
How do I uninstall Windows Live Messenger? The location of the uninstaller has changed for Windows Live Messenger. I'll walk you through the steps to find it and uninstall messenger.
Why can't I have an audio conversation using MSN Messenger? If you're behind a router and/or the person you want to talk to is behind a router you can have problems with audio in MSN Instant Messenger.
Article C2311 - March 21, 2005
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Posted by: DLo at June 12, 2009 2:49 AMHello. Please help. I have Windows XP and I cant uninstall my windows live messenger. I have tried for a month now =( It started with it having error codes for quite some time so I decided to uninstall it. These are the things I tried to remove messenger:
1. I went to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, well I saw Windows Live Essential in the list but when i click it to remove, nothing happened.
2. So I stupidly rashly >.http://www.winforumz.com/windows/Beta-windows-liv...ftopict662881.html and it said can be uninstalled manually by typing msiexec /x {B1403D7D-C725-4858-AACC-7E5FA2D72859} at Run. I pressed Enter but it said I need to install windows live first for it to uninstall. Huh??! But when I tried installing at http://download.live.com/messenger, it said I have ALL THE SERVICES INSTALLED! Waaaaaa I feel like crying now! =(
4. Went to Add/Remove Programs again. Clicked Add/Remove Windows Component. I unchecked Windows Messenger and clicked next. After it finishes...nothing happened. Tried installing, again...it said ALL WINDOWS LIVE SERVICES ARE INSTALLED.
5. Went to Regedit and disabled messenger but still..no luck.
6. Decided to manually remove windows live folder (since I still see the folder in Local Disk C) but its write protected. So I stupidly deleted one by one the components inside the folder. Well some of them are protected but some could be removed. So yea, I did that.
7. Went to Add/Remove Programs again and saw Windows Live Essential still in list. Clicked on it again to remove it and heeeey it did! It said that urmm cant remember but something like its corrupted or some files are gone or something. Not sure what it said. And I thought its removed for good! So I tried installing...but... -.- it said i still have all the services installed!
8. Searched for websites that have ways to uninstall windows live messenger 2009 but still no luck..until now still...sigh...
I hope anyone please..anyone help me!! I love messenger and all I ever wanted was to make it run again so thats why I thought by uninstalling, it would refresh the services and it would be normal again but now its all a mess! All the services (including Live Safety, Hotmail etc etc) are installed (so it says..although I have removed them..well thats what I believed I did) and I now cant install OR uninstall messenger. And theres also no folder of windows live messenger and neither can I find msnmsgr at Run. Im stucked with all these mess...its all up in the air! Pleeeease help.. I would appreciate it alot. =(
Posted by: Fairuz at June 14, 2009 3:11 AMmsiexec /x {0AAA9C97-74D4-47CE-B089-0B147EF3553C} - worked like a charm thanks!
Posted by: Neil at June 15, 2009 12:10 AMSo, I wanted to uninstall MSN Messenger. Stupidly, I followed the advise of a friend and deleted the program from my Control Panel. Of course, now I realize that that won't work. Now that I want it back to use it, I don't have a shortcut or anything, but whenever I try to install it, Windows Live says I already have it installed. What can I do to get Msn Messenger back???
Posted by: Anonymous at June 15, 2009 6:34 PMHaha sorry same person as the message above, it's just that I need to make an adjustment ... I didn't delete it from my Control Panel, but rather from my prgram files. I'd really appreciate any help that could be given.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 15, 2009 6:37 PMSounds like this is a major bug, because it has to be one. I've obviously got the same problem as pretty much everyone above, and there's NOTHING left of Windows Live Messenger on my computer, still can't install it.
Posted by: Chrille at June 16, 2009 3:44 PMwindows live messenger uninstalled smoothly
Posted by: alison at June 20, 2009 8:15 AMthankx a lot
run -
msiexec /x {0AAA9C97-74D4-47CE-B089-0B147EF3553C}
Whoo hooo!! the msiexe worked Great!! it found the install and uninstalled the bad msn and let me install the one I want! Thanks. Lenn Dolling
Posted by: Lenn Dolling at June 24, 2009 10:52 PM