Rather than using msconfig to keep Messenger from loading on start up one can open Messenger and turn off the option to "load on startup." At least, it worked for me.

bmetelsky: XP SP1 has the option to "disappear" Messenger from view, but my understanding is that it doesn't really get rid of it. It's still on the system. (A MS kind of solution, huh. )

I usually just uncheck the box in Messenger that let's it run on startup, then uncheck the box in Outlook that tells it to log in to Messenger when you open Outlook.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding the problem here, but if I'm not, then aren't all those ideas a bit of a needless exercise.

Ah, sig already said what I said.
hehe, I should've read page 2 before posting.

Hippy, I forgot to mention to disable the login to Messenger function in Outlook, and you got that covered. Unless people really want to delete MSN Messenger from the HD entirely, just disabling the startup and email client login works nicely.

sigh... all i know is that whatever i did, it still signed on every time i opened Outlook Express. Even when i thought it was gone...

I am not that familiar with a lot of stuff, not enough to feel good about going into the registry and deleting or renaming system files, so I was glad to find something that would do that for me.

I still cringe a little when i open Outlook Express... which i use for an HTML editor when i plan on saving an MHT file. It was always such a race to IM off before it signed on.

MSN messenger and windows messenger are two different things. I didn't know that until recently.

I would also love to find a way to turn off that darn splash screen. It is a big waste of time.

http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/faqs/how.htm#nosplash

To disable the OE splash screen. It does involve a tiny registry tweak, but looks rather simple. Haven't tried it myself.

OH wow..... if i could do that, it would make me feel so good! It is for IE 5.0 though, would it work the same in IE 6?

That would almost get me into Regedit....

Thanks!

Most of those basic tweaks for IE 5 also work in IE 6. I think most people with sites like this just haven't bothered to change it to IE 6 when it works for both. If you find the same reg keys in IE 6 in the same location, it should be ok. I occasionally use some tweaks (although not yet this one) and just backup the registry or the keys just in case.

oops, I meant OE not IE. But yes, ditto for both OE and IE in terms of such tweaks for 5 working in 6.

The tweak definitely works for removing the splash screen in OE 6. I agree with you on the waste of time issue.

An easier way to get rid of the splash screen is to use gpedit.msc:
computer configuration/administrative templates/windows components/internet explorer/disable showing the splash screen
This disables the OE splash screen as well as IE.
Basically does the registry edit for you, and saves a bit fo time.

You're welcome, Koasati. I'va always been happy with XP-Antispy.

Just for the record, Messenger, even when turned off from starting at startup will slow down the opening of Outlook (it performs a check against Messenger when starting).

Hippy, gpedit is only available in the Pro version of XP though. I just mention this in case someone goes hunting for it and can't find it (much like I did when I first got XP ). Wish I did have it though, It would save a lot of registry editting..