Out of control pop-up problem...help me fix it

**gorath** · April 23rd, 2003, 08:13 PM

I've got this thing where pop-ups in grey boxes pop up every few minutes as long as my computer is connected to the internet. I don't even have to have a web browser open. They just pop up on my desktop.

I scanned my computer with Ad-Aware, but it didn't help.

Anybody know how I can stop this? The popups look similar to normal windows boxes except that they are completely grey, the same shade as the background of the text box used in this forum when you click "new thread." They have a header that says "messenger service."

I'm running Windows XP. Thanks.

**vass0922** · April 23rd, 2003, 08:14 PM

start --> run --> type 'services.msc'

scroll down to the Windows Messenger service. double click it and change the startup type to 'DISABLED'

Then stop the service... no more messages

**GroundZero3** · April 23rd, 2003, 08:15 PM

http://www.lantalk.net/disable_messenger.php

doh to slow

**sixf00t4** · April 23rd, 2003, 08:18 PM

wonder how many times this is going to happen to people? darn m$

**Nighthawk** · April 23rd, 2003, 10:42 PM

I wonder if it'll be turned off by default in .net server and Longhorn.

I can't really see a need for the average home user to need the messenger service, though I can see how it would be useful in a corporate environment.

**PresterJohn** · April 23rd, 2003, 11:02 PM

>wonder how many times this is going to happen to people? darn m$

i don't think you can entirely blame ms for the messenger service.

after all, it's been around for 7+ years and was indeeded for network notifications. it's only been recently that have spammers caught on to how to exploit it for their ends.

**gorath** · April 24th, 2003, 05:20 AM

Thanks, guys. I hope that fixes it. I'll report back if not.

Jake

**Creatures** · April 24th, 2003, 06:04 AM

oh cool i had that too! (sucked a bit

)

thanks
Creatures

**muno** · April 24th, 2003, 06:19 AM

I'm with presterjohn about who to blade, you can't blame the manufacturer that people misuse your product.

Or, would you sue an axe company because there are axe murderers around? (great analogy, isn't it

)
-M

**Quackerjack** · April 25th, 2003, 12:10 AM

I still can't figure out what in hades they were thinking in Redmond when they wrote the code for this piece of garbage. (Windows Messenger) Has anyone actually seen anything useful in the messages???

**GroundZero3** · April 25th, 2003, 12:12 AM

Quacker i use it at work all the time to talk to techs when they are logged on to computers. espically since i dont have a cell phone

**311Sam** · April 25th, 2003, 12:39 AM

Heres some more info for the heck of it:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/a...3374542,00.htm

**sixf00t4** · April 25th, 2003, 12:48 AM

Originally posted by PresterJohn
>wonder how many times this is going to happen to people? darn m$

i don't think you can entirely blame ms for the messenger service.

after all, it's been around for 7+ years and was indeeded for network notifications. it's only been recently that have spammers caught on to how to exploit it for their ends.

i am not "blaming" them for the service. i like the service. comes in handy. what i am blaming them for is turning it on by default, especially on win xp home.

and as far as +7 years, not really, it was not so easy before.

**Quackerjack** · April 25th, 2003, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by GroundZero3
Quacker i use it at work all the time to talk to techs when they are logged on to computers. espically since i dont have a cell phone

Can you tell I havn't been in the proffesional world or what! THX Groundzero3....A new perspective for me 4 sho!

**Derek79602+** · May 12th, 2003, 09:28 PM

I got rid of Windows messenger several months ago- and still get those windows. I tried the fix above- and Windows Messenger isn't listed- Messenger is- but is says it isn't related to Windows messenger.

**311Sam** · May 12th, 2003, 09:32 PM

Whats worse is that if you look around on the net you will find software for sale for $10 or $20 that does the same thing as turing off the messenger service.

**SeanC** · May 17th, 2003, 10:58 PM

I don't like messenger. At work I went around and disabled it on all peoples computers before someone found out about it and started bugging me with it.

I already have an office phone, a cell phone, e-mail, pager and I can be paged over the office phones.

That's one of the most annoying services IMO.

Sean

**sam** · May 17th, 2003, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by Derek79602+
I got rid of Windows messenger several months ago- and still get those windows. I tried the fix above- and Windows Messenger isn't listed- Messenger is- but is says it isn't related to Windows messenger.

same thing disable it as well

**Siliconjunkie** · May 17th, 2003, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by Nighthawk
I wonder if it'll be turned off by default in .net server and Longhorn.

I can't really see a need for the average home user to need the messenger service, though I can see how it would be useful in a corporate environment.

So 2003/.net server is for the "average home user"? BTW it isnt disabled by default in 2003.

**Siliconjunkie** · May 17th, 2003, 11:36 PM

The real problem here isnt that the service is running by default. The real problem is users that don't run any sort of firewall. Even the most basic of firewalls will block this and should be used by even dialup users.

Not running a firewall and complaining about this is kinda like leaving your door open and being upset that you can hear people outside talking.

That being said, I don't agree with the spammers and this is a pretty low way to reach users, but by not closing the ports or stopping the service you are listening for it.