Computer and Software Support


How to disable Windows Messenger or Windows Live from starting automatically

Microsoft has changed the name from Messenger to Windows Live (and may have changed it again since this page has been posted). However it is the same program. If you do not want it to automatically start when windows starts, below is the procedures to disable it (The actual steps may change as the versions change but the steps should be similar enough to follow)

Thanks to JRAM from Smartcomputing.com for these steps

  1. Open Windows Messenger
   
  1. Click on Tools
   
  1. Click Options
   
  1. Click the Preferences tab
   
  1. Uncheck Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts
   
  1. Click OK
   

 

If you use Outlook Express, you will need to disabled it here as well or it will start when you open Outlook Express

  1. Open Outlook Express
   
  1. Click Tools
   
  1. Click Options
   
  1. Uncheck Automatically log on Windows Messenger
   
  1. Click OK