windows messenger auto start

[ghell]

ok this is annoying the crap outa me now, i decided over a year ago to just delete windows messenger to stop it auto starting (it doesnt even start with an icon in the systray, i have to open it up to close it!) so that fixed it but at the cost of features such as remote assistance on msn messenger

ok so i recently heard that 2 people i know have just put their xp disks in, and taken windows messenger off the components list and it has taken it off.. but no.. its unchecked in the list but didnt remove a single file ¬_¬

so i renamed all the files that werent msmsgs.exe.. seemed to work till i restarted my computer and i get constant messages about norton (ok i need a better av.. stop laughing at me) not being able to check the instant messaging service

does anyone know how to get rid of messenger but keep the remote assistance fearure? (i dont really care about whiteboard etc).. at the moment i have just disabled windows messenger scanning in my nav2k4pro settings

[evo]

Go into Component Services, Services (Local) and disable it from there. Remove it from MSConfig (just type msconfig in your run menu) and rename your messenger folder to tempmessenger. Restart and all traces of messenger should have gone.

Remove the directory after you feel comfortable that it is no longer running.

[JamieR]

I found this tool which disables it totally from running etc, or you can just stop certain features...I'll send it to you if you want it.