Outdated: Removing Windows Messenger Extra Button

This section provides a tutorial example on how to remove Windows Messenger extra button.

Symptom: When Windows Messenger is installed on your computer, an extra button shows up on your IE browser as shown in this picture:

IE Addon - Windows Messenger Extra Button
IE Addon - Windows Messenger Extra Button

Windows Messenger button offers your a quick way to log into Windows Messenger chat service. However, it does take away space from your standard buttons area. I want to remove it.

IE Add-ons List: Click IE Tools > Manage Add-ons, I saw:

Windows Messenger   Browser Extension

HijackThis Report: In the HijackThis report, there are actually two entries related to Windows Messenger: an extra button and an extra menu item:

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683}
   - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d...
   - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

Quick Research: Windows Messenger is a proprietary instant messaging client included in Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. Windows Messenger has been superseded by Office Communicator in corporate environments and Windows Live Messenger for .NET Messenger Service connections. I want to remove it, because I like the Web version of Yahoo! Messenger.

What I Did:

1. Run IE and click Tools > Manage Addon, and disabled "Windows Messenger".

2. Run HijackThis, select those two Windows Messenger entries, and click "Fix checked"

Result: Windows Messenger extra button is gone!

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction to Microsoft Windows

 Introduction to Windows Explorer

 Introduction to Internet Explorer

 "Paint" Program and Computer Graphics

 GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

 JPEG Image File Format Quality and Size

 GIF Image File Format and Transparent Background

 "WinZip" - ZIP File Compression Tool

 "WinRAR" - RAR and ZIP File Compression Tool

 FTP Server, Client and Commands

 "FileZilla" - Free FTP Client and Server

 Web Server Log Files and Analysis Tool - "Analog"

 Spyware Adware Detection and Removal

 IE Addon Program Listing and Removal

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 Setting Up and Using Crossover Cable Network

 Home Network Gateway - DSL Modem/Wireless Router

 Windows Task Manager - The System Performance Tool

 "tasklist" Command Line Tool to List Process Information

 "msconfig" - System Configuration Tool

 Configuring and Managing System Services

 Windows Registry Key and Value Management Tools

 Startup Programs Removal for Better System Performance

 Winsock - Windows Sockets API

 Java on Windows

 Glossary of Terms

Outdated Tutorials

 Outdated: "HijackThis" - Spyware and Browser Hijacker Detector

 Outdated: Removing deSrcAs.dll - MyWay Search Assistant

 Outdated: Removing Google Desktop Icon - GoogleDesktop.exe

 Outdated: Removing IE Default Search Settings

 Outdated: Removing IE Addon "winfixer"

 Outdated: Removing Yahoo! IE Services Button - yiesrvc.dll

 Outdated: Removing MySearch Toolbar - S4BAR.DLL

 Outdated: Removing NetZero Toolbar - Toolbar.dll

Outdated: Removing Windows Messenger Extra Button

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB