Startup program entry details:

msnmsgr (msnmsgr.exe)

This page expands upon the information already available for this entry in the Pacman's Portal Windows start-up programs database.

Not required or not recommended - typically infrequently used tasks that can be started manually if necessary

For further information on how to identify and disable startup programs please visit the Introduction page.

Description:

Windows Live Messenger or the older MSN Messenger utility - available via the Start menu. For Windows Live Messenger, disable by clicking on the "Show menu" icon and select Tools → Options → Sign In → deselect "Automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log on to Windows". For MSN Messenger, disable by clicking on Tools → Options → General → deselect "Automatically run Messenger when I log on to Windows"

Startup information:

Windows Live Messenger

Registry (Start → Run → regedit)

• Key(s): HKCU\Run
• Name:
  • msnmsgr (14.* onwards)
  • MsnMsgr (8.*)
• Data:
  • "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (8.5.* onwards)
  • "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background (8.0.* thru 8.1.*)

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP):
  • msnmsgr (14.* onwards)
  • MsnMsgr (8.*)
• Startup Item (Vista/7):
  • Windows Live Messenger (14.* onwards)
  • Messenger (8.*)
• Command:
  • "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (8.5.* onwards)
  • "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background (8.0.* thru 8.1.*)

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name:
  • Windows Live Messenger (14.* onwards)
  • Messenger (8.*)
• Startup Value:
  • "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (8.5.* onwards)
  • "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background (8.0.* thru 8.1.*)

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background (14.* onwards)
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background (8.5.*)
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background (8.0.* thru 8.1.*)

MSN Messenger

Registry (Start → Run → regedit)

• Key(s): HKCU\Run
• Name: MsnMsgr
• Data: "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP): MsnMsgr
• Startup Item (Vista/7): N/A
• Command: "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name: N/A
• Startup Value: "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background

Other information:

• File location:
  • %ProgramFiles%\Windows Live\Messenger
  • %ProgramFiles%\MSN Messenger
• File properties "Description":
  • Windows Live Messenger
    • Windows Live Messenger (8.5.* onwards)
    • Messenger (8.0.* thru 8.1.*)
  • MSN Messenger
    • MSN Messenger
• Purpose: Instant messenger
• Program disable option:
  • Windows Live Messenger
    • Show menu → Tools → Options → Sign In → deselect "Automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log on to Windows"
  • MSN Messenger
    • Tools → Options → General → deselect "Automatically run Messenger when I log on to Windows"
• Shortcut(s) available: Start Menu
• Vendor/Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
• Product(s): Windows Live Essentials, Windows Live Messenger, MSN Messenger
• Tested: Yes

Note:

• %ProgramFiles% - refers to the Program Files folder; typically the path is C:\Program Files
• HKCU refers to HKEY_CURRENT_USER

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