I’m a Trillian user so I have no use for the MSN Messenger program that runs by default in Windows XP. Here’s how to stop it from starting, saving memory, and more importantly to me clearing my system tray.

# Start -> Run -> regedit
# Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Policies -> Microsoft
# Create a new key by selecting Edit -> New -> Key, starting from the top bar, and naming it Messenger
# Below Messenger, create another key named Client
# Now you’re done making keys, almost there… Next we have to make a DWORD by right clicking on the newly created Client -> New -> DWORD, naming it PreventRun
# Finally, double click on PreventRun and Value data entry of 0 to 1.

Close up regedit and after you restart, MSN Messenger should be out of your life.

Categories: Windows