Internet Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Going Online

STOP WINDOWS MESSENGER FROM AUTOSTARTING

The Annoyance:

Every time I start Windows, an unwelcome visitor shows up in the Windows System Tray: Windows Messenger. I try to close it by right-clicking the icon and choosing Exit, but it behaves like a door-to-door salesman with his foot in my front doorit refuses to leave. What can I do?

The Fix:

Once Windows Messenger is running, it's tough to shut down. First close Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Outlook Express, and then right-click the Messenger icon and select Exit. This keeps it out of the way until you reboot your PC or turn it off and then on.

A better solution, of course, is to keep Windows Messenger (and MSN Messenger) from loading in the first place. Load the IM app and select Tools Options Preferences. Uncheck the "Run this program when Windows starts box, then click OK.

KILL WINDOWS MESSENGER FOREVER

The Annoyance:

I never, ever, under any circumstances, want to use Windows Messenger. It was easy to remove from my work PC, but I couldn't even find it on my home PC. What's the scoop?

The Fix:

The job is easy if your PC is using XP with Service Pack 1 or 2 installed. Just open the Add or Remove Programs control panel, click the Add/Remove Windows Components button on the left, and, in the Windows Components Wizard, scroll down and uncheck the Windows Messenger box. Click the Next button, and the job is done.

On the other hand, if you're using a pre-SP1 version of Windows XP, you'll have to force Windows Messenger to show up on the list of Windows components by editing the Setup Information file that controls what appears in the Windows Components Wizard.

Use Notepad or another text editor to open the Setup Information file, sysoc.inf, which is usually found in the C:\Windows\inf folder. For safety's sake, make a backup of the file before editing it. Keep in mind that C:\Windows\inf is a hidden folder, so if you want to view its contents, you will first have to make hidden folders visible by going into Windows Explorer, choosing Tools Folder Options, clicking the View tab, and selecting "Show hidden files and folders."

Open the file and locate the line that looks something like this:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

This entry refers to Windows Messenger. If there is a hide command embedded in the string, it won't show up in the Windows Component Wizard. To force it to show up in the wizard, remove hide so that the line looks like this:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,7

Save the sysoc.inf file, then run the Windows Components Wizard. Windows Messenger will now show up, and you can remove it using the steps noted earlier.

One warning: on some systems, you simply won't be able to remove Windows Messengerit won't show up in the Windows Components Wizard even after you edit the sysoc.inf file. The ultimate solution is to upgrade to the latest Service Pack. To find the newest Service Pack, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp and search for service pack.

FILE TRANSFERS FLAKE OUT

The Annoyance:

Transferring files via Windows Messenger is a great alternative to email, because some versions of Outlook and Outlook Express won't let you accept certain kinds of files, and some ISPs block messages over a certain size. But it's only a great alternative if the file transfer actually works, and often it doesn't. How can I make sure my files will get through?

The Fix:

The problem is that your firewallor a firewall on the receiving endis blocking the file transfer. Firewalls typically block ports 6891 through 6900the very ports Windows Messenger uses for file transfers. How you open these ports varies from firewall to firewall, but if you use the Windows Firewall with XP SP2, here's how the process works:

1. Double-click the Security Center icon in the System Tray ot choose Security Center from the control panel. The Security Center will appear.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, click the Windows Firewall button, and the Windows Firewall options dialog box will appear.

3. Choose the Advanced tab and click the Settings button in the Network Connections Settings area. The Advanced Settings dialog box will appear.

4. On the Services tab, click the Add button. The Service Settings dialog box will appear.

5. In the "Description of service" field, type in File Transfers via Windows Messenger.

6. In the "Name or IP address" field, type in your computer's IP address, such as 192.168.1.5. To find your computer's IP address, select Start Programs Accessories Command Prompt, type exit and hit Enter to close the prompt.

7. In both the "External Port number" and "Internal Port number" fields, type 6891 (see Figure 7-19). Select TCP for the external port. Click OK three times to confirm your choices.

   Figure 7-19. If you want to transfer files using Windows Messenger, you may need to punch a few holes in your firewall by opening specific ports.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for every port between 6891 and 6900. I knowwhat fun!

   What if You Don't Have SP2? If you're running a pre-SP2 version of Windows XP, right-click My Network Places on the desktop and choose Properties. Then right-click your Internet connection, choose Properties, and follow steps 3 through 8.

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   Tip: Keep in mind that if you open up ports in your firewall, you're opening your computers to potential attacks. For absolute safety, only open the ports when you're doing file transfers, and shut them down as soon as the transfers are done.

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   OTHER PORTS TO OPEN FOR WINDOWS MESSENGER Your firewall may be blocking other Windows Messenger services as well, such as the ability to transmit voice chat. Here are the ports you'll need to open in your firewall for these Windows Messenger services:

   • TCP port 1863: Basic Windows Messenger communications

   • UDP ports 5004 to 65535: Voice and video communications

   • TCP port 1503: Application and whiteboard sharing

   • T CP port 3389: Remote assistance

STOP MESSENGER FROM LAUNCHING WITH OUTLOOK AND OUTLOOK EXPRESS

The Annoyance:

Whenever I launch Outlook Express or Outlook, Windows Messenger launches as well. Make it stop!

The Fix:

Ah, another brilliant Microsoft default. To stop this behavior in Outlook Express, choose Tools Options, click the General tab, and uncheck the "Automatically log on to Windows Messenger box. In Outlook 2002, choose Tools Options, click the Other tab, and uncheck the "Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook box. In Outlook 2003, don't sweatMicrosoft has apparently eliminated this annoying habit.

SEND INSTANT MESSAGES FROM OUTLOOK

The Annoyance:

I live in Outlook, but there are times when I'd rather grab someone for a quick IM session with Windows Messenger. Why can't I do everything from Outlook?

The Fix:

You can, more or less. Both Outlook and Outlook Express can send instant messages to a Windows Messenger user. In Outlook Express, Windows Messenger contacts appear at the top of the Contacts pane. A green icon appears next to the name of each contact who is online. Double-click a contact name, and you essentially launch Windows Messenger and can send an instant message. In Outlook, if the contact is online, the green icon will show up in the Outlook InfoBar. To send an instant message, click the InfoBar, compose a message, and click Send.