Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Outlook Express vs AOL Instant Messenger

This is topic Outlook Express vs AOL Instant Messenger in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-27-2002, 10:16 PM:

I have a PC with Windows 2000 Professional. Every single time I launch Outlook Express to check my fan mail or send a threat AOL Instant Messenger automatically launches with it. This pisses me off. If I had wanted to launch AIM I would have double clicked AIM.

How do I get OE to leave AIM alone? Help!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-27-2002, 10:35 PM:

Never heard of that. What happens if you uninstall AIM and then reinstall it?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-27-2002, 10:38 PM:

Too lazy to try it.

Is there something in Windows that can associate one program with another that might be able to be "unchecked"?

Posted by Mike Fitzgerald (Member # 1304) on 12-27-2002, 10:45 PM:

in outlook go to tool, options and you will see where you can uncheck aim so it will not start. It is under the general tab

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-28-2002, 12:41 AM:

I used to have the AOL Instant Messenger thingie, as well as Yahoo pager and ICQ. I got rid of all of it.

Sure, I have a 21 inch Viewsonic monitor offering more than enough screen real estate for my web browser window, e-mail client and the IM software. But it got annoying after awhile for four different people to be IMing me at the same time. It's kind of challenging to try and have four differing IM typing conversations at the same time with all those IM windows lined up in a row. After awhile it felt like a hectic game of Missile Command in some of the more advanced levels. I don't need that stress.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 12-28-2002, 01:57 AM:

I have this same problem with MSN messenger. Everytime someone uses my computer to check thier 'hotmail' account - it automatically launches MSN Messenger. Microsoft is sneaky this way.

Posted by Brian Hogan (Member # 940) on 12-28-2002, 05:16 AM:

yes, unchecking the AIM option in outlook should take care of the problem, but it didnt for me. damn AIM would still open. i then found an option in AIM iteself that was about using AIM as the default messenger program. why do these programs have such big egos?! so i unchecked that box as well and now it doesnt start with outlook. yay!

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 12-28-2002, 09:24 AM:

Joe, I removed Messenger from my PC using the proceedure on the below website. Works for me so you might just give it a try.
Ooops, wrong site,
this is the proceedure I used
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q302089

or this

http://windows.about.com/library/tips/bltip550.htm

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-28-2002, 10:58 AM:

I avoid OE since that's generally what viri and worms etc. are written for. I stick to a trusty older version (pre bloatware) of Eudora. Rather featureless but but it does the job.

Posted by Aldo Baez (Member # 790) on 12-28-2002, 03:03 PM:

Quick and dirty way to remove msn messenger:
1. Click on the Start button and select Run.
2. Type "RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove" in the text box and click OK. You will see a progress bar appear shortly as it deletes its files and it will then ask you to reboot. After the reboot the program will be gone.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-28-2002, 04:13 PM:

Thanks, Brian, that did the trick. Unchecking it in OE still launched AIM, but it didn't automatically sign on like it used to.