A long time ago there was a topic about disabling those annoying little pop ups that come up. The bar on the top calls them "windows messenger"
i am trying to remember how to disable them and I can't find the topic for them.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

go to tools-> options
click on the general tab
disable all of the "alerts"

this is for msn messenger 6.1 but windows messenger should be the same or very similar

Nope, that's not exactly what I am talking about. These are windows that pop up whenever your computer is connetcted to the internet, regardless if you have internet explorer or any other internet software actually open. It is in windows XP and its advertising to go to different sites.

AFAIK there is a way to shut down the messenger service manually.

I personally however use Shoot the Messenger (http://www.grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm)

It is a 22kb freeware download that does it for you.

You may down download Messenger Plus!, it's a freeware program that upgrades several fuctions, and also add a few. You also have the ability to shut down all of the popups.
Find it here: www.msgplus.net (http://www.msgplus.net)

This is very simple. Go to Control Panel then Administrative Tools then Services and in Services go down to messenger, click on it and in the General part change Start-up type to disabled. Click OK, close all your windows, go back to it again and check it make sure it changed then restart your pc. No need to download anything.

Are you using a firewall? I cannot remember having any problems with them after that...

Just last week reinstalled Windows. You know, IE's default site is MSN, right? Was quite an "experience" to have a load of messenger pop-ups blasting to my screen, advertising -imagine!- *anti-pop-up blocking!* :rolleyes:

Of course; Windows Update, Firewall, and cayonara to spammers after that. ;)

Thanks, Sarevok, that's what i was looking for!