Reply #8: it doesnt affect MSN messenger, just windows messenger [View All]

[diamondsndust]

Disabling the Messenger Service
You can disable the Messenger service if you want to although doing so may result in Windows not being able to alert you to some conditions. A list of circumstances when Windows will use the Messenger service to pop up informative windows isn't available right now but may include things like "print job complete", anti-virus, and event logger status messages. Also, "new mail" notifications may not be available in an Exchange/Outlook environment.

Windows 2000

Click Start->Programs->Administrative Tools->Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK
Windows XP

Click Start->Control Panel
Click Performance and Maintenance
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK
You can verify the service is disabled by typing the following at a command prompt. If no message appears, the Messenger service has been disabled.

net send 127.0.0.1 "test"

http://www.jmu.edu/computing/security/info/winmsg.shtml