I found this little link with all sorts of informative fixes and tweaks for XP.
http://www.careyholzman.com/WinXP.htm
Problem: How can I get rid of the annoying Microsoft Messenger icon?
Possible Solution: Click Start, click Programs, Accessories, and click Notepad. Once Notepad is open, click File, click Open, and for the filename type in: C:\WINDOWS\INF\SYSOC.INF and hit enter.
Under the section [Components], look for âmsmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf, hide,7â and remove the word âhideâ, so it looks like this: âmsmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7â.
Then click File, click Save, click File and click Exit. Next, go into your Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click âAdd Windows Componentsâ (on the left side of the screen), scroll all the way down the list that appears and the last option listed should be âWindows Messengerâ. Uncheck it and click Next. You have now uninstall Microsoft Messenger.
http://www.careyholzman.com/WinXP.htm
Problem: How can I get rid of the annoying Microsoft Messenger icon?
Possible Solution: Click Start, click Programs, Accessories, and click Notepad. Once Notepad is open, click File, click Open, and for the filename type in: C:\WINDOWS\INF\SYSOC.INF and hit enter.
Under the section [Components], look for âmsmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf, hide,7â and remove the word âhideâ, so it looks like this: âmsmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7â.
Then click File, click Save, click File and click Exit. Next, go into your Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, click âAdd Windows Componentsâ (on the left side of the screen), scroll all the way down the list that appears and the last option listed should be âWindows Messengerâ. Uncheck it and click Next. You have now uninstall Microsoft Messenger.