Hi, folks:This is really non-FS but I know there are many WINDOWS XP Home Ed experts out there, so here goes:Last year, Windows Messenger drove me mad, popping up every few minutes. It even appeared while I was simming. So, I disabled it. I later installed MSN Messenger 6.1I now get frequent crashes, freezes and hangs with OE 6.0 and also with IE 6.0 under Windows XP Home Ed. When turning the PC off, I often get a message on the desktop that MessageApp is not responding and is being closed down.I recently re-enabled Windows Messenger because I'd read on a forum I surfed over to randomly that disabling it caused OE to hang sometimes. But the popups are back.This must all be connected but I haven't a clue where to begin or where to go. There are a zillion Windows and PC user forums out there and I fear getting bounced from one to another and going totally out of my mind troubleshooting this issue.Can anybody offer advice? Could I or should I just uninstal something? I'd be most grateful for any suggestions or ideas, thanks!JS

I would first download and run Ad-Aware to get rid of Spyware. I would then download and run CWShredder to scan for and fix spyware that tampers with Internet Explorer.Ad-Aware can be found at:http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/CWShredder can be found at:http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/10/17/10-17-150.shtmlMake sure you have both programs check for updates once you install them. Like I said, this is where I would start. It will at least rule some things out.Good luck.

I don't use those programs daily, but here is my advise:1) Go to www.mozilla.org and download either Mozilla or FireFox/Thunderbird.2) Use those programs to replace OE and IE. Alright, I couldn't resist plugging my favorite programs. Sorry. ;)

While I think it's good to solve the issues (they could cause hangs and problems when browsing local folders, for example), I have to agree with Fred. I have been using Mozilla Firefox for Web and Mozilla Thunderbird for Email for a long time now. They are more user friendly - tabbed browsing, junk mail detection and lots of other handy feautres and they just plain look better than the childish, colourful OE and IE UI's. It's also more secure since you are not as much part of the "Microsoft Monoculture" with all the related scripts, URL spoofing, security holes etc. In addition, I have abandoned Microsoft Office for OpenOffice.org but that's another story ;)

Thanks to both of you gentlemen for posting and so quickly.I run AdAware 6.0 Plus Build 181 and love it. No spyware spotted.I also use PANDA Platinum Antivirus which is great. I had Norton AV and firewall for three years but it slowed my system down horribly for simming so I switched to Panda.I just enabled the built-in firewall of Windows XP as well and can still downalod from many websites so that's a good start. Hopefully it will block the right ports.I'll investigate mozilla and see how it looks.Meantime, I guess I'll just surf and email for a week or so and see if this makes a diff. So far, so good....(fingers crossed!)JS

JimmiG:That is very interesting. Thanks.I am sooooooooooooooooo fedup with MS and their endless security holes and gaps. (I believe the Chinese government when they say they don't use MS products because it's built to spy on them -- it is !)JS

Have you turned off the Messenger Service in Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services?That different than Windows Messenger.

Yeah I did turn it off 3-4 months ago. That's where this all started. How is it diff to Windows Messenger? Isn't it Windows Messenger? I have MSN Messenger too.JS

The Messenger Service was originally designed for use by system administrators to notify Windows users about their networks. However, some advertisers have started using this service to send information via the Internet, and these messages could be used maliciously to distribute a virus.http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/usi...te/stopspam.asp

JS -Microsoft decided to be confusing with its naming convections. Windows Messenger connects to the MSN network, and you talk to your buddies over Windows Messenger. Messenger, on the other hand, is as described above. Used for admin alerts, advertisers got ahold of it and the rest is history.

Edam:Thanks.Wow, how many types of messenger ARE there?!OK, I disabled Messenger again and have double checked enabling the Windows XP firewall. I now have two firewalls--that and PANDA.Thanks for posting.JS

Thanks, Fred. Appreciated.Phew, now that that's over, it's back to simming on my FS-GS improved PC.Cheers!JS

I understood that the Windows firewall should not be used if an add on firewall is used. Don't know what problems it might cause if both are working at the same time, but might be worth investigating.

Charlie:I wondered the same thing....!So far, so good. And OE has not hung and IE works without going all white!PC tech idiot's luck...?JS

I have always had the XP default firewall turned off because I don't like the utter lack of protection it offers. To me it is just wasted resources eating my my computers CPU power. Thats what my other firewall is for :)