Running both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger 5.0 in Windows XP

This article discusses some of the variables to consider when you run both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger 5.0 on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer.

Windows Messenger is included with Windows XP and is installed when you install the operating system.

MSN Messenger 5.0 is included with MSN 8.0 and is also available as a separate download. It is installed on your computer when you install MSN 8.0 or when you run MSN Messenger 5.0 Setup. If you are running Windows Messenger 4.x, and you previously installed the MSN Add-in for Windows Messenger, you may receive a message to install MSN Messenger 5.0. If you did not install the MSN Add-in for Windows Messenger, you are not prompted to install MSN Messenger 5.0.

Notes

• You cannot run both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger 5.0 on non-Windows XP-based computers. You cannot install Windows Messenger on non-Windows XP-based computers.
• You cannot run both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger versions earlier than version 5.0 on Windows XP-based computers. You cannot install versions of MSN Messenger earlier than MSN Messenger 5.0 on Windows XP-based computers.

Differences between MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger

• Only Windows Messenger can connect to the Communications Service and Microsoft Exchange Instant Messaging.
  
  A Communications Service account provides instant messaging in a corporation or in a network. To use a Communications Service account, your company must be using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) technology. If you are not sure whether your Messenger program permits the use of a Communications Service account, ask your network administrator. With a Communications Service account, you can send instant messages in your corporate network, add other Communications Service users to your contacts list, talk with another Communications Service user by using microphones, and send a file to another Communications Service user.
  
  With Exchange Instant Messaging, Messenger users who are in the same corporation or who use the same computer network can communicate in real time. Exchange Instant Messaging is available to corporations and networks that use Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server.
• MSN Messenger 5.0 does not support Messenger application programming interfaces (APIs) when it is installed on Windows XP-based computers. Messenger APIs are used to create custom Messenger programs. If you are running Windows XP and you want to use custom Messenger programs, you must use Windows Messenger. For additional information about Messenger APIs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms632286.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms632286.aspx)
  Note Microsoft Outlook 2002, Microsoft Outlook Express 6, and the Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP are examples of programs that use these APIs and depend on Windows Messenger.

Running both MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger

• By default, some programs automatically connect to Windows Messenger. Such programs include Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, and Remote Assistance. When you are signed in to MSN Messenger, you may appear to be offline to people who connect to these programs and have you listed as a contact.
• You can configure Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger to start automatically when Windows starts. Only one Messenger program can start automatically when Windows starts. You can start the other program from your list of programs. (In Windows, click Start, point to All Programs, and then click the program that you want to start).
  
  If both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger are configured to start automatically when Windows starts, and Windows Messenger is not configured for corporate instant messaging, the Run this program when Windows starts option in Windows Messenger is turned off, and MSN Messenger starts automatically when Windows starts. However, if you configured Windows Messenger for corporate instant messaging and to start automatically when you start Windows, it continues to do this and MSN Messenger does not start automatically.
• You can run Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger on a Windows XP-based computer at the same time. However, you cannot sign in to both MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger by using the same Microsoft .NET Passport at the same time.
  
  Note With the .NET Passport online service, you can use your e-mail address and a single password to sign in to any .NET Passport-participating Web site or service.
  
  If you are signed in to one Messenger program with your .NET Passport, and then you use the same account to sign in to the other program, you are automatically signed off the first Messenger program. You must sign in to both Messenger programs by using different .NET Passport accounts. For example, you can sign in to MSN Messenger with your .NET Passport account, and then sign in to Windows Messenger with a different .NET Passport account or with your corporate instant messaging account.
• When you run both Messenger programs, icons for each of the programs appear in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar. Unlike the Windows Messenger icon, the MSN Messenger icon includes the image of a butterfly. You can also position your mouse pointer over each icon. When you do this, a message appears that identifies whether the program is Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger.

How to run only one or both Messenger programs

The following methods describe different configuration options for running only one or both Messenger programs.

Method 1: You want to use only Windows Messenger

If you want to use only Windows Messenger, remove MSN Messenger 5.0. To remove MSN Messenger 5.0, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
2. In the list of currently installed programs, click MSN Messenger 5.0, and then click Remove.
3. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the removal.

Method 2: You want to use MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger

If you want to use MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger, configure each Messenger program with the appropriate options. For example, if you want to use MSN Messenger 5.0 as your primary instant messaging program but also use Windows Messenger for those services and programs that require it (such as Communications Service, Microsoft Exchange Instant Messaging, Outlook, Outlook Express, or Remote Assistance), configure Windows Messenger not to start automatically when Windows starts. After you do this, you can start Windows Messenger from the Start menu to connect to a Communications Service or Exchange Instant Messaging, or to sign in to the .NET Messenger Service with a different .NET Passport account. To configure Windows Messenger not to start automatically when Windows starts, follow these steps:

1. In the notification area, right-click Windows Messenger, and then click Open.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the Preferences tab.
4. Clear the Run this program when Windows starts check box, and then click OK.

Note If you want other programs to run Windows Messenger but you do not have to run Windows Messenger to connect to a Communications Service or Exchange Instant Messaging, or if you want to sign in to the .NET Messenger Service with a different .NET Passport account, use the Set Program Access and Defaults feature that is included with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) to hide the Windows Messenger icons.

For additional information about the Set Program Access and Defaults feature, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 3: You want to use only MSN Messenger 5.0

If you want to use MSN Messenger 5.0 and you do not require Windows Messenger for use with other services and programs that require it, you can prevent Windows Messenger from running.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about MSN 8.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For additional information about how to run both Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger 5.0 in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about .NET Passport and to learn more about the services offered, visit the following Web site: