Ok, so I get a notification that Winders has downloaded updates and needs to reboot. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until I reboot and am greeted by the MSN Messenger login screen. I do not use, nor have I ever used MSN messenger. I HATE instant messaging. When I'm on a computer I'm on it to use it, and if I want to chat I'll pick up the frickin' phone. So WTF is M$ doing, installing that blight on my computer without my asking it to? This is almost (but not quite) enough to make me wish I'd bought a Mac*. Now, excuse my while I head on over to "uninstall software"...
*Except, of course, that Jobs & Co are even worse for "my way or the highway" thinking...
Do you remember what updates it installed? New Internet Explorer? Wouldn't be surprised if that kinda "bundled" it along. Or something re-activated the service if you disabled it. If you uninstall, it *might* still be there, the icon might show up in the system tray. Just my cynicism talking here as yours is ;) But just do Start->Run, type "services.msc" (no quote marks) and look for Messenger in the list of services, and change the status to "Disabled" and manual start, not automatic.
Also, in Run, type msconfig, and in that utility look for the tab that says "startup" and uncheck "msmsgs" if you see it in that list. That's the autostart for the program on boot. Be sure to hit apply, then OK (might change to "close") and then let it restart. If you havent changed msconfig before, on startup a huge, overly verbose message box will let you know that you changed the startup sequence (really!!!!???) and check the box that will tell Winders not to keep telling you this, then hit OK.
also if you go to the microsoft website for updates... you can check recent updates and look at them to know what is what
I have updates disabled. If I have a problem and I know the cause I'll update it. Otherwise, waste of time. Everything you download now your computer checks for updates and installs it before shutdown. I used to have to unplug my modem before I shut the computer down when I was at my dad's on his dial up network.
It was and is an optional update I have not done it. I unclick it every time my computer updates.