Help! I think I just messed up my computer

not2sharp

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Jun 29, 1999
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I was trying to remove my Windows Messenger on Windows XP using my control panels add/remove utility and managed to remove every other windows component from my accessory folder. So much for following instructions. The Add/remove command reads "to add or remove a component click the check box". I clicked on the windows Messenger and it automatically deleted everything else. :rolleyes:

I have not rebooted as yet. Is there anyway to reverse this thing, or must I now re-install all of these components (whatever they were?)

n2s
 
Go to "System Restore" to see if you can retrieve them again. That's strange it would take out all of the other. Can't you also reinstall your CD-rom. I have a Windows XP too and have had to do that. Good luck, Cindy
 
OK just go back to add/remove and click the boxes from the Add/ Remove Windows components to reinstall them. Highlight one of the boxes eg. Accessories and Utilities by left clicking once. Then click 'Details' and select the things you want to install. Repeat for all the sections like Internet Explorer, Networking Services, if in doubt select them all it wont hurt.

As for Messenger, you can't remove the one that came with XP, its embedded in the O/S. What you can do though is castrate it.

Go to your desk top if you have a 'My Computer' icon on it, if not go to the Start menu. Right click the My Computer and select 'Manage' The double click 'Services and Applications' Then double click 'Services' (a couple of gears) In the list Messenger will be listed as 'Messenger' Double click it and a new box will open. In the 'Start up' option in the middle of the box, select 'Disabled', then press 'OK'
It will still be running, so go back to the screen you had after double clicking the 2 gears and highlight Messenger with one click, then look at the top of the screen and click the VCR Tape Deck square 'Stop' button. This will stop the service and will not bother you anymore.
 
Maybe K.V. Collucci can shed some light on this.
The last time I did a system restore, it reformatted the drive... :eek:
 
OK just go back to add/remove and click the boxes from the Add/ Remove Windows components to reinstall them.

At this point, I am getting:

"Another copy of this setup program is running. Please wait until setup is completed before attempting to run this program again." (I have not rebooted as yet)

The deleted components include Explorer and outlook, so reinstalation would probably mean the loss of emails etc.

n2s
 
If clicking on Add/Remove Windows Components didn't work because you have an installation running already you most likely will need to do a System Restore. You should be fine afterwards.

As far as removing Windows Messenger do this:

Start

Run

Copy and paste this into the blank field:

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove


Then hit OK. This will remove the embedded Messenger.
 
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