How to Remove Adware Installed by Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messenger program that allows users to communicate with one another over the Internet. You may have noticed that adware and other malware infections have been installed on your computer since you began using Windows Live Messenger. This could be the result of a Windows Live Messenger user sending you the infection. The adware could also have been installed on your computer when you installed the Windows Live Messenger program.
Instructions
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Start off by removing Windows Live Messenger from your computer. To do this, click "Start" in the taskbar. Select "Control Panel." Open "Add or Remove Programs." Find "Windows Live Messenger" in the list of programs. Highlight Windows Live Messenger and click "Remove" to uninstall the program.
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Download and install a program that will remove Windows Live Messenger adware. Spybot: Search and Destroy (see Resources) is a security software program that will scan your computer for infections and then remove those infections for you.
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Open Spybot: Search and Destroy after you've installed the program. Click "Check for Problems." The program will then search for Windows Live Messenger adware and similar infections. After the scan completes, the Windows Live Messenger adware infections will be listed in the middle of the Spybot window. Click on any boxes in that window that are without a checkmark to select those infections. Then, click "Fix selected problems" to remove the adware.
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Go to the official Windows Live Messenger Web page (see Resources) and click "Download" to download the setup program. Open the program, and a window will appear. Select only the "Messenger" option on the left side of this window. Click "Install." Windows Live Messenger will begin installing on your computer. A window will show three different options after the key components of Windows Live Messenger are installed.
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Click the three boxes found in the window to remove the checkmarks from each box. Make sure that each checkmark has been removed. Click "Continue." The Windows Live Messenger installation will then be completed without any adware being installed on your computer.
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Tips & Warnings
Only download Windows Live Messenger from the official Windows Live Messenger website. Otherwise, you may accidentally install adware and other infections onto your computer.