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How to customize Windows Live Messenger (remove ads, add/remove buttons etc)

Windows

With the great little program A-Patch for Windows Live Messenger you can completely customize Windows Live Messenger and MSN Messenger. Continue reading for a brief but detailed tutorial on using A-Patch.

  1. Start by determining which version of Windows Live Messenger you’re using. To do so, select the ‘drop down’ button (see image below) from the top of WLM, then choose Help -> About Messenger.
  2. windows live messenger

  3. A small pop-up window will appear. Look for the version number. Visit the A-Patch download page and download the appropriate version.
  4. windows live messenger

  5. Extract the .exe file and double-click it to launch A-Patch.
  6. windows live messenger

  7. Review the options on the initial Welcome screen. If you didn’t install Windows Live Messenger in the default location, click the button and navigate to the folder where you installed it. Otherwise, click Next.
  8. windows live messenger
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  9. And here’s the first of several options screens. Determine which features you want to enable and/or disable by placing a check in each of the appropriate boxes. If you hover your mouse over any of the selections, you’ll get a more detailed description of that option. And don’t worry – anything you change can be undone later. Click Next to move to the next screen.
  10. windows live messenger
    click to enlarge

  11. Again, more options. Review them, select them, click Next.
  12. windows live messenger
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  13. Review, select, Next.
  14. windows live messenger
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  15. Review, select, Next.
  16. windows live messenger
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  17. Wow there are a lot of things you can change. Review, select, Next.
  18. windows live messenger
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  19. And again..
  20. windows live messenger
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  21. And again..
  22. windows live messenger
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  23. Finally, the last screen. Once you’ve made your final selections, click the Apply button.
  24. windows live messenger
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  25. A warning pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm that Windows Live Messenger is closed. If it’s not, close it now. Then click OK.
  26. windows live messenger

  27. If you didn’t close Windows Live Messenger, the patch won’t work.
  28. windows live messenger

  29. A-Patch should now display a “successfully patched” window. Leave Launch MSN Messenger checked, and click Exit.
  30. windows live messenger
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  31. And check out your “new” Windows Live Messenger!
  32. windows live messenger

  33. If you want to undo anything, or make additional changes, simply run A-Patch again.

Posted in Windows.

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9 Responses

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  1. Inca Coder says

    Be careful of this download, Avast antivirus reported Trojan Virus in the zip file.

  2. Heidi says

    I go to open this file, and it freezes up the folder it’s in.

  3. Rosimeire says

    gostaria de tirar o virus do msn sem perder os meus contatos pelo amor de deus me ajuda naum sei mais oque fazer

  4. nagi says

    hi!
    since I downloaded windows live messenger I keep getting pop up wep sites.
    I uninstall the messenger and they stopped, I would liket o install the messenger again but prevent the pop ups. Any suggestions how to prevent pop ups!!
    thanks

  5. pOji says

    Be careful, it froze my WLM 8.5.1302, I couldn’t launch WLM anymore after I applied some settings. I had to restore those settings in order to use my live messenger again. And the “remove Advertisment” tool doesn’t work for me, I still see ads on bottom of the main window. Sorry but this sucks… maybe it’s only for the U.S. (english) versions of MSN, WLM respectively.

  6. anon says

    lol 15 contacts..

  7. Pamma says

    It works for me the ads on botton OF window live messenger is removed with this A patch thanks :)

  8. phil says

    a-patch is brilliant makes msn usable again. shame about not being able to change settings in latest version. by the way if you gt forced to upgrade by microsoft then just install messenger 4.7 works a treat and it only uses 4MB . newest vrsion of msn if very tyrannical.

Continuing the Discussion

  1. Live Messenger - TechSpot OpenBoards linked to this post on September 4, 2009

    [...] Try wiping messenger, follow the link >> http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/07/16…e-buttons-etc/ [...]



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