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

by Ross McKillop on July 16, 2007

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.
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  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
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  11. Again, more options. Review them, select them, click Next.
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  13. Review, select, Next.
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  15. Review, select, Next.
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  17. Wow there are a lot of things you can change. Review, select, Next.
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  19. And again..
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  21. And again..
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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.
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  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.
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  • { 3 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 Inca Coder 10.17.07 at 9:16 pm

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

    2 Heidi 11.24.07 at 7:20 pm

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

    3 Rosimeire 06.30.08 at 5:24 am

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

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