If I don't use outlook express, can worms still use it?
 

On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 13:42:33 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"
wrote:

If "Microsoft Outlook Express" doesn't appear in Add/Remove Programs, then
it's probably in Windows Setup tab of Add/Remove Programs.

Stupid me only looked under OE, not microsoft. It's gone
now. Thanks!


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

If I don't use outlook express, can worms still use it?
 

Don't be so hard on yourself, g. I was so tired last night I didn't =
even think to point you to it, and it was immediately apparent as a =
possibility when I revisited the issue this morning.

At least with Microsoft products, you generally know where to look for =
entries, Some of the ways I've seen software install, both in Registry =
and other entries (like Add/Remove) and in their folder =
structures--makes you wonder if they ever intended the user to find them =
at all. Which, come to think of it, is maybe why they do it, s.

--=20
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x
=20
"sf" wrote in message =
...
On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 13:42:33 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune"
wrote:
=20
If "Microsoft Outlook Express" doesn't appear in Add/Remove =
Programs, then
it's probably in Windows Setup tab of Add/Remove Programs.
=20
Stupid me only looked under OE, not microsoft. It's gone
now. Thanks!
=20
=20
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

If I don't use outlook express, can worms still use it?
 

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 14:34:50 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 10:03:54 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:

This may be a dumb question, but can't you just change the .exe file to
something like .old?

Hi,

Of course, it's your computer. You can change whatever you like. But if
you're not using it, why not just uninstall it? I'm not in the habit of
renaming files/programs I'm not using, I just get rid of them.

mm

First, you have not answered my question. Will changing .exe to .old
eliminate the problem?

Second, as you know, uninstall is lousy. Any uninstall of any program will
still leave many registry entries that will need to be cleaned up. Now you
have created a second problem.

I really would like to know whether my simple solution is the best solution
to the problem. That is why I am posting. I need informed comment.
--

If I don't use outlook express, can worms still use it?
 

You should really, totally uninstall it. It may be that changing =
msimn.exe to msimn.old will prevent OE from being hijacked for nefarious =
purposes, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. If you don't use OE, or at =
least don't want to keep it up to date and properly configured, then =
uninstall it completely.

These instructions offer fairly complete hints as to what should be =
cleared out.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=3D278909

--=20
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x
=20
wrote in message =
...
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 14:34:50 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:
=20
wrote:
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 10:03:54 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:
=20
This may be a dumb question, but can't you just change the .exe =
file to
something like .old?
=20
Hi,
=20
Of course, it's your computer. You can change whatever you like. But =
if=20
you're not using it, why not just uninstall it? I'm not in the habit =
of=20
renaming files/programs I'm not using, I just get rid of them.
=20
mm
=20
First, you have not answered my question. Will changing .exe to .old
eliminate the problem?
=20
Second, as you know, uninstall is lousy. Any uninstall of any program =
will
still leave many registry entries that will need to be cleaned up. =
Now you
have created a second problem.
=20
I really would like to know whether my simple solution is the best =
solution
to the problem. That is why I am posting. I need informed comment.
--=20

If I don't use outlook express, can worms still use it?
 

wrote:
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 14:34:50 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:


wrote:

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 10:03:54 -0500, Mostly Me (MM) wrote:

This may be a dumb question, but can't you just change the .exe file to
something like .old?

Hi,

Of course, it's your computer. You can change whatever you like. But if
you're not using it, why not just uninstall it? I'm not in the habit of
renaming files/programs I'm not using, I just get rid of them.

mm


First, you have not answered my question. Will changing .exe to .old
eliminate the problem?

Second, as you know, uninstall is lousy. Any uninstall of any program will
still leave many registry entries that will need to be cleaned up. Now you
have created a second problem.

I really would like to know whether my simple solution is the best solution
to the problem. That is why I am posting. I need informed comment.

Hi,

No, renaming is not the best solution. The registry entries are already
there, so there is no second problem "created" when you uninstall a
program. If you only rename a file, the registry entries absolutely will
remain along with assorted dlls, etc., now you have in fact created
problems that weren't there before.

The best solution is to uninstall a program using add/remove programs or
the uninstaller provided by the software developer.

Renaming may provide a stop-gap measure to prevent certain files from
running, at least temporarily, but I wouldn't rely on that as a way to
disable unused or undesirable programs.

I also don't agree that renaming is easier than uninstalling, seems
they're both pretty painless to me, but uninstalling is clearly much
more effective.

As far as programs not deleting registry entries, some software makers
offer special tools to remove registry entries from their products and
some do a pretty good job of it using the uninstaller that came with the
program. Of course, many don't. You could use a tool like Total
Uninstall when installing programs in the futu
http://www.geocities.com/ggmartau/tu.html

mm