Theoretically, you can get rid of it (as well as a few other things). Windows 2000 power users should already be familiar with this tweak. Fire up the Windows Explorer and navigate your way to the %SYSTEMROOT% \ INF folder. What the heck is that thingy with the percentage signs? It’s a variable. For most people, %SYSTEMROOT% is C:\Windows. For others, it may be E:\WinXP. Get it? Okay, on with the hack! In the INF folder, open sysoc.inf (but not before making a
BACKUP copy first). Before your eyes glaze over, look for the line containing “msmsgs” in it. Near the end of that particular line, you’ll notice that the word “hide” is not so hidden. Go ahead and delete “hide” (so that the flanking commas are left sitting next to one another). Save the file and close it. Now, open the Add and Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel. Click the Add / Remove Windows Components icon. You should see “Windows Messenger” in that list. Remove the checkmark from its box, and you should be set.

NOTE: there are
other hidden system components in that sysoc.inf file, too. Remove “hide” and the subsequent programs at your
own risk.

Microsoft officially announced their lineup of Windows 7 . This article is to clarify on how exactly these 6 editions of Windows 7 will affect you when you go out and purchase.Microsoft offers 6 different editions of Windows 7: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise. The Windows 7 Starter version is aimed primarily at low-end netbook devices, and the Windows Home Basic version is only available in emerging markets, so we can rule those two out right away.

Home users should have Windows 7 Ultimate in order to have the full range of Windows 7 features and capabilities. Laptop users in particular should upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate so they can take advantage of BitLocker Disk Encryption to protect the data on the laptop in the event that it is lost or
stolen.

Small businesses are more or less ignored by Microsoft. They are not an enterprise or a consumer. Microsoft intends the Windows 7 Professional version for small and medium business customers. Windows 7 Professional has some enhancements such as the ability to join a Windows network domain, but still doesn’t have features like BitLocker, as well as the enterprise capabilities like DirectAccess and Branch Cache.

Granted, small and medium business customers need to have a Windows Server 2008 domain environment to take advantage of these advanced Windows 7 features, but it is worth it for organizations with remote and roaming workers or branch locations. To gain access to these features,
we suggest small and medium businesses also invest in Windows 7 Ultimate.

Unlike Windows Vista Business, which required upgrades to do away with the Windows Media Center when one had to switch a system from Home Premium to Business, which was basically to get support for business networking and image setup, there are no such hard and fast rules in the Professional. Also the Home Premium feature is included in Windows 7 Professional. That also adds a lot of sheen to the Professional edition.

Windows 7 Starter for netbooks, Windows 7 Enterprise for large corporate customers, and Windows 7 Ultimate for everyone else. Its important to check out the minimum hardware requirement for running Windows 7. As per Microsoft each Windows 7 version will contain all of the preceding
versions’ features (i.e: Professional will contain all of Home Premium’s features.)

Here’s a rundown of each of the Windows 7 specifically:

Windows 7 Starter Edition:

• Will only be offered pre-installed by an OEM on new PCs limited to specific types of hardware.
• Only 3 simultaneous applications can be ran at a time.
• Ability to join Home Group.
• Improved taskbar abilities (Superbar) and Jumplists.

Windows 7 Home Basic:

• Only available in emerging markets.
• Missing Aero UI Tweaks.

Windows 7 Home Premium:

• Available worldwide to OEMs and in retail.
• Includes Aero UI Tweaks (Screen Docking, Windows Peeking, etc).
• Multi-touch capabilities.
• Media capabilities (Media Center, Media Streaming).
• Handwriting Recognition.

Windows 7 Professional:

• Available worldwide to OEMs and in retail.
• Includes all features of Premium.
• Enhanced networking abilities.
• Backing up Data and Encrypting Data.
• Data protection and advanced networking support.
• Mobility Center.

Windows 7 Enterprise:

• Not available in retail or by OEMs, only available through volume licensing.
• Includes features of Professional
• Includes Advanced Data Protection and IT tools (Branch Cache, Bit Locker, AppLocker).
• Improved Remote Access (without the need of VPN with DirectAccess).

Windows 7 Ultimate:

• Offered only as an add-on to Home Premium or Professional.
• Includes features from Enterprise.