Removing Messanger Plus community smartbar?

[Yew]

Hey gents, Ive came across a problem, I updating my windows live messanger Plus!, I have accidentally installed the Plus Community smartbar, meaning that I now have a little orange breifcase next to my address bar. If anyone could help me remove it I would appreciate it greatly.

On a side note, I think that it should be illegal to have boxes like that for installing addons automotically filled in...

Thanks Yew

 

[yorkie]

I know this may sound obvious but does it not appear in Add/Remove programs?

Loads of stuff comes with tickboxes for annoying toolbars, you have to be on the ball to untick them.

Why not use a decent operating system such as Linux?

 

[Yew]

It was in add/remove programs, but it reappeared :? I manaaged to remove it in firefox as well, and now its gone. So if anyone else has this problem, you need to remove it from firefox, and from your system via control panel.


As for your linux comment, I play many video games and from what I gather its a bitt of a faff trying to get them working in linux.

Feel free to lock this thread, Ive managed to blunder through the problem on my own

 

[Clip]

Why not use a decent operating system such as Linux?

To be fair though - for your average user Linux is a pain to set up and a pain to get working how you like it. The problem with people and Microsoft is that htey take no care in what they do when using their machines.

Nowt wrong with windows,simple straight forward and easy for the average user.

 

[SS4]

To be fair though - for your average user Linux is a pain to set up and a pain to get working how you like it. The problem with people and Microsoft is that htey take no care in what they do when using their machines.

Nowt wrong with windows,simple straight forward and easy for the average user.

It really isn't as long as you stick to a GUI installer. Ubuntu and Mint are far easier to install than windows. Plus the GPL makes for nicer reading than the EULA

Windows is only easy for the average user because windows is pre-installed on virtually all machines. I have to agree with the OP that gaming, especially modern stuff, can be a pain on Linux

edit:
src: http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

4. MANDATORY ACTIVATION.
Activation associates the use of the software with a specific computer. During activation, the software
will send information about the software and the computer to Microsoft. This information includes the
version, language and product key of the software, the Internet protocol address of the computer,
and information derived from the hardware configuration of the computer. For more information, see
go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=104609. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of
this information. If properly licensed, you have the right to use the version of the software installed
during the installation process up to the time permitted for activation. Unless the software is
activated, you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation.
This is to prevent its unlicensed use. You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent
activation. If the computer is connected to the Internet, the software may automatically connect to
Microsoft for activation. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. If you
do so, Internet and telephone service charges may apply. Some changes to your computer
components or the software may require you to reactivate the software. The software will remind
you to activate it until you do.

red: - This means Microsoft has tracking software installed and can pinpoint your machine and, by extension, you (condition 2c). Can they be trusted to only use this for it's rightful purpose?

blue: - You're not allowed to say no to being identified

green: - You don't get to decide if you want to activate it if you're online (a reasonably assumption since this is a windows 7 EULA).

cyan: - Changing your computer may mean reactivation. The question is, apart from a HDD change, how exactly would Microsoft know that you had changed unless it near-constantly probes hardware? Additionally you'll get pestered to activate a product you paid for. Anything else this would be adware.