Scott Pierce Computer Services

In Win7 especially, there is a certain condition that disallows Windows Live Messenger (WLM) 2009 to be uninstalled.

This condition starts with the installation of an offline version of WLM (from a third-party site, not Microsoft) and it not appearing in the Programs and Features section of Win7.

After searching for a while, I found this site to uninstall WLM using a special command in the run dialog.

For me, it worked like a charm. It *should* also work for XP/Vista but you mileage may vary.

After the uninstall, I did it the proper way and went to here to use the web installer. *sigh*

It would be “handy” to have an offline version to install this as my bandwidth is precious at the best of times (as should be yours).

Now, I just installed Skype 4.1 and found the the above exe file wanted access to Skype itself.

A lot of people have thought it was spyware and denied access (which is the appropriate action to take if something is suspect to you).

In this case however, it is not.

SkypeNames.exe relates to a Firefox add-on that was installed with your Skype 4.1. Personally, I would have liked a choice to install it or not, rather than just ASSUMING I would (because I probably wouldn’t).

This is easy enough to fix. Go to Firefox, in the Tools menu there is an Add-ons option. Click it and you’ll see a list of add-ons installed in Firefox. One of them will say something like “Skype Web Extension”. Go ahead and click the Uninstall button and click the Restart Firefox button in that list.

It will also proceed to uninstall itself so those with Vista/7, the UAC (User Account Control) will appear, asking if you wish the uninstall to proceed. Click Yes.

Job done.

(EDIT: There is a BETTER way of doing this and JUST noticed it then.)

BEFORE you start the skype installer, there is an options button that allows to select what you wish to install (it’s the “Custom or Expert” option for the geeks out there )

For me, I unticked Skype Extras and Skype for Firefox (and IE if it’s ticked).

Then, the process at the start of this post does NOT apply.

Rotated the screen and don’t know how to undo it? I get this question about once a year so, here’s the solution. More »

While I have installed ModX, the first impression of it is that it’s daunting and easy to use at the same time.

Daunting because its all new (coming from a phpbb3 background) and easy to use (template-wise).

Having said this, I’m basing the opinion on less that 3 hours with it and late at night.

In that time though, have managed to get a template installed and operational.

Now, just a matter of putting the pieces into place.

Stay tuned.

… try modx as a little birdie told me

Considering the original post was removed from the Xfire news of SYF Gaming, I’ll rewrite it on my blog.

More »

.. try a new CMS called Zikula.

Yeah, I’ll do that first before going to Joomla

… and that’s use a Content Management System (CMS) for my website.

The two clear choices are Joomla and Drupal.

My only pre-requisite is to integrate a Wordpress blog into the CMS.

I think I’ll start with Joomla and see how I go.

So, you got yourself a killer rig, but have Office 2003 and can’t get Outlook to behave itself? It’s a PITA but it can be done. More »

Ever get that feeling that you just KNOW something is there, but just can’t see it for the trees? More »