As the title states, how do I prevent a process from starting? I don't use MSN messenger and when I end the process a few minutes later the process starts up again.
Thanks for the help...

Disable the auto start from the MSN Messenger?
This is just the more direct and official way.

Other then going to run and typing msconfig selecting the tab startup and disabling the msmsgs.exe and clicking ok and restarting the computer and will never start up again unless u call it up. :P

ok, I've tried the suggestions that Trixx and Dolphin had made and msmsgs.exe is still able to turn on. Could it be a virus?

Yeah, maybe ^^
Anyway performing a full system scan can't be a bad thing.

This 22 kbyte "Shoot The Messenger" utility gives users
immediate control over the Windows Messenger service.

http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

Wooo, dude ur turning the wrong thing off that's not the messenager the messenager is "msnmsgr" u've turned something else off.

Processlibrary.com states the msmsgs.exe is the MSN messenger process.



Wooo, dude ur turning the wrong thing off that's not the messenager the messenager is "msnmsgr" u've turned something else off.

Windows messenger Service gives network users to receive network messages in their LAN. It is not related to Windows Messenger (or some know it as MSN messenger, BUT they are 2 different software. EYE CANDY Difference)
To switch off your windows messenger from starting when you start software like OUTLOOK / IE you can do a search in Microsoft website on how to turn off "WINDOWS MESSENGER". but know that once this option is turned off, everytime you want to access OUTLOOK or IE it will load 5-10sec slower than normal (did a timing myself) maybe the software is trying to wait for messenger to load and start. have fun though.

Jack