How in the hell can you get rid of Messenger Service popup ads??????

It seems like 90% of the annoying Messenger Service popup ads that I get are from companies who want to sell me software to stop them.  To me, there is something wrong with a marketing concept that has the copmpany piss people off so that people will buy their product so they won't be pissed off anymore.  

Turn off messenger...

Forgive my ignorance but where would I do that?

I'm certainly NOT qualified to give computer advice, (I'm lost 99% of the time) but I'll give it a whirl...

I believe if you right click on it, you will have the option to "sign-off" or "exit"

I made the mistake of installing AOL instant messenger...
I got tired of it's pop-ups, so I uninstalled it...
There was a pic of a little yellow guy down on the lower RH corner of my screen. I'd Rightclick on him, and "Sign-off" to stop the junk...

Worst case sceario, you end up messing something up like I always do, and have to re-install the system recovery disk. [:D]

Windows 2000
Click Start-> Settings-> Control Panel-> Administrative Tools->Services
Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK

 
Windows XP Home
Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
Click Performance and Maintenance
Click Administrative Tools
Double click Services Scroll
down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK

 
Windows XP Professional
Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
Click Administrative Tools
Click Services
Double click Services Scroll
down and highlight "Messenger"
Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties.
Click the STOP button.
Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
Click OK

 
Windows NT
Click Start ->Control Panel
Double Click Administrative Tools
Select Services-> Double-click on Messenger
In the Messenger Properties window, select Stop,
Then choose Disable as the Startup Type
Click OK

Windows 98 & ME
Windows Messenger Service cannot be disabled