If you’ve recently upgraded to the latest version of MSN Messenger, version 7, you may have noticed the huge amount of new bullshit features that have been packed into this most recent release.

Even Patchou, developer of Messenger Plus!, has wussed out and removed the most basic of annoyance-removal features from his product – the tweak that removes the MSN ad banner at the bottom of the main MSNM window. The ad banner wasn’t enough, however, and Microsoft have seen fit to add even more bloat that few will use, including even more tabs in the main window; emoticon “packs” (for when your poorly enunciated SMS-speak just isn’t enough); and “winks” and “nudges” – at your disposal to “enhance your conversation”. Thank you, MS, for not trusting me to be able to convey my meaning on my own, and providing me with these ridiculously childish features to annoy the fuck out of my contacts. Contact not responding? Have they dared to look at another window for a few seconds? No matter, in MSNM 7, you can spam them with sound and light until they are forced to open your window again.

Fortunately, help is at hand in the form of MSNMSGR Ghost, a most excellent little program which modifies the MSN Messenger executable, and allows you remove as much annoying garbage as you wish.

Tick the boxes as you desire, then click the Go button; select the directory in which your MSNM program resides (usually \Program Files\MSN Messenger) and voila. The bullshit is conveniently swept under the rug. Until the next Messenger update of course. Sigh.