Recently I installed Office 2003 and since then Windows Messenger
(Microsoft's Instant Messenger product) insists on installing itself and
keeping active in the system tray. When I try to close it, I'm told that it
can't be closed because OE is using it.

Now, OE never used it before and I didn't do anything to change OE (current
version, current updates), so I can't see why it suddenly needs some hole in
my firewall that I don't want to have. I don't use Messenger, so it's just
sitting there chewing up resources doing nothing as far as I'm concerned.

Two questions:

1) Does OE in fact need Messenger for some reason?

2) How do I drive a stake through Messenger's heart when it insists
it's being used?

Thanks.

Bill