How Can I Update Skype Without Installing MSN?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of updating Skype without inadvertently installing MSN and other unwanted software. Participants share their experiences and propose potential solutions to avoid bundled installations during the update process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over a hidden checkbox that prevents opting out of installing MSN during the Skype update.
  • Another participant shares a negative experience with forced software bundles, detailing difficulties in uninstalling unwanted programs after installation.
  • A suggestion is made that adjusting the text size in the Control Panel may reveal the hidden checkbox, although this has not been tested yet by the proposer.
  • Another participant suggests using keyboard navigation (the TAB key) to potentially access the hidden checkbox.
  • Participants acknowledge the value of having multiple methods to address the issue.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on a definitive solution, as participants propose various methods to tackle the problem without confirming their effectiveness.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss potential solutions based on personal experiences, which may vary in effectiveness depending on individual system configurations and software versions.

nomadreid
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Presently Skype is pushing me to update (it appears on my screen every time I start my computer), but when I try to update, one of the windows "asks" me whether I want to make MSN my preferred browser, along with all sorts of auxiliary programs. I don't want MSN etc, but the box to check "no" is hidden (the text covers it) in such a way that it is impossible to click it. Last time I went ahead anyway and installed the upgrade, figuring it would be easy to uninstall MSN etc., but some of the auxiliary programs were so hidden in my computer (not appearing on the list of programs to uninstall) that most directions to remove them ("Go to control panel, click uninstall") were useless, and it was extremely difficult and time-consuming to remove them. I would like to install the Skype update but without the MSN update. Any suggestions?
(I tried to post this on the Skype Forum, but it is not recognizing my login/password. Anyway, I have gotten better results on Physics Forums in the past than on the Skype Forum.)
 
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I googled MSN browser because I thought that you meant IE. I see that it's actually a new MS browser. That looks like a giant POS.

Unfortunately many companies are doing these forced software bundles and the only option is to uninstall after the installation. I recently tried to install ZoneAlarm on a tablet and was not able to install the software unless I agreed to change my browser's homepage OR install a toolbar. When I agreed only to the homepage change that I could easily undo, the software did both anyway. I had to uninstall it from the Control Panel - Programs and Features. Then I had to manually remove it from my Firefox AddOns because the uninstall doesn't actually uninstall it from the browser - it just removes the program that keeps putting it back on the browser if you remove it from the AddOns. :headbang:
 
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Thanks for the answer, Borg. Yea, frustrating. I think I may have found a solution to this particular problem, however. I was just told (I haven't tried it yet) that the reason that the clicked box which sneaks MSN etc. into the computer but is hidden from view will reappear into view once I go to Control Panel>Display and set the size of text down to the minimum. Sounds reasonable; I shall try that.
 
nomadreid said:
Thanks for the answer, Borg. Yea, frustrating. I think I may have found a solution to this particular problem, however. I was just told (I haven't tried it yet) that the reason that the clicked box which sneaks MSN etc. into the computer but is hidden from view will reappear into view once I go to Control Panel>Display and set the size of text down to the minimum. Sounds reasonable; I shall try that.
Ah. If you're looking at hard to display text on a form, web page, etc., you can often select Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel to do the same thing.
 
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Try selecting something on the window and then repeatedly hit the TAB button. See if the "no" checkbox can be reached that way.
 
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thanks for the suggestions, Borg and Routaran. Good to have a variety of methods ready.
 
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