MSN Messenger in XP Pro

I have found that you can separate the seemingly inseparable connection between Outlook Express and MSN Messenger in Windows 98.

However, in XP Home and XP Pro, I have noticed that even when your email is closed, I am not able to completely close MSN. I get the standard error of “other applications are currently using this program”…….

Is there a way to disassociate these two programs. I have customers that go on MSN perhaps once a week, and email each day.

I just find it a “weak” answer to the customer, of “there’s no way to stop that”…….

thanks in advance for any clues….