Jules think what u got that is 4.7 is actually windows messenger not msn messenger, the messenger i think u talking about starts everytime u open outlook express .
It lives in program files folder (c:\program files\messenger)with the name messenger NOT msn messenger which is a couple folders down, what i did with mine was just rename the msmsgs.exe file to something different so it dont auto run no more but will inform me if an update available on msn update, u could just delete the whole folder but recon everytime u check for updates it will say u need it, u can set it not to tell u about that anymore tho in update settings.(dont know anybody actually use windows messenger anyway anymore cause it not as good as msn messenger, dont do half the things, and dont ubderstand why microsoft run it along side msn, which is still after all microsoft init )

Could be totally wrong about what your problem is but think that is what u after chap

Steve