http://www.modemnet.net/icq

For a explination see previous posts.

-modem

Hi

Just use any version before icq2000.

Download them all at:

http://www.icq-4u.com

ICQ99B is the best

_joe

banners probably arent even worth it for AOl considering the click through will be tiny. yeah, say 30 million active users, of maybe they might get 100,000 clicks. once.

and the rest of the ppl like the spammmer here have probably removed the banners anytways

aol: just merge with AIM, and stay with the AOL isp for moneys :] give icq users an offer or something, dont abuse us, USE us

ICQ AD Removal - Guide there http://www.icqhelp.ru/content.php?do=full&id=5

Let AOL know that we aren't giving up this fight. It's NOT only us users, but the WHOLE darn net.

Keeo ICQ banner free!!

I find the ads anoying but not because it's unsollicited publicity but because it makes the message window larger. I really like icq over other IMs because it doesn't takes much place and you can leave it open all time. Another thing is that i'd like ICQ to go "hi-tech": less anoying sound schemes, auto name popup on join (a la MSNM), a cleaner design in which you could personalize the messaging windows to your taste (oink, skinable maybe?) and 3 versions: basic, regular, fully equipped with air conditioned :P. These were my 2 cents. Any replies on this?.

jbo 2k2
max_jbo@hotmail.com

I also have the same problem ... I use a very big resolution, small fonts, everything to conserve space on my desktop, so it's really anoying to see that space for banners which doesn't even work ok ... Many times it shows just an error because of poor connection.. Even more, if you're reading fast the banner doesn't have time to load on a small connection. But, let's see, what are the chances for someone to really give a sheet on that banner? When you receive a message, you display it, the banner is loading (is not yet loaded) so you start to read the message .. After your read the message, you hit the reply button, fast enough to remember what you want to answer :) right? So ... you don't even have time to see what the banner was ... I use the ICQ all the day, @home and @work, but, I guess I only saw 2 banners until now, so ... it's pointless anyway ... All I saw, is that the window is bigger:(
I also believe that they should concern on more important stuff ... Let's see ... who ever saw a finall version of ICQ, without tooooo many bugs? :) I guess nobody ... They have bugs that they are not able to fix them for sooo many time ... Like :
-you can't move the ICQ on other monitor if you have dual/multi displays in Windows
-you can't use ICQ on Win2k/WinNT in a domain for people that are not Administrators on that computer
-it doesn't know about REG_EXPAND_SZ in registry so if you're using Roaming Profiles in a Domain/Active Directory enviroment, you can't really use it
-the database is saved when you close the software, so, if you use it without closing it for one week and after one week, your computer gets rebooted without having the chance to close ICQ, all your messages during that week are lost is time and space :(
-the contact list is kept on the client side, so if you have an ICQ @work and another one @home, or ... you just want to check your ICQ from an internet club, you have no chance to keep them synchronized:(
-on a system crash (if you had the icq opened), there are soo many chances to have the processor used 100% when the ICQ starts, and if you don't have a possibility to see the process that it's using that CPU space, you may find yourself reinstalling your Windows or so, just because ICQ can't see when it's Database it's corrupt :(
-if you use the DB repair software weekly (depending on how much you're using the ICQ), even without erasing messages from it, you'll see that the ICQ is loading 10 times faster .. Why?
-too many other bugs more or less important ..
Because of all of those problems, I started to write a client of my own .. In my opinion, ICQ should change something in it's policy .. If they can't make a working software, they should either hire a software company to do this job right, either, to make the protocol public (anyway their security sucks:P and there are people that are learning the protocol even if they don't want to give details about it - see LICQ for example- but it just takes more time:( ) this way someone else could do the job for the user and make a working software client for ICQ ... I guess the second option it's not so good, because they can't control the "banner" thing for exameple, and ... it's very clear that they don't want to keep it free forever ... But, the first option can satisfy also the user, and the AOL company ...

I have 1 thing to say to you: www.jabbercentral.com
Jabber rocks! I personally use WinJab and have no probs with it.

http://icqpatch.cjb.net/ get here the patch 4 icq 2 get rid of the banners

sure the ads take up some minimal bandwidth, but you know what, i don't mind them being there because ICQ has to make money somehow, and to run ICQ and all its members that it has takes some money, so they need it, and I all for anything that will keep ICQ free.
one thing i do want is the ability to choose where i want it, i would rather want it on the top of the chat window, instead of the bottom, but thats just me.
also on the ICQ site, i noticed some people where complaining that they where going to switch to another service like MSN or AIM if ICQ doesn't remove the banner ads, well are they blind or something. because MSN and AIM both have bannad ads, i know that MSN has it on the bottom of the main window, unlike ICQ which only has it on the chat and URL message windows, some people are just plain dumb.

First of all, ICQ is just a program, so it does not need money. Second, I doubt that the owners of ICQ need more money than they have, because the owner is AOL. AOL is getting as big as Microsoft... They have bought eBay, Time Warner, Netscape, Mirabilis (ICQ), and hundreds of other corporations. AOL DOES NOT NEED MORE MONEY :)

now this is just my expieriance but I have not been happy with ICQ since 99a I could see it heading in this direction plus it was slow and unstable. I find MSN messenger to be fast and it has all of the features required and the 2 best selling points stable and only 1 ad :-) I can't wait for MSN messenger 4.0 :-)

Slow and unstable?!

ICQ works fine for me.

st_fudd, you must be the dumbest of'em all if that's the case. I have no problem giving up AOL's ICQ in place for MSN (Which is a very good Instance Messaging Client), I am waiting to see if MSN fixes or I should say adds a couple of features I am intereted in, and I am more than sold on it, even though I have been an ICQ user since 1996! Ads on MSN-Messenger are the same ads that you get on MSN's website. Furthermore, they are even links to MSN topics, which complete the whole portal concept. ICQ was never a portal and lately has been trying extreniously to become one! WHY?!!? Aren't there enough portals out there? It's just another way to see how greedy AOL is. They're not happy with the 8 million users that ICQ brought them they want to exploit it now and exploit the users that are trying to remain loyal! You want to show me links (a la MSN Messenger) fine, but to bombard me with ads everytime I am trying to send a message that's unacceptable.

JMHO

And yes Messenger is faster! and more stable! coolspot18 must have just started using ICQ recently!

I use ICQ heavily every day and I can tell you that I don't know what a single one of your ads say. I ignore them 100%. =) Not an effective form of advertising.

sure, there big, bloody annoying to see, but, who would ever click a link that is ever displayed? i personally think web advertising doesnt work. I personally have patched ICQ to stop displaying the dumb ads, and i plan to keep it that way. but ICQ, if you keep the ads, and make it so u cant remove them, i will stop using your product. not that its a horrible product, but because AOL is a horrible ISP, and a AOL future internet is one i dont want to see.

What are you guys talking about? I use ICQ since 1997 and I have never seen an ad on ICQ, yet. Am I the only one that use ICQ that features no ads?

YOu must be.. I have been using it since last 1996, and on Friday mine started showing ads under the msg window. Its a sad day for us ICQ'r cause once again AOL is screwing up a great product, just like they did Netscape..

http://icqpatch.cjb.net/ here you can dowload the patch 2 kill the banners!!!!!!!!!!!!
ICQ Rulezzzz!!!!!!!!!!!

There are many ways for large companies to exploit the internet for profit. Adding advert banners to everything is lazy and becoming very unproductive. The internet can allow people to browse, shop, communicate and express themselves, and even make a living the way they want to but banner ads are manking it hard to even look at the screen anymore. The hard sell shove-it-in-your-face tactics of AOL don't belong on the internet, and certainly not on ICQ. there are more creative passive ways to exploit the internet. How about a little creativity and common sense?

Am I the only one who notices that the send message window gets bigger and bigger EVERY message? Is there any way to stop it?? I tried that ICQbanner.zip file, and it does get rid of the banners, but I still have the problem with the resizing window. CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME??? :(

I found the same thing happening with the latest version of ICQ (along with it crashing almost every time I went to look at message history for anyone). Downgrading to an earlier version solved both problems quite nicely.

I have the same problem and it annoys the **** outta me!!

oh ya... same problem here and i've edited my DLLs 5 different times and reinstalled (the same build) twice...

apparently it's a "known problem" that some people are having when using this build (3279)...

*sigh*

either "downgrade" to 3278 or earlier... or wait for a new build..

Nope, you are correct! Dumb AOL Developers and lousy QA testers cannot get the most commonly used feature in their product right! I guess they should have overhauled the whole product and re-wrote it from scratch using Visual Basic, that way they would be able to just include their No Thanks code seemlessly!

than bicker back a forth...whine and complain about things? Aww its got banners, aww its crap, aww fight this, aww fight that. You people should learn about computers. There are hacks to rip all banners out, and remove all crap from this simple, little program. Use them and stop complaining. You are all giving me a migraine. Damn. Next time instead of jumping on some crazed bandwagon about rights and user end privy's, use some common sense and beat the system...dont just try to change it.

Simpletons.

As I'm working on expanding my ICQ site where you can download every version of ICQ ever made...I am wanting to ad a part for the people who wish to keep icq2000b but get rid of the ads. I've heard so many hacks and cracks going around that it's crazy. I want to add some of those links to my site but I'm not sure which are true, which aren't, which work the best which don't. If anyone has suggestions and opinions on certain hacks around the banner ads email me at bawalker@modemnet.net

Btw remember to visit www.modemnet.net/icq where you can download every version of ICQ ever made!

-modem

All older ICQ version known to mankind
(including a cute Win 3.11 version ....)
on http://members.home.nl/icq99

Thanks, I've been looking for that Win3.11 version for a long long time :)

sorry i was busy .. here you go..
http://icqbannercure.cjb.net/

i didn't now write that all i did was rehost it for you

May I remind you that AOL is a multi-bilion company? Do you think that only petitions will ever make them change their minds? I've been using ICQ for a long time now (~ 3-4 years), and I knew it could happen, all the time. Just take a look at their EULA. When AOL bought Mirabilis then I knew for sure it was just a matter of time until AOL bugs us with their well known comercial tatics. When the ad first appeared here (almost a month ago) I promptly uninstalled ICQ, and started looking for other IMs... Odigo looked good, but as it is also a company, it has the potential the become what ICQ is today (anyway, they already show ads, its just not that annoying than ICQ ones). So I found Jabber, which looks perfect as it is open source, so you can write your own client, or choose a lot of them that's available... I tested it some months ago, but it has too few features at the time and didn't have ICQ support working. But its much better now, though it sure is not as mature as ICQ, but I prefer it than being bugged by stupid ads. And I can rest assured that it won't never be what ICQ is becoming.

I'm not giving up the fight and I know alot of us aren't either. Can you really tell me that you like these ads in the message windows? NO, I hate them...having the window almost the height of your screen. Let's fight on for a ad free ICQ!!!!

Keep ICQ ad free

man u can just crack it

i know everyone has post on how to remove icq ads but why not go back to the old days of icq98. here is a link to get some of the older versions all the way down to icq98a 1.26. Just think , the message bombers and crash programs will work again. lol http://www.spoutnic.com/...asp?p=/icq/download.asp

The sad part is that, in my humble opinion, I think that AOL after buying mirabillis, they managed to release the subsequent versions of ICQ with Push Technology support so they can pipe down to us whatever changes and upgrades if they choose to do so as long as they're tiny enough not to hog their bandwidth. So today it's ads who knows what it can be in the future? I am very close to uninstalling the damn thing. I am also interested in Jabber it seems like the way to go!

im using ICQ 99a and I have ads !!!!!

I liked to get this out to let everyone know how upset and annoyed everyone
is that there are ads on ICQ. It's wrong what AOL is doing...they are
destroying a great program that everyone loves. Because of this, there
either going back to older version or finding ways of disabling the ads.

If you think this is wrong?...I hope you do, then can you please post this
in your local newspapers....thanks

Keep ICQ ad free!!

This is a little trick for those who use Win2000. Use regedit.exe then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs - and look for the "Auto Update" string. Change the value of this string from "Yes" to "No". Next go to your ICQ folder and locate and delete the following files "icqateima32.dll", "icqateimg32.dll" and "icqateres.dll". Now go to ICQ folder, you should notice a sub directory/folder titled "Partner". Delete everything in it and change folder's propertiessecuritytab Deny write. Now ICQ can't write anything into this folder.

hey, just so you know anybody can edit their registry and delete files from their icq directory. I have no idea why you would think it limited to windows 2000. Check out go.to/adbusters, they have all the info to disable the ads, and get rid of the fields they occupy

I liked to get this out to let everyone know how upset and annoyed one
is that there are ads on ICQ. It's wrong what AOL is doing...they are
destroying a great program that everyone loves. Because of this, there
either going back to older version or finding ways of disabling the ads.

If you think this is wrong?...I hope you do, then can you please post this in your local newspapers....thanks

Keep ICQ ad free!!

I had ICQ 2000a and then AOL (sux) added advertisements to other windows. I immediately went back to ICQ 99a--no ads, no auto-update.

I knew it would only be a matter of time before AOL got greedy enough to put ads on the other windows.

Yes...they sure did! One question...does Mirabilis still have control over ICQ or did AOL screw them too? Anyhow..let's join together to keep ICQ ad free.

I signed the petition...this is one fight we're going to win.

I downloaded the ICQCore.dll and pasted it in my icq folder.

Now my icq wont start. I wonder if anyone can mail me the original ICQCore.dll for icq2000a

I recieve this error--- the file ICQCore.dll is linked to export, icqplugg:527, that dosent exist.

Kalle.d@home.se

Why dont you unistall it. Download it again and re-install it?

I think we all should let AOL know how much we hate these ads.

Yeah, tell them you won't pay for ICQ anymore!

Sign our petition!
http://www.tf-sc.com/icqpetition/

I'm just writing to express MY disgust at the petition manager's abuse of this whole fiasco - I went to the petition and just couldn't force myself to sign up after I noticed at least FOUR ad banners on the two page site. Pathetic.
This isn't an argument. It's a joke.
People in glass houses should go out and buy a friggin' brain.

Bandwidth isn't cheap buddy

In one easy to use file -

http://www.tf-sc.com/dow...ellaneous/icqbanner.zip

Stops banners being downloaded AND resizes the msgbox screen to what it was before the banners were put on. Works perfectly on every machine I have tried it on. Instructions in german as well

Enjoy :)

www.modemnet.net/icq

This is just a short continuation. I've had a heck of a good response in less than a hour so I'm going to expand a little bit at the request of a few users. If you have a crack/way around the ads in the new build of ICQ2000b and it is verified to work, email me: modem@modemnet.net and I will either post or link to your information on bypassing the ads.

Step-by-step info on how to get rid of the banners » http://go.to/adbusters

Much like what 'Arkos Reed' has posted earlier today.

I suggest (it's mentioned in those instructions at the above URL as well) subtracting '2' instead of adding '1' because otherwise there were some problems with one of the message windows (it kept resizing by itself each time a msg was sent).

When you get to the step where you "add 1" to a # value, you'll need to "subtract 2" instead. You'll know what I mean.

Good luck. It should work flawlessly!

oh ya.. forgot to mention.. i have manually modified all my DLLs and i'm using 2000b Beta v.4.63 Build #3279.. which i think is the latest...

have fun!

Someone posted this link earlier...
its at the bottom of the forum now...
I have good news for you all. I have a patched dll for that problem. It can be downloaded at http://acralite.dnsq.org
---
I downloaded the latest ICQ core and banners are now found in AOHELL

FYI...
it was
aj11284
who posted it...
(should ahve game more credit)

Actually, please dont forget to say the filename. You can download it at http://acralite.dnsq.org/icqcore.zip. I have not links to it from the homepage so please post the entire file name. Thanks for the credit.

I forgot to say. Extract that to your ICQ main folder.

Sorry, you're right..
guess I was too excited that the banners were gone...
Just out of curioisty...it this site made by you?...
Oh well none the less, Its a good site...so thanks for posting the link anyways...

Does anyone know how to get rid of those pop-up ads totally.. Not just block the ad stop the pop-up??

Thx to anyone who can help

Yeah that is my site. Thanks for complimenting it. I have recently made new changes to make the flash buttons. You should sign up for the beta there.

Thanks man...
your icq core is working good....although the patch didnt help too much....
Fewflaw in your hacked core but...I keep on getting phone requests that people never sent meand also people can now add me without my permission (even though the option is set so taht people have to ask me).
None the less congragultaions!!!!

here's a 'hosts' file that will block most web ads from being downloaded:

http://members.home.net/super-disco/hosts.zip

just unzip that to \windows\ in 9x, or \windows\system32\drivers\etc in 2000, and reboot and you will save yourself a bit of bandwidth. if you already have a 'hosts' file in that location, edit it and add the contents of this one to the end of your existing one, and save, and reboot

Now that's something that everybody should do.

Now that I've gotten everyone's attention with this... I have to agree with the entire majority that whether on ICQ or anything ADS are BAD. For me when I have any private intrusion of a ad that suggests I am interested in buying their product I usually become biased from them on out about that company and will not buy from them. I remember one time at the beach at night when the tractors were filtering the sand and cleaning the beach that they had a roller following behind that made imprints of ads on the sand! That is way out of hand. I personally will not use MSN, or AIM just because of the simple facts that they use even smaller ads, but ads none the less. I'll stick to using my ICQ 1.0.

Now the big reason why I wrote. Yes friends, I have every version or most all versions of ICQ ever made starting back with version 1.0 for Win95 including ICQ98, ICQ99a/b, and ICQ2000b that does NOT have the ads. Personally I don't use ICQ2000 not because of the ads, but because of the bloatware that it has become. For alot of you this is a serious issue with growing sizes of operating systems and not a wallet to increase memory every 2 weeks to keep up. Earlier last month there was a article on here about ads in ICQ and I introduced the fact that I have all version of ICQ readily available and they went like hotcakes to several dozen people. Well here it is again and this time I have these up to stay on multi dedicated OC3 lines so download at your personal convience. For anyone who wishes to download any of the versions of ICQ I have available goto:

www.modemnet.net/icq

-modem

P.S. If you go there immediately after this posting and nothing is showing up...keep refreshing I'm uploading as i type.

yeah, thanks for the popup ads. idiot.

I forgot to mention one thing for anyone interested in ICQ 1.0. I have thoroughly tested and have found ICQ 1.0 to work on Windows 95, all versions of Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and even on early versons of Windows XP (Whistler) and even Windows NT.

********************** NOTE *************************
Also for anyone concerned about going back a version to two...you can NOT back covert/export your lists. You must write down your UIN's and teh UIN's of your friends and then manually read them later!

If you read what I wrote...I am uploading at the time of typing. Check back in a few minutes and chill. One thing I hate is ignorate readers who refuse to use their brains at anything and their mouths at everything.

-modem

Dammit....your website sucks ....

heh, the fact that you were/are still uploading isn't going to change the fact that the popup ads are there. idiot.

*sigh* Your post was at 6:43, final update on my site was 7:04. Care to revisit and give your "deconstructive criticism" again?

-modem

Wow...when did people stop learning manners and becoming self-serving out to be obnoxious, demeaning and ignorant members of society? I must have missed that sometime because I seem to say thanks for what is offered as well as recieve kind words from others on what I've tried to do.

-modem

sorry...
my apologizes for my cricicism....
It aint so bad now...

could someone repost a link to this that is working.. the others seem to be down for me... is this dll version specific for icq?

I have it so drop me an email it's got no ads whatsoever and still works I am currently using it.
my email is aridhol@home.com

its free, open source.

there is more than 1 server which means you dont have to be reliant on any one company.

the specs are fully open so u can use any client or write ur own.

servers have transports that allow u to talk to other platforms like: icq, aim, msn, yahoo, irc, or write ur own :).

jabbercentral.com
jabber.org

Jabber rules. I've just WinJab for several weeks and I liked it. It even has an IRC client build in. There are some minor points though, you cannot accept chat request from ICQ users, they (ICQ users) are stuck in message mode. Also file transfers didn't work to ICQ users.
For the rest, it rocks.

Got this on newsgroups WEEKS ago, tried it and it worked perfectly :

Make sure ICQ is not Running.

1- Download Reshack from
http://www.rpi.net.au/~ajohnson/resourcehacker/

2- Look for Auto Update in your registry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mirabilis\ICQ\DefaultPrefs
And set the value to "No"

3- Delete the following files from your ICQ folder
icqateima32.dll (removes advertisement downloading)
icqateimg32.dll (removes the loading of images)
icqateres.dll (removes part of the advertisement function)

4- Open ICQCore.dll in Reshack.

4a Deploy the Dialog folder and open each numbered folder
The dialog boxes should be : 2503,2507,2512,2513,2514,2543,2560,2566

4b Click the banner box (dark Grey) and it will highlight the control for that box.

4c Change the last 2 numbers in that control to 0, 0 Example;
CONTROL "", 1070, "{9F9012BA-E55B-11D3-ADE7-0090270D8F00}", 0x50000000,
1, 158, 260, 38
Becomes
CONTROL "", 1070, "{9F9012BA-E55B-11D3-ADE7-0090270D8F00}", 0x50000000,
1, 158, 0, 0

4d Change the main dialog box size coordinates (at the top of the script) to
Ad box y coordinate +1. Example: for above control you take the 158 then
change the main dialog box y coordinate to 158+1 (159) So;
2503 DIALOGEX 0, 0, 262, 196
Becomes
2503 DIALOGEX 0, 0, 262, 159

NOTE The last four digits are position/size coordinates - first set is x,y
position, the second set is x,y size.

4e Compile the script

4f Repete for all dialogs with banner ads then save the file (Have a backup
of ICQCore.dll just in case something goes wrong)

I have an edited ICQCore.dll (For 2000b v4.60) here
http://www.govital.net/~soz/ICQCore.dll

I am unsure of older versions but in ICQ2000b Beta 4.63 build 3279
"ICQSearc.dll" Dialog 2008 must be altered to remove the banner at the
top of the Find User Add to List. It's as easy as removing them in ICQcore.dll

NOTE : just removing the DLLs will still display an AD placeholder, the full procedure is needed to have your ICQ look like it was before those ****in' ads
One more thing, on some machines, this procedure makes ICQ crash when you open a birthday reminder message

Thank you very much for posting this.
I have ICQ 200b version 4.63 Build 3279

I followed each of the steps and my icq is now banner free.
That Resource Hack program is really sweet. I have to keep that one handy.

AOL/ICQ have now release a browser-version of ICQ, the ICQWebbie, http://www.icq.com/icqwebbie/.

After testing that, seems to work OK for what is in it, I looked att the HTML source and found some code calling a java-class etc. There where also a codebase, http://152.163.214.105/, for a java-applet, and when I entered that one, in my browser, I ended up in an AOL Quick Buddy login.

I entered my ICQ# as screenname and my pwd and that worked! It seems that You can run AOL and ICQ together. Or at least could me friends on my ICQ-list send me messages and I could answer back to them.

(Or will AOL block themself out too?)

Find these files or any of them in ICQ folder:

icqateima32.dll
icqateimg32.dll
icqateres.dll
icqatewnd.dll

Rename each to .bak extension so that ICQ cant find them.

EX:

icqateima32.dll.bak
icqateimg32.dll.bak
icqateres.dll.bak
icqatewnd.dll.bak

Now, there will no longer be any ADS.

Have fun.

/\-DJSatane

I also have the ads in my ICQ Message Window. I haven't ran or updated ICQ on this machine in months. Its 2000a Beta v.4.29 Build 3140. Its possible that they auto updated a single file in the installation today with out me knowing it. Since I use a modem I would have noticed any sort of large update to the program. Someone posted further down that there was an auto update flag in the registry so this is a possibility. But I suspect that this ad "feature" has probably been around a long time, they just chose today to turn it on. (I'm not sure how I feel about that, seems awful Microsoft like to hide features until they choose to use them). If this is the case I wonder what else will pop up?

I have the same build and nothing has popped up on me yet, and I have DSL so if they were forcing updates I'm sure I would have them by now. Kinda disconcerting to think they'd try to force an update though. Wonder why you'd get them and I wouldn't. My only speculation is that I'm running win2k and they don't have permission to do anything like that on my box, but I'm not sure what OS you're running.

Or I don't have auto update on, its been a while since I set ICQ up.

I'm using Win 98 on this machine. I'll check it on my Win2k box when I get a chance. Also notice it only shows the ads in single message mode when sending/receiving a message. It does not show the ads in the split message mode.

Does anyone know the exact autoupdate key in the reg for ICQ? I want to check that also.

I'm using Win 98 on this machine. I'll check it on my Win2k box when I get a chance. Also notice it only shows the ads in single message mode when sending/receiving a message. It does not show the ads in the split message mode.

Does anyone know the exact autoupdate key in the reg for ICQ? I want to check that also.

I have noticed over the years a slow regression to fee based systems this includes email providers, web hosts.
Anything that is still free either has adds which now includes ICQ
or is about to be shut down for example napster.

What do you expect?, companies have to survive on something, nothing is free in this life mate

AIM (lots of people) ICQ (lots of people) MSN Messenger (1 chick) Yahoo Messenger (1 chick, i don't even use it anymore cuz i don't like talking to her) and IRC (lots and lots and lots of people) what is this madness? can't all the IM protocols just get a long!?!? :(:(:(

Yes, it just showed up today for 2000b build 3279.

Two weeks ago i had the same thing happen, a buddy told me to upgrade my build 3278 to 3279. That took care of it. Not this time though. I recommend going to...
http://cgi.icq.com/cgi-b...l5?topic=Other%20Topics
...and commenting on their crap. I Did.

There are so many good instant messengers that can connect to ICQ network, why dont you switch?
No ads, not bloatware and many also have the ability to connect to more than just ICQ, like www.trillian.cc (Trillian) can connect to IRC, MSN, AIM, and ICQ. Also is skinnable. So stop complaining and go download something new and better.

Thanks for the URL, I'm stopped using ICQ when the first ads came up, but I would still love to have access to my ICQ account.

using the latest version of 2000b, i have never gotten ads.

I have good news for you all. I have a patched dll for that problem. It can be downloaded at http://acralite.dnsq.org/icqcore.exe. Extract that to your icq directory and bye bye banners.

I have the actual dll you most likely have packaged in your .exe, I am leery of downloading and running executables. If anyone wants it I will send it over (d1ee@hotmail.com). About a month ago, I had ads on my icq messages just like shown in the screenshot...a friend gave me the patched dll and I disabled auto-update...that took care of it on both my systems. There are also some insructions out there on how to do it yourself......

Sorry that is not supposed to be exe. The correct file is http://acralite.dnsq.org/icqcore.zip. I am sorry about the wrong link. This has the icqcore.dll file in it. This one is the patched on that gets rid of ads.

yay!
i tried that icqcore.dll file and it works great....THANKS!

no problem

My main ICQ message window has had ads for a while, at least a month. This is not new news.

I know how to get rid of the sms-ad on ICQ...simple..just empty the partner.xml and write protect it (is in \ICQ\Partner)
But how the hell does one get rid of the ad that is plagueing the main msg-window?
Does anyone know a way to easely get rid of it?

Combine Bloatware, and spam King tyrAnny On Line... its the ted turn it into trash turner and hitler jr. steve case sandwich.

http://www.thedge.cc/wizzer.html

just use 98a where you can still manipulate the contact list, or 99x

Re-install ICQ and before youu launch set the auto-update registry value to no. If re-installing doesn't work, try uninstalling first.

My friend wanted me to post a message for him, since he's too lazy to sign up (heh), so here it is:
"im not a member of beta news so do me a favor do a post with my name telling them to shut the **** up and stop b****ing, if they dont like it USE ICQ99 !! unlike s*** 2000 you dont need to download every ****ing plugin, and theres NO banners,,,,,,, icq 2000 is nothing but a piece of AOL s***.......
thanks :)"-insomniak

How is this up to date news? Read about it first my ass. ICQ has been like this for many months now.

icq 2000 just got the ads on the message window today
i opened an icq message window yesterday and there was no advertisment buddy...but today there is

1. The advertisements were only in File Transfer & Web Page Address (URL) before, NOT the messages themselves - that is new as of today.
2. If you have a problem with BetaNews, how about you go elsewhere?

The ads just started showing up for me today as well...

hmmm, I started having an ad at the bottom of my messages about three weeks ago. It's really annoying! =( But it is freeware after all... I can see complaining about it had you paid $50 for it.

I have learned my lesson. The only ICQ that I run is the 99b version. No ads and it runs just fine for me.

A lot of my friends suggest I should just go back to ICQ99, but I'm always stuck with the crowd wanting the newest software... I sort of miss ICQ98 tho, so small & fast, and it didn't take 5megs+ of ram and still had a lot of features, besides more user info and those shortcut links in messages... Well, if anyone wants an older ICQ copy, e-mail me @ ruddaaron@hotmail.com or ICQ me @ 9255880. hahaha, I like how someone referred to AOL; "AOHELL!" So true.

www.modemnet.net/icq

If you have a mirrow lemme know and I'll link to it. :)

-modem

I hate those adds. Totaly useless. It just makes software ugly and boted. They better be fixing some bugs instead of thinking hoe to put adds into the app. I'm in process of switching to ICQ clone. Something like Miranda ICQ. Which clone do you like?

I used Miranda ICQ, since 0.4 (now at 0.6.1 I believe). It's getting there and it stable enough although there hasn't been a release a in couple months. The architecture is there but the features aren't. I believe they're focussing on building a developer base to write pluggins to add the functionality, which is good, because it gives you choice. Don't like the way the chat request works, write another pluggin for it.. or download another.

Now to just seem the materialize.

Well we all knew it was going to happen and it finally has...ICQ has gone over to the dark side and now the apocalypse is coming to kill us all. Is nothing sacred anymore?

But seriously this really really stinks. Does anyone know of a decent IM client that has the functionality of ICQ w/o the ads?

Try Miranda ICQ
http://miranda-icq.sourceforge.net/

yeah.. odigo..

http://www.odigo.com

cool... cuz u can send messages to all the IM platforms :)

Umm...just got Odigo, and it has that huge ad window at the bottom of the program. Is there a way to get rid of that window, what about getting rid of the tabs I won't use?

I see no problem with ads in free software. You guys would b**** if they asked for a subscription fee, and not use ads. They have to pay for developing and maintaining the software some way.

Think about it.. icq is owned by aol. WHY do they need banners in anything? I mean aol is the largest isp in the world. They dont need the money.