Remove ads from Yahoo Messenger 8 and 9
Recently the Yahoo Messenger 9 was released, and at once it was clear that all add removing techniques which were used in the older builds, like version 8.x (early builds) became obsolete.
The new versions were more resistant to patching. Therefore they needed some more fiddling around and finally there is a patch which can be used by all to remove the annoying ads from this messenger, like the previous technique this is also a registry hack but it has more to do than registry hack, it makes the yahoo ads cache read only so new ads will not load after the patching process.
Please keep in mind that this has some issues with FAT 32 disks, as this disables features like Chat rooms and the plugin manager, therefore use this in Vista OS or XP in a NTFS partition.
The file provided here edits most of the registry values for the yahoo ads, which can be found at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Yahoo\pager\YUrl this hack replaces the data with an asterisk.
Messenger Ad
Webcam Upload Ad
Webcam Viewer Ad
Webcam Viewer Ad Big
Webcam Viewer Ad Medium
Change Room Banner
Conf Adurl
Chat Adurl
Plus It also clears the ads cache found in C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\Cache\urls.xml and makes it read-only (this is the sore purpose why NTFS is required).
Whenever you upgrade to newer builds, please follow these steps again 
Patch for version 9.0.0.2152 (by dedndave)
****UPDATE(05/06/2009-by dedndave)****
9.0.0.2162
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957871/126be068/YP2162.html
9.0.0.2161
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957826/f178818e/YP2161.html
9.0.0.2160
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957818/3dedff4a/YP2160.html
for those who like to edit their own, change the
byte from 84h to 83h at the following offsets
9.0.0.2162 offset 3780E 84h -> 83h
9.0.0.2161 offset 3780E 84h -> 83h
9.0.0.2160 offset 37F4D 84h -> 83h
yahoo messenger 9.0.0.1912 isnot working . icannot hear o0r being heard.
on October 5, 2008
Maybe your sound is not properly configured. Please give more details. I have checked and it never removes audio
on October 5, 2008
Sorry man not working on v9.0.0.1912
on October 16, 2008
Nope i tested it on that build. You can see it in the screenshot. Please re-trace your steps and see where you have gone wrong. I never post anything without checking
let me know how it goes 
on October 16, 2008
Not working with 9.0.0.2018, unfortunately…
on October 21, 2008
it does work for me in .1912….but the chat rooms dont work.when i click “join a room” it gets stuck in “getting category list”..this is the same experience i had in other ad removal techniques used in previous messengers
on October 25, 2008
Alas, I must concur with Krazy Kat…9.0.0.2018 whacks the fix and the ads have returned.
Oh, save us Mr. Wizard!
on October 28, 2008
Working on it tried several things, this time the ads are pretty hard to remove, yahoo has added some hidden features to stop people removing ads. Ill see what i can do.
on October 28, 2008
Not working for 9.0.0.2018
on October 28, 2008
Not working on 9.0.0.2018 (and at this time I couldn’t find any patch for this version)
on October 30, 2008
Not working on 9.0.0.2034
on November 13, 2008
not working on my 9.0.0.2034 either
c’mon mr. wizzard, magic us out from here 
on November 20, 2008
on November 20, 2008
Removing the ads from versions 9.0.0.2018 and 9.0.0.2034 is more difficult than with previous versions. Below is a link for a patch that I wrote that removes ONLY the main window ads and ONLY for those 2 versions.
http://www.4shared.com/file/72236491/426f3d41/YM_Patch.html
on November 29, 2008
for version 8.1.0.421…
this patch fixes some other problems, as well
http://www.4shared.com/file/73817710/3a672551/YP810421.html
– dedndave
on December 1, 2008
@dedndave:
I tried your patch, but it doesn’t work for Vista64… I even took the batch file apart and performed the commands one by one, but when I executed the COM file, it told me that it was not compatible with my system. Is there any way I could get you to describe what goes on in the COM file, even if it means I need a hex editor to accomplish it?
Thanks for your work,
Chris
on December 7, 2008
Nice Build dedndave! it worked for me!.. I’m using ver 2034
on December 7, 2008
Chris,
Dang – I was hoping it would work for Vista users. In fact, that is the only reason I bothered
with version 9 at all. I think 8.1.0.421 runs much faster, and the new gizmos on 9 – well, I don’t
need or care for them. The .COM file is a simple old-fashioned DOS command program, written in assembly language. It performs simple one-byte modifications to the YahooMessenger.exe program file. It changes a byte from 84 to 83 (hex). For version 9.0.0.2018, the offset of that
byte is 3671D (hex). For version 9.0.0.2034, the offset is 368A8 (hex). I wish I knew why Vista
will not run that program, I imagine it has something to do with access permission.
I want to mention, that a new revision of this patch is in the works. I have a scheme to
remove most of the other ads, and disable the updater. If you happen to have a 64-bit
assembler on hand, Chris, perhaps you could make a program for us – lol.
– dedndave
on December 8, 2008
@dedndave:
Actually, I am a computer programmer, and I do have a 64-bit assembler (Visual Studio 2008), and I wouldn’t mind to make a program to do that… I’ll tell you what… if you’d like me to do so, I can… I would just want you to work with me to help me discern the version of messenger, however you do that… I’ll do it for fun and give you the code and everything… e-mail me if you’re interested… my e-mail address starts with praiseGod777 and the domain is hotmail.com
on December 8, 2008
@dedndave:
oh… and thank you again… I appreciate your effort… those adds are REALLY annoying… especially when my Internet connection does a max of about 5K/s…
on December 8, 2008
Chris,
I wonder if it was written as an .EXE program instead of a .COM program, it would run on Vista64
I would like you to try it for me Chris – I will post it here tomorrow (dec
– dedndave
on December 8, 2008
Hey Chris,
Here it is in .EXE form. It does not matter if the file is already patched, or even present.
If the patch is successful, it says nothing.
If the file is not found, or cannot be read, it says “File Read/Write Error”.
If the file has already been patched, it tells you so.
I just want to see if it runs on Vista64.
– thanx for your time
– dedndave
http://www.4shared.com/file/74937177/82efd58d/PATCHEXE.html
on December 8, 2008
Chris,
If all else fails, try this link. I am not going to leave this file on there very long.
http://www.4shared.com/file/74940856/e7f858bf/YahooMessenger.html
on December 8, 2008
hmmmmmmmmm
Perhaps it is not working because it is not digitally signed.
Do you recall any specifics about the error message ?
It sounds to me like vista64 is a very different platform,
even though it may resemble windows.
I went to google and typed in “.com program does not work under vista 64″,
or something like that. There were 228,000 responses – lol.
Appearantly, there are alot of things that do not work under vista 64.
– dedndave
on December 8, 2008
I believe the only answer for this is that it dosent work under 64 bit. I could not test this as neither my friends or I did not have a 64 bit Vista. Therefore I guess Its the issue but saying that when u patched the UXtheme using the 64 bit files, I should work for u theoretically, I would be glad if someone could confirm this.
on December 8, 2008
I am looking for the full installer for version 7.0.0.247 (7.86 MB). Filehippo only has the download installer. I have tried FreeCreed and OldApps, as well as talking to John Kirschner, and searching the web. I did manage to find it on a Russian site, but the file is corrupted, and my Russian is terrible – no way to let them know to fix it. I know this is a really old version, but I want to try and write a multi patch for it (after I get finished with the ver 8/9 updates). – ThanX – dedndave
on December 13, 2008
@dedndave: Hey Dave, sorry I haven’t been on here for a bit… I’m gonna work on that today… the problem is not a matter of EXE vs. COM, but the fact that you are compiling 16-bit code. I don’t know about XP x64, but Vista x64 has backward compatibility for 32-bit code, but it no longer runs 16-bit code at all. I tried your EXE file, but it was 16-bit as well… I’m workin’ on the 32-bit version now
on December 13, 2008
Works perfectly on v. 8.0.0.862 installed on Windows 7. Thank you!
on December 15, 2008
http://www.4shared.com/file/74937177/82efd58d/PATCHEXE.html
this one does not work with Vista 64 tested by me
on December 15, 2008
yes Gostyuks – we are aware of it and trying to find a good solution.
You may d/l the already patched exe for 9.0.0.2034 at the link below.
– dedndave
p.s. – update coming soon to eliminate the rest of the ads
http://www.4shared.com/file/74940856/e7f858bf/YahooMessenger.html
on December 16, 2008
the links for tht 1kb patch ain’t working
some1 upload again, i jus can’t tolerate this annoying ad
on December 18, 2008
Ill check on that and re-upload asap
on December 18, 2008
I fixed the download
Sorry for any inconvenience
– dedndave
Check for updates – coming very soon
http://www.4shared.com/file/72236491/426f3d41/YM_Patch.html
on December 19, 2008
Patch for 9.0.0.2018/2034/2112
Below is a link to download an HTML file.
Download the HTML file and open it in your browser.
It provides links to download the pre-patched exe files for all 28 countries.
– dedndave
http://www.4shared.com/file/80921496/58c44aad/YPatch9.html
on January 16, 2009
heya Joel,
just to let you know – what we found was that no 16-bit programs run under vista 64 – at all – it seems like a nice little project to write a cl processor to run 16-bit real mode cli under 32-bit protected mode – i am sure someone will do it – DOSBox may already do it – i dunno
Also, I open this page in Firefox and it works great – but if i open it in IE6, the bottom part of the page (most of it) is still missing – probably why there is so little activity here
– dedndave
on January 21, 2009
My continuuing problem with getting into a chat room via Yahoo Messenger seems to be a setting problem that no one can or will help me with…when I go to a Room…rather than getting a list of rooms to actually go to…I get a message “getting category list” and there never never NEVER is a category list. I can go to chat from other computers, just not the one I use daily. I know it is a setting problem because someone fixed it for me a year ago…now…I am stuck.
on January 26, 2009
hiya Shi.Gram,
I can prolly help you out with that one…..
let’s look in the HOSTS file, first thing
under XP, it is located in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc
if not, locate it using explorer search
to open the file, right-click on it – then – open with – notepad
if you see a line that looks like one or both of these, then remove those lines…..
127.0.0.1 yahoo.insider.msg.com
127.0.0.1 pclickinternal.com
(those may not be exact)
if they are in there, these urls have essentially been disabled
another possibility is that the YahooMessenger.exe file has been modified in some way
if that is the case, i would think a fresh install should do the trick
it is possible, on some older versions, that there is a registry entry that is incorrectly set
(again, an incorrect way to disable ads)
let’s see how the HOSTS file goes for you and we will take it from there
– dedndave
on January 27, 2009
btw Shi.Gram – what version of Messenger are you using ?
– dedndave
on January 27, 2009
Below are links to download the patch
files for versions 9.0.0.2123/2124.
– dedndave
http://www.4shared.com/file/83400751/2759131d/2123.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/83400725/6f7541c3/2124.html
on January 31, 2009
AD destroy 4.4 will remove the ads on yahoo! messenger
compatible with 9.0.0.2123 9.0.0.2124 9.0.0.2128
updated often
xp, vista, windows 7 compatible
32bit and 64bit support
Built on the .NET framework (C#)
other options:
- Enable polygamy (multiple instances)
- Disable buzz, smileys, audibles
- Remove chat abuse link
- Backup messenger
- Fix version registry
- Speed up login
- Disable Y! updater
- Disable PTP/P2P
Available at http://shadow-corp.net
on February 8, 2009
hiyas Dermot
looks good
here is the simple patched exe for 2128
only the main ad is removed…..
– dedndave
http://www.4shared.com/file/85069680/ee3bfaf7/2128.html
on February 9, 2009
Many thanks, Dedndave. I tried your patched EXE and it works fine. I am using XP SP3. Did you make it by using some tool; a patch perhaps? Will you make another one if Y!M has a newer version again? And can you put some information in your uploading next time? Thanks again for your nice work.
on February 10, 2009
My pleasure July7,
I use 2 tools for these simple patches. I use a simple 32-bit disassembler that was written by Sang Cho to convert the exe into a readable assembly language file. Once I have found the location in that, I use a hex-editor tool that was written by a guy namedf Maël Hörz. Maël did a beautiful job writing the HxD hex-editor. It is a great tool that everyone can use to see inside all types of files. Sang did a nice job on this little disassembler. It does not map asm symbol tables, nor does it disassemble data areas. But, it is small and simple and does a nice job of disassembling 32-bit code. I have other disassemblers that will do more things, but they are more complex and time consuming.
As for another patch program, I am working on eliminating the chat transition dialog window altogether, and providing support for all 29 international editions. I also want to add a few other goodies. Recently, I have had a little virus trouble, which has slowed me down a bit. Also, I am new to writing code for 32-bit, but I have a good handle on it, now. I am writing the new patch in 32-bit code so that it will work on Vista 64-bit OS’s.
In the mean time, both Tim and Dermot have patches available. These guys are both good programmers and already know how to write 32-bit windows apps. I have not kept up with the status of their programs, as I have not had time. You may want to give them a try.
Maël Hörz
http://mh-nexus.de/
Sang Cho
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Foothills/4078/
Dermot’s website
http://shadow-corp.net/
Tim’s patch
http://www.wackyb.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10178
Tim’s website
http://www.custom-kreations.com/
on February 10, 2009
Here’s a little trick that many will enjoy. I absolutely hate the mouse-over contact information cards. Some users may like them. I find not only the pop-up feature annoying, but
it also reflects “Update” information that is sometimes incorrect. Mine says my mood changed from happy to excited to special and back to happy again. I never changed anything to give the server that impression. Perhaps it is reflected from the emoticons I may have used in a conversation. This information comes from the server in the Temporary Internet Files in a file named “vitality.html”. I also find the use of IE annoying.
If you want to disable the cards, find the folder “C:\Documents and Settings\(YourWindowsUserName)\Local Settings\Application Data\Y!Msgr\skins\Default”. In that folder, you will find a few xml files. One is named ContactCard.ContactCard.xml. Delete the file and create a folder of the same name in its’ place. After that, you may have to sign in and out of Messenger twice, but the contact info cards will be gone. Also gone is the IE download of the vitality files.
If you want to keep the contact cards, but remove the “update” info and the IE vitality files, add 2 URL values to the registry key “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\yahoo\pager\YUrl”. Under that key, create 2 new string-type values. Here is what a .REG file would look like:
;
REGEDIT4
;
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\yahoo\pager\YUrl]
“vitality banner”=”*”
“vitality proxy server”=”*”
;
A .REG file to turn them back on would look like this:
;
REGEDIT4
;
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\yahoo\pager\YUrl]
“vitality banner”=-
“vitality proxy server”=-
;
Enjoy – dedndave
;
Tim and Dermot – you guys may want to add this to your patch programs.
on February 10, 2009
@dedndave: Hi, Dedndave.
Tim’s or Dermot’s patches are both used for Y!M 9.0.0.2128, which is already fixed by you. So I don’t think I need them. I wish I had a patch that can fix all the newer versions of Y!M. Too bad, I can’t make it myself! I’m not an expert, just an end user here! Y!M keeps having a newer version when it knows people have found a way to block its ads! Then people keep finding a newer way to block its ads when they know Y!M’s released another version! This will happen again and again, and forever, I guess. I can’t find any new features from Y!M 2128, nor even a new skin! Then, I should stick to this version. I won’t bother updating it any more.
Thanks for your reply with all the links and information.
Ah, and I hope the virus problem isn’t bothering you so much. Good luck, Dedndave.
PS. I posted this reply a few hours ago, but couldn’t see it when I returned. So, I posted it here again. If there are double posts after this, please remove one for me. Or if for some reasons, I am not allowed to write something like this here, please let me know too, and I won’t bother you any more. Thanks for reading.
on February 11, 2009
I am so sorry, TheWizard. After I sent the above message, I found my mistake! Now I see my 2 posts! Double posts are not nice at all! Can you correct the fault, please? Thanks in advance!
on February 11, 2009
@July7
lol – yah – the double-post thing happens alot – usually, the moderator catches them before they show up – some blogs catch them automatically if they are exactly the same
Tim and Dermot’s patches remove most of the other ads, as well.
Many of us do not use chat or webcam, so it doesn’t matter.
Part of the reason I am taking so long to release a new patch is, yahoo is releasing new versions faster than I can write code – lol. I am trying to design my patch program so that it easily accomodates new releases. I am considering making it auto-updating, or giving it an update button, so that the user may d/l an update data file whenever a new release appears. At any rate, finding time to work on it at all is hard at the moment.
– dedndave
on February 12, 2009
Dedndave,
As I said before, I am pleased with the patched EXE you made for Y!M 2128. This version is quite OK. Your future patch program sounds very interesting to me. But it’s, of course, not interesting to Y!M, right? Take it easy, Dedndave! I wish you good luck. And maybe I should stop bothering TheWizard’s thread now!
on February 13, 2009
ver 2133 patched…
http://www.4shared.com/file/88545911/42ae2abe/YP2133.html
– dedndave
on February 20, 2009
I apologize for taking so long. I have been busy.
Also, they are creating releases like horny rabbits.
– dedndave
http://www.4shared.com/file/90504794/42faf66f/YP2136.html
on March 3, 2009
@dedndave:
rabbits…..
yeah you got that right 
on March 4, 2009
@blacknoise:
wow Horny Rabbits…….
on March 4, 2009
yup…..
rabbits !
lol
on March 4, 2009
Thank you dedndave! It works great!
on March 6, 2009
9.0.0.2152 patched….
http://www.4shared.com/file/94797784/fdc38fa9/YP2152.html
– dedndave
() _()
( • .• )
(>_<)
on March 25, 2009
9.0.0.2152 patched….
http://www.4shared.com/file/94797784/fdc38fa9/YP2152.html
– dedndave
()_()
(•.•)
(>_<)
on March 25, 2009
Thanks dedndave. Just the way i want it. hehehehe
on March 26, 2009
Hi, Dedndave
I’ve just got your newest patched EXE and it works fine as usual. Wow, Dedndave, are you going to fight with Y!M ads forever? If so, I’ll update this messenger every time it has a newer version. I wonder who will give up first! OK, just kidding. Many thanks for your patch. And… it’s a cute rabbit, I think!
on March 26, 2009
My pleasure, “hello”.
What ? No comments on the rabbit ??? – lol
– dedndave
on March 27, 2009
Thanks dendave. I changed only one-byte of YahooMessenger.exe version 9.0.0.2034 at offset 368A8 (hex) from 84 to 83 (hex), with Hex Workshop 4.2 program, and worked 4 me.
on March 30, 2009
*dedndave
on March 30, 2009
@ xdundle
I use HxD
http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/
is Hex Workshop a better program ?
on March 31, 2009
Worked GREAT on my 8.1.0.421
See ya later, stupid Fubar ads……!!
Thank you very, very much!!
on April 17, 2009
again, my appologies for taking so long
as always, rename the original YahooMessenger.exe to something else
then replace it with the d/l file (named as YahooMessenger.exe)
- dedndave
9.0.0.2162
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957871/126be068/YP2162.html
9.0.0.2161
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957826/f178818e/YP2161.html
9.0.0.2160
http://www.4shared.com/file/109957818/3dedff4a/YP2160.html
for those who like to edit their own, change the
byte from 84h to 83h at the following offsets
9.0.0.2162 offset 3780E 84h -> 83h
9.0.0.2161 offset 3780E 84h -> 83h
9.0.0.2160 offset 37F4D 84h -> 83h
on June 5, 2009
Hi everyone. For the new messenger i saw that non of old methods are working. I have a website with some downloads. http://baiamare.myftp.org/downloads.php?cat_id=13 here you can find yahoo messenger with a patch that is working.
good luck!
on June 9, 2009
@speedy18us:
The new messenger is 9.0.0.2162 and you have 9.0.0.0922(beta), there were about 13 releases in between the two versions.
And dedndave’s patched yahoomessenger.exe does work.
on June 9, 2009
Heads Up!!!
Yahoo! is changing a couple things…
First, if you have more than one Yahoo! account using the
same primary e-mail address, you may lose the account.
This is a gradual change; I have seen no official announcement.
But, I wanted to make a new Yahoo! ID and in the process,
I was informed that any other account that had the same
“primary” e-mail addess would become inaccessible.
Second, I noticed that, by the end of the year, Yahoo!
intends to do away with geocities free hosted sites.
So, if you have any geocities sites bookmarked for great
info or downloads, best get crackin and get what you want.
– dedndave
on June 14, 2009
@dedndave:
this sucks I have accounts like that
on June 15, 2009
of course, i do not know what yahoo intends to do
i am viewing this as “writing on the wall”, though
i have a few yahoo accounts that are critical
for each of those, i am creating hotmail accounts as primaries
i also have several yahoo accounts that i could stand to lose
i am going to take my chances with those, as i don’t want to
exhaust hotmail resources, as well as my own time
on June 15, 2009
version 10.0.0.331 Beta patched:
http://www.4shared.com/file/112196316/89b261c1/YP100331.html
offset 64E2B, byte 84h -> 83h
– dedndave
on June 16, 2009
i used 9.0.2162
now the adds is gone. thanks!
on June 20, 2009
Downloaded and installed and worked great on ads on the messenger list. I am, however, still having the annoying ads in each messenger screen with an individual. The ones that are words beneath the area where you type. I am forever clicking it accidentally when going from different screens. Then it opens an internet page. Anything to get rid of those?
on August 6, 2009
Hi, to anyone who is still visiting here. I’ve been looking around for a Win7 X64 Y!M 9 or 10 patch for a while now. I have read all of the previous posts here, and it seems that there was some work being done on it about 6 or so months ago, but I guess the discussion went elsewhere, or it just lost it’s steam. Anyway, can anyone tell me if anyone has successfully written the patch for X64 Y! messenger 9 or 10? Any version of 9 or 10 would be fine with me I guess. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to use a couple different versions of Y!M 9 with their corresponding patches (most written by dedndave), and they do work on my xp machines, but i have a couple Win7 X64 machines too, so of course, they do not work there. I would be happy using pretty much any version of YM that works, as long as I can patch it to remove the ads in Win 7 X64!!!!
on January 10, 2010
My Ad Destroy 6.0 was built specifically for Yahoo Messenger 10
It’s built in C# and 100% vista/win7 compatible
I also have seperate 32bit and 64bit builds
It will remove 98% of the Advertisements
http://i.imagehost.org/0993/AdDestroy6.png
Patched Pic
http://f.imagehost.org/0979/YIM_Patched.png
on February 2, 2010
Ad Destroy 6.0 has been released and available in downloads in 32bit and 64bit Versions
Ad Destroy 6.0 is compatible with all official builds of Yahoo Messenger 10
If you use 9.0 or below, check for older versions of Ad Destroy.
Image: http://f.imagehost.org/0566/AdDestroy6.png
Features:
Remove Advertisements
Enable Polygamy
Enable Smiley Search
Disable Buzz! Sound
Disable Yupdater
Disable smileys
Disable Audibles
Remove Plugins area/Y!Mobile/Y!insider
Disable Chat Abuse Link
Toggle Nicknames/Usernames
Enable Messenger Debug Options
Disable Yahoo! Messenger at Startup
Please Report any questions or comments to http://www.irish-gaming.net/index.php/topic,149.0.html
on February 3, 2010
Sweet! I hope it works for me! Can you give any instructions on how to use it?
on March 1, 2010