Shoutbox

To hide the text:
1. Exit MSN Messenger completely.

2. Backup your original msglang.dll file (Copy it and rename the copy to msglang.dll.original or something else)

3. Open msglang.dll in Reshack (Resource Hacker)

4. Scroll to [String Table : 26 : 1033*] By clicking on the [+] near "String Table" and the [+] near "26" and on the "1033*"
(*in the english version. This number is different for each language)

5. You will see:
STRINGTABLE
LANGUAGE LANG_YOURLANGUAGE, SUBLANG_YOURLANGUAGE
{
401,     "%1!d! new E-Mails"
402,     "No new E-Mails"
403,     "1 new E-Mail"
404,     "Go to \"E-Mail Inbox\""
405, ........

The text between the " " depends on which language you have.

6. Change the lines 401-404 to:
401,     " "
402,     " "
403,     " "
404,     " "

Or:
Delete the lines 401-404, because changing it to " " still shows a dot.
(The link will still be there, just the text is gone.)

7. Save the changes by clicking on "Compile Script" and in the menu "File" click on "Save"


To hide the envelope:
1. Exit MSN Messenger completely.

2. Open msnmsgr.exe in Reshack (always create a backup!)

3. Scroll to [Bitmap : 408 : 1033*]

4. Open the menu "Action -> Replace Bitmap" and replace it with this file .

5. Save the changes by clicking on "Save" in the "File"menu.


Reopen Messenger and sign in...
Tadaa ! Icon and text are gone

Note: Modifying the resources of MSN Messenger is illegal.

Making a patch for that is probably too complicated / not possible because the msglang.dll is different for each language. You can change it yourself easily.

Oh, and Jaguar: Please don't double-post. Edit.