Fix for voice conversations on MSN Messenger

[kish]

hi again, still having probs! cant have voice conversations on messenger. used to work fine and then just stopped. installed MSN 6.0 to see if it will help but still same prob. im using W98, any ideas?

[nasah77in]

Hi e-buddies !

me too hav this prob. for tech guys :

[00:28:38] You have invited beaty1 to start an audio conversation.
Please wait for a response, or Cancel (Alt+Q) the pending
invitation.
[00:28:45] beaty1 has accepted your invitation to start an audio
conversation.
[00:29:30] The network or computer you are trying to reach is
experiencing a problem. Please try again later.
[00:29:31] The audio conversation with beaty1 has ended.

the aboce is the log file.

my system is winMe and 'm using MSN 6.0.(6.0.0602)
my buddy(beaty1) using WinXP using MSN (same as me)

help me/us!

thanks for u'r kind help!

- nasah

[miffles]

I am also having trouble establishing voice conversation on the new MSN 6.0. When using MSN 5.0 there was no problem. I am using windows 98 from Australia and I'm trying to communicate with my friend in Canada who also has windows 98. I tried using the audio with another friend in Australia...to try and establish if the problem was mine or my Canadian friend's. At first only my voice could be heard by my other aussie friend but I could not hear him and then out of the blue with no changing of settings or options etc his voice came thru loud and clear. None of us have firewalls so this shouldn't be the problem. Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Is it possible to get rid of MSN 6.0 and return to MSN 5.0?

[shifter]

To go back to an older version of MSN Messenger, uninstall MSN Messenger 6.0 and download/install the desired previous version from OldVersion.com.

[petem]

Try this solution. Worked for me. (using Xp, msn 6. communicating with other 6 users who use Xp pro and 98)

The problem with version 6....... is most likely caused by a conflict in the versions of rtcdll.dll file that handles most of the IP to IP voice/video streams. Messenger 6 installs a 'bad' version of this file
and they don't 'click'

Also downgrading from 6 to 5...the dll from the version 6 install remains there causing the problem. Same for other downgrades from 6. So that won't solve the problem automatically. Removing the dll that 6 installed before downgrading is necessary. But why downgrade ? 6 is ultimately more fun anyway


What to do ?

For 95/98/ME users...........................

Search your pc for the file RTCDLL.DLL (located in the c:\windows\system32 folder) check the file version by right clicking the file->properties-versions-file version

The good file version for 98 etc is 4.0.3599.0 which is installed by 5 as a default. If you have version 5. something rename the file to rtcdll.old and install MSN Messenger 5. It will install version 4.0.3599.0 to your pc. (or get the file (500kb) elsewhere)

So after replacing the rtcdll.dll in your system32 folder with 4.0.3599.0 version test the voice chat. If it does not work.... ask your counterpart for their operating system and version of the file.

For XP Pro the good file version is 5.1.2600.0 and others may work also. The person at the other end must search their machine for the file as previously described and also replace it.

Also testing the 98 rtcdll.dll in XP (backup your file before replacing) can be an interesting experiment. It should not mess your pc, only your messenger and with any luck and "charm" the damn thing will work.

Tested working voice chat setup (with and without simultaneous video stream) 98 with 4.0.3599.0 version of RTCDLL.DLL and Messenger 6.0.0602 XP Professional with 5.1.2600.0 version of RTCDLL.DLL and Messenger 6.0.0602

Of course before all this you should check if you are behind a router, your firewall setup etc etc, but this solution worked for me and finally made voice chats with and without video in MSN 6 to MSN 6 despite operating system (all my contacts have replaced the files..well almost all) possible.

[Renmazuo]

So has this fix worked for the majority of you?

[petem]

Well, it can't hurt to try this solution I offer if anything else does not work. Check the rtcdll.dll file version. Rename to rtcdll.old
. Remove MSN 6. Install MSN 5 (installs the good rtcdll.dll as mentioned earlier) copy the new rtcdll.dll to a safe place (c:\ for example)
install MSN 6 back. Replace the rtcdll.dll installed by MSN 6 with
the one you got from 5 (in C:\) and ask your contact to do the same. Most like the XP user does not have to do a thing (like in my case)
the problem was at the 98 (non-nt based) operating system
users end.

Of course I could upload the rtcdll.dll files I used to a webspace, but
I guess that would be illegal.

[Renmazuo]

One weird thing that I'm not sure, about, is why the voice conversations work fine with msn 4.7, but not with msn 6.

[Jeff]

quote:Originally posted by Renmazuo

One weird thing that I'm not sure, about, is why the voice conversations work fine with msn 4.7, but not with msn 6.

Renmazuo, you stated that it worked in 4.7, but you didn't say whether petem's solution solved your problem. Can you confirm?

[miffles]

Thanks shifter for your help. Petem, your solution sounds wonderfully hopeful.... but because I am just a very ordinary old grandma who was originally blonde :0 , I don't really know how to go about doing what u suggested. I did go and do a search for the rtcdll.dll file and found it. This is what I discovered...File version 74.1005(RtcMsn052003Fork.030514-153812) and further down in the versions section it said the Product version Value is .....4.2.4874.1005
Now what do I do? And, how do I backup my file before replacing it?.....Can you explain all of this to me in simple terms please
By the way I did remove version 6.0 and replace it with the old version 5.0 MSN and we still were not able to obtain any voice....so Petem your explanation of the version 6.0 leaving a bad dll file must be correct. Prior to ever taking up the version 6.0 we had no problems with voice communication. Thanks everyone