MSN / Windows Live Messenger FAQ

[detn8r]

I keep receiving the error code 80040111 whenever I try to sign, saying that the service is unavailable.

Go to Start > Run > then type in the box the following:

Regsvr32 %windir%\system32\msxml3.dll

If you see the message below,
"DllRegisterServer succeeded in C:\Windows\System32\msxml3.dll is succeeded", then restart your computer and MSN Messenger should be working again.

If this doesn't work though, try this:

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
and at the bottom of the page click on the link to msxml3.msi and move through the steps to complete installation.

Now reboot.

[detn8r]

I receive the error code 8004005, which prevents me from signing in.

Go to C:\Documents and Setting\(Your user name)\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts and delete all the files contained within this folder

[detn8r]

I can't see my contact's display pictures and my contacts can't see mine! What to do?


We've figured that this problem is related to Zone Alarm firewall (version 6.5.xxxx).
Shut down Zone Alarm entirely and then restart Messenger. Then you have to ensure that Zone Alarm doesn't load during Windows startup. Do this by going to Zone Alarm's Overview > Preferences tab. Uncheck Load Zone Alarm at startup. After rebooting, make sure you are signed in to Messenger first, THEN start Zone Alarm.

[detn8r]

How can I install and use an older version of MSN Messenger?

Visit the good folks over at OldVersion.com and choose the version you'd like to use.

[detn8r]

Still expiriencing the 1603 error? Try the following solution:

(Thanks to Philip for his help)

The Error 1603 could be caused by corrupt Registry entries or a corrupt install/uninstall of WLM. One solution would be to download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from Help and Support

Run the utility following the instructions. Then install WLM and hopefully this will resolve the 1603 issue.

added: the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility can also be used to completely clean up botched installations of other programs as well, for example Office 2003, etc. However, it will also remove all your personal settings for these programs. Proceed with caution!

[detn8r]

All of my contacts have disappeared! Why is that happening?

The following reasons may apply when your contacts do not appear when you are using Windows Live Messenger:
- You may have deleted this contact by using another program that uses the same address book.
- Your contacts may not have signed in to their Messenger, MSN Hotmail, or MSN accounts in more than 60 days.
- A cache file in Windows Live Messenger may be corrupted.

If you have a Hotmail or an MSN Messenger address, the contact list that appears in Messenger is also shared by Hotmail. Therefore, if you delete a contact from the Hotmail address book, that contact will also be deleted from the Messenger contact list. Alternatively, if you are using the MSN client program or Outlook Express to access your Hotmail Inbox, deleting contacts in Outlook Express can delete the contacts from Messenger.

Each user who signs in to MSN Messenger has a contact list. If the user is signed in with a Microsoft domain e-mail address, that user's contact list is shared between Hotmail and Messenger.

The MSN policy is to delete an inactive user’s address from other users' contact lists after 60 days of inactivity. This does not apply to inactive MSN paying subscribers or to inactive Hotmail Extra Storage subscribers.

If a contact has disappeared from your contact list, that person may not have signed in to Messenger or used that Hotmail account or that MSN account for more than 60 days. However, the associated Microsoft Passport Network credentials (the e-mail address and password that you use to sign in to the Passport Network) may still be valid. To communicate with that contact again, you must again add that contact to your contact list.

1. Re-add contacts from your allow list to Contact list:
a. Sign in to Messenger.
b. On the "Tools" menu, click "Options," and then click "Privacy."
c. Right-click each contact on the Allow List, and then click "Add to Contact list."

If the contact is not on your Allow List, add the contact:
i. In the main MSN Messenger window, click "Add a Contact" on the "Contacts" menu.
ii. Follow the steps in the wizard to add the contact.

2. If your contact list is empty or incomplete after you upgrade to Windows Live Messenger, the cached contact list may not have updated correctly. To update your contact list, follow these steps:
a. Sign out of Messenger.
b. Click "Start," click "Run," type the following command, and then click "OK":
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\
c. A new Microsoft Windows Explorer window opens. In the window, click your Messenger ID.
d. Double-click the Contacts folder.
e. Delete the two folders that are in the Contacts folder.
f. Sign in to Messenger again.

[detn8r]

Windows Live Messenger freezes at sign in. Are there any solutions to it?

Try the following:

(8.0)
Click Start
Go to Run
Type regedit
Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Navigate to Software and open it
Then Microsoft
Then MSNMessenger
Then Policies (right-click and delete it)
Exit regedit
Reboot
Sign on

(8.1)
Click Start
Go to Run
Type regedit
Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Navigate to Software and open it
Then Microsoft
Then WindowsLive
Then Communications Client
Then Shared (right-click and delete it)
Exit regedit
Reboot
Sign on

[detn8r]

I can't add contacts to Windows Live Messenger!

Delete your "handshaking policy cache":
Exit Messenger completely (this means right clicking the Messenger tray icon and choosing Exit).

(8.0)
Click Start
Go to Run
Type regedit
Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Navigate to Software and open it
Then Microsoft
Then MSNMessenger
Then Policies (right-click and delete it)
Exit regedit
Reboot
Sign on

(8.1)
Click Start
Go to Run
Type regedit
Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Navigate to Software and open it
Then Microsoft
Then WindowsLive
Then Communications Client
Then Shared (right-click and delete it)
Exit regedit
Reboot
Sign on

[EvilSeph]

FAQ Updated
Changes:
January 2 2007
+ Added text: "Make sure your computer is virus free...using your anti-virus software AND some online scanners."
* Fixed online anti-virus scanner links
+ Added more useful, working online anti-virus scanner links
+ Added text: "As with virus scanning, you should also run an online anti-spyware scan too. Some good ones are:..."
+ Added online spyware-scanner links
* Modified text: "If you are sure it already is, do it anyway. Being too clean will never hurt."
* Modified Microsoft Windows Update URL
* General formatting corrections

Notes:
- I want to make sure each FAQ entry follows the same format, for clarity
- FAQ will be re-created from scratch. The new one will be pinned, while this one is unpinned.

*still updating*