Having WLM problems? Read this first...

[Philip]

Dear fellow members:

I have noted an alarming increase in the number of newer members who have posted a bewildering array of problems and issues with Windows Live Messenger. While it is natural for most of us to blame our computers straightaway, there are times when the problems have nothing to do at the user’s end. Remember that the WLM servers are not indestructible or 100% resilient. They do choke at times, especially when there are millions of us trying to connect and chat in cyberspace. Here are some true scenarios for you to ponder on.

#1) You've never had much trouble with WLM in the past. Then one day you sit down at your computer, sign in to WLM, and wait...and wait...and wait. Those 2 icons spinning around are enough to make you dizzy. Finally, a window pops up telling you that WLM could not sign you on. There was an error connecting...etc. You try several times to sign on and in sheer frustration you feel like banging your computer. If you haven't been messing with any of your settings (particularly your firewall) lately, then there is a strong possibility that the problem is at Microsoft's end. I'm living proof of it. I could NOT sign on yesterday, for the whole day. And then this morning, I booted up my computer and...WLM signed on straight away!

#2) This is also related to #1, and is also further evidence of trouble at the other end. If you have more than one user account on your machine, and one account seems to have sign-in problems while the others don't, this is also a sign that it's likely to be a server problem. What can you do? Be patient and wait it out. Or create a new account and try signing in with it.

#3) You're merrily chatting away when suddenly you get this error: "The following message could not be delivered..." Again, it's likely to be a server error. I've experienced this before, and sometimes all I have to do is to re-send the message.

#4) Like #3, you're chatting on WLM, and suddenly you get disconnected. Sometimes, you can sign-in again pretty fast; at other times WLM will stubbornly refuse to sign you in. Again, it's not your computer's fault. Try signing in later.

#5) There are some people who have experienced these intermittent problems with WLM and have resorted to drastic solutions, like reformatting their hard disks. Result-they find that the WLM problems are still there! If that's the case, it is definitely not a user computer problem. If you suspect that your WLM installation is corrupted and you want to remove it completely, try using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, found here: Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility Caution: read the ReadMe.txt file thoroughly before using the utility. BTW, reformatting your hard disk will wipe out your other programs and stuff as well. It’s like using a sledgehammer to clobber a fly on your car windscreen.

I've just covered the tip of the iceberg here, but in closing I just want to repeat this fact: don't jump to the conclusion that it's your computer's fault when problems occur in WLM. There is always a possibility that the problem is at the server end. Also, if you believe it is a problem at your end, please state specifically which version of WLM (or MSN Messenger) you're using, the exact nature of the problem, and what firewall you're using (because sometimes firewalls are to blame, but that's another story). And also your location: that can be a deciding factor at times.

Note: Some users have reported successfully signing-in here: MSN Web Messenger It's worth trying out Web Messenger when you have problems with WLM.

[El_Mariachi]

What about random freezing?

[princeG]

Read this http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/wi...zing-read.html

[Philip]

Originally Posted by El_Mariachi

What about random freezing?

Welcome to BBB, El_Mariachi.

It depends:

Is WLM the only program freezing? Or do your other programs freeze as well?
Any error messages? What were you doing with WLM when it froze? Can you terminate it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Processes > msnmsgr.exe and end process?

Which version of WLM are you using? Do you have one account or more? Does it freeze with all of them?

Yes, these are a lot of questions, but the more facts you provide, the easier it'll be to troubleshoot your problem.