I had to format my comp. So i saved all my msn files before i did from
"userprofile\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\<your_windows_live_id>\"

But now when i go back there to put them back, its not the same as it was before.
Before it had my email addy, now it just has a #
and even if i transfer the files to that #..they still dont work when i load WLM

Its the same verison of everything from when i backed up till now so not like any of that has changed.
Am i doing something wrong or what?

Unfortunatelly it won't work this way You should of used some back up program. Well, you still can restore your emoticons, look in folder [your messenger id]\object store\custom emoticons ,they all there. In command prompt navigate to that location and type:
ren *.td2 *.gif
You can manually then add the emoticons back to messenger.

Animated emoticons will be GIFs, sure, but static emoticons and display pictures are all PNG.

Yes, you right
So, it would be for \object store\usertile then:
ren *.dt2 *.png
And Austoon, if you have really many emoticons, then look for little program EmoAdder ,it will add all emoticons at once

alright thanks alot for the help

1 more Q..
since i have the "folder" could i DL a backup program for it and do it that way?
or does it have to be installed onto the msn type thing? ..get what i mean?

try the emoticon backup wizard program, it can convert them, see if it works on the msn folder