Hey,
This problem started days ago, i couldnt sign into messenger, when i done the troubleshooting there was no icon next to host files (no yellow triangle and no Tick) and when i went into C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc there were no files in there, it was just an empty folder, so i uninstalled messenger and when i tried to install it again through wlmessenger i would get to 99% then wouldnt download any further, i tried deleting all the old installation files and messenger files and still no luck so i downloaded a standalone messenger and that downloaded and installed fine,

Now i was still having the host file problems (no yellow triangle and no tick) still no files in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc so i downloaded hostfileupdater and ran that and clicked on restore original host files now there were 2 files in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc hosts and hosts.msn but now when i ran the troubleshooter i was getting a yellow triangle next to host files and tried to repair it and when the option came up to clean the host files i clicked yes but that didnt fix it.. so i ran hostfileupdater again and this time clicked on update host file still 2 files in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc but they have different stuff in them now and when i ran troubleshooter i got ticks for everything but it still wot sign in it just sits there trying for ages,


Please help


Edit: After a while it came up with this:

you cannot use windows live messenger at this time because your contact list is not avalible, please try again later
Error code:81000378

Im pretty sure i deleted the folder called contact list when messenger was not getting past 99% download because i was told to delete everything messenger related but my contacts arnt gone because i signed into hotmail and checked my contacts lkist and there all still there

This might help you: http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns...8B853F!12965.entry I'm no expert though, just saw it while glancing around.

Your contacts aren't saved just in your messenger though. Everytime you add a contact, it adds them to your hotmail address book too. You won't lose your contacts just because you deleted the program from your computer.

ok i just reebooted the laptop and i tried to sign in and after a long wait it signed in but its saying that non of my 200 contacts are online which is weird but maybe nobody is,

well people signed on then it said they were there but i think there were other people on but it didnt say they were, but now its giving me the missing contactserror and i cant sign in

nuh its sayin everybody is offline...