Hello everyone,
I have recently changed from XP to W7, (which I do not think is of any importance). However, I can not find a way to make Windows Messenger Live open with my status shown as 'unavailable'. I only seem able to manually change the 'available' status once the messenger has opened.
I have looked through most of the FAQ's and searched through the choices in the tabs at the top of messenger checking also the options at the bottom of the drop down menu of tools.
It is probably very easy, so I would be grateful for any advice.
Thank you in advance,
colinito

Do you mean signing on as Appearing Offline?

When you open Messenger you get an option below your username and password to "Sign in as:"

Select "Appear Offline" from that list and then sign in.  Sign out again, exit Messenger and re-load it.  It should now remember your preference.

djdannyp,
Thank you. I tried that, but it is not remembered. I want to fix it so that when I open messenger, (it is set to open when I connect to the internet) it automatically shows my status as 'Offline.' There does not seem to be an option to do this, as for instance, in Yahoo messenger which accepts an "open as ..... (preference)." At present W.L.Mess. always shows me as 'available.' I then have to manually change it to "Appear Offline."

Regards,
colinito

If you set it to another status (Away, or Busy) and follow the steps I posted, does it remember that?

djdannyp,
Sorry - I had not closed the programme completely and I only changed the status on the messenger.
I have now completely logged out and re-entered.
The sign came up, that you described and I have changed my "open as available" to "Open as unavailable"
The messenger now opens with my preference shown as "Offline"

Many thanks, and my apologies for the misunderstanding.

Problem solved!

Colinito