sorry if this is not where it should be but I really need some help. I need to be able to keep my chat history on msn but for some reason whenever I try to look at the history I keep getting the message windows can't open this file. I am then giving the option of checking online or using a programme already installed. I am not very pc literate so am at a loss as to where to start as I have never had to do this before. I have however noticed that my logs are not saving in xml if this helps.

Thanks
Andream

What version of Messenger Plus! are you using and what version of Windows Live Messenger?

Are they in a .PLE file format? If so then they are encrypted and you need Messenger Plus! to decrypt them.

quote:

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Originally posted by andream
sorry if this is not where it should be but I really need some help. I need to be able to keep my chat history on msn but for some reason whenever I try to look at the history I keep getting the message windows can't open this file. I am then giving the option of checking online or using a programme already installed. I am not very pc literate so am at a loss as to where to start as I have never had to do this before. I have however noticed that my logs are not saving in xml if this helps.

Thanks
Andream

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Hi

I am using the Windows Live 2011 messenger and latest version of messenger plus. They are not PLE files. All I can tell you that may help is that if anyone has a full-stop in their email address eg: andrea.morrison it names the log eg: andrea.morrison123454345 and type is noted eg: morrison123454345 File

I use msn frequently for work and really need to be able to look back at these logs for reference and ALL my colleagues have . in their email addresses :0(

Any help would be gratefully received

Thanks
Andrea

If you open the file in notepad what do you see?

The format of file is actually the Windows Live Messenger XML logging I do believe.

If you don't mind, you could also post one of the files here.

Hi Matty

All a bit gobbledygook to me when open in notepad. Do you mean post a file opened in notepad? Due to the nature of the work I do it would need to be an excerpt only.

Andrea

quote:

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Originally posted by andream
Hi Matty

All a bit gobbledygook to me when open in notepad. Do you mean post a file opened in notepad? Due to the nature of the work I do it would need to be an excerpt only.

Andrea

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This is a chat log from Windows Live Messenger not Messenger Plus!.

When you attempt to open it and it prompts you for a program to use select your browser in the list.

Sorry Matty

I thought all messenger logs would be same.
So how do I know if I'm in messenger plus or windows live andwhat i the difference?

Andrea

Messenger Plus! logs are either a text based log, an html log or an encrypted log. Windows Live Messenger uses XML and that is what the above is.

so can you tell me why i am having trouble reading them and they don't diplay the same way as usual

Either they lost their extension and Windows doesn't know how to open it or another program has altered the file association for XML files.

Thank you. Could you possibly point me in the right direction for someone who would be able to enable me to fix/resolve theses issues

Well if they still have their file extensions of XML then when you select the browser to open it you would check the bottom box that says to always use the following application to open the type of file.

it doesn't work. they go to downloads and then don't display

Do you have Windows enabled to show the file extensions?

Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > Uncheck 'Hide extensions for known file types'

Hi

Yes I've tried all of this, that's why can't understant why not working properly

Well if the files are missing their extensions then they are either being created without one and if that is the case you need to discuss it with Microsoft or something on your computer is removing them...

Nah, it's a bug in the way Messenger saves convo history with emails that have a dot with it. Just rename the file to a *.xml file, in the same original directory (so that the XSLT Stylesheet can format it), and open it with your favourite browser.