Shoutbox

Have you already tried to completely remove Windows Live Messenger? But also completely removed the registry settings before reinstalling?

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If you have problems installing Windows Live Messenger, you could first try the small utility named ZapMessenger created by TReKiE. It removes the application files of Windows Live Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger 5.x. It does not (yet) remove your personal settings like your display picture, custom emoticons, etc

http://messengergeek.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E37...81BBDA1!1118.entry

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The following manual instructions are complementary to ZapMessenger and will erase all Messenger related data on your computer (this may include Messenger related data of other people who use your computer as well).

Please don't skip any step:

1. Close all instances of Messenger completely.
   You can only do this by right clicking on its system icon and choosing "Exit".
   Simply closing the contact list window will not exit Messenger.
   
   
2. Remove any other Messenger related addon (like SmileyCentral, SweetIM, MSN Content Plus, Messenger Discovery, MSNShell, etc).
   
   
3. Remove Windows Live Messenger and/or MSN Messenger via your Windows Control Panel and "Add/Remove Programs".
   
   For MSN Messenger, the entry is called "MSN Messenger".
   For Windows Live Messenger 8.5 and below (and the beta versions of Windows Live Messenger 2009), the entry is called "Windows Live Messenger".
   For Windows Live Messener 2009 and upwards, the entry is called "Windows Live Essentials".
   Follow the given instructions carefully.
   
   
4. Use the tool ZapMessenger to completely remove all the traces of the Messenger installers.
   
   
5. Run the following registry file (download the file, save it to a folder and make sure it retains its reg extension, double-click it to execute it). It will completely remove your registry settings for MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger (note: you will of course loose all your settings):
   http://home.scarlet.be/~tsf54471/msn/delete_msn_wlm.reg
   
   
6. Open Windows Explorer (Start > Run > explorer.exe) and make sure you can view all hidden and system files:
   Tools menu > Folder Options item > View tab > Advanced Settings list > Hidden files and folders > enable "Show hidden files and folders" and disable "Hide extensions for known file types".
   
   
7. Remove all the cache and storage directories used by Messenger (if they still exist).
   
   for XP, including, but not limited to:
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\MSN Messenger\
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Call\
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Messenger\
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\
   C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Contacts\
   C:\Windows\Temp\MessengerCache\
   
   for Vista/Win7, including, but not limited to:
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MSN Messenger\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows Live Call\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows Messenger\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Temp\MessengerCache\
   C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Temp\MsgrTemp
   C:\Users\your_username\Contacts\
   
   And the main folders:
   C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\
   C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\
   C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Contacts\
   C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Installer\
   
   note: "C:\Documents and Settings\...", "C:\Program Files", "C:\Windows\Temp" may be named differently on your computer and depend on the used OS. If so, find the appropriate root directories.
   
   You can do this by going to you command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and type "CD xxxx" where xxxx can be:
   %programfiles%          to go to your "Program Files" or "Programs" folder
   %temp% or %tmp%    to go to your "Temp" folder
   %userprofile%             to go to your "User Profile" folder
   
   
8. Reboot your computer
   
   
9. Make sure you don't have any programs which might block Messenger from installing and running, like internet security software, firewalls, anti-virus software, etc...
   If you do have such software, disable it temporarly or set its options and properties properly. For example: your firewall might be blocking Messenger or a specific version of Messenger. Or the AVG anti-virus program might be set up to "protect" Messenger or one of its versions and in doing so blocking some needed stuff.
   
   
10. Clear your browser cache completely. Instructions can be found here:
    http://kb.iu.edu/data/ahic.html
    
    
11. Redownload and reinstall Messenger
      MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 can be found here
      MSN Messenger 7.5 is not supported anymore by MS.
      Windows Live Messenger 8.0 is not supported anymore by MS.
      Windows Live Messenger 8.1 is not supported anymore by MS.
      Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is not supported anymore by MS.
      Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8092.0805 (2009) can be found here.
      All above links point to the official Microsoft Download Center - official number one source (please do not download from 3rd party sites)
    
      Latest version can always be found here.