If it looks like that it is the default Windows Messenger that comes with Windows XP.
Try installing WLM from
this link again (I know you have tried already)... Then open the start menu and click 'run'...
In the box that appears, type (
including the speech marks!!!):
quote:
"C:\program files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe"
That should start the latest version. Hopefully it will be running ok. Then try it again and see if Windows Messenger opens instead or if it functions properly.