Shoutbox

It could also be a server/connection issue though. In which case you might to report it to Messenger support.

yea but assuming its not a server problem bcos its always the same contact that it happens to. plus the dp and personal msg is still there..

It could still be a server problem too.

It can also be a cache problem...

So, what you could try to do is removing and resetting all the cache of Messenger:

1. Go to your security options in Messenger and enable:
   Tools > Options > Security > "This is shared computer so don't store my address book, display picture or personal message on it"
   
   
2. After that sign out and exit Messenger completely:
   Right click its systemtray icon and choose "Exit".
   
   
3. Now, make sure that the cache directories are completely removed from your hard disk. If not, remove them manually (for XP):
      \Documents and Settings\your_username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\your_windows_live_id\
      \Documents and Settings\your_username\Contacts\your_windows_live_id\
   
   Note: some directories might be hidden, so make sure you have enabled the viewing of system and hidden files in Windows Explorer's options.
   
   
4. If all this is done, sign back in into Messenger. And let Messenger retrieve all the contact information (this could take a bit longer as usual since you don't use any cache now). What is the screen name of this contact now?
   
   
5. If things are looking ok you might disable the option again which you turned on in step 1.

Contact Cache locations:

WinXP:
%userprofile%\contacts
%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts

Vista:
%userprofile%\contacts
%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts

yea so cache is cleared and i followed all the steps. now all my offline contacts have their nick and pm rolled back a couple of weeks or so and i'm seeing their old nicks and pms. that supposed to happen?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shadowking


yea so cache is cleared and i followed all the steps. now all my offline contacts have their nick and pm rolled back a couple of weeks or so and i'm seeing their old nicks and pms. that supposed to happen?

---

Definitely not. Clearing the cache should delete all that old data. and re-download all the new data from servers/peer connections.

Does it change when you initiate a conversation or if a contact changes a display picture, name or message?

quote:

---

Originally posted by aNILEator

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shadowking


yea so cache is cleared and i followed all the steps. now all my offline contacts have their nick and pm rolled back a couple of weeks or so and i'm seeing their old nicks and pms. that supposed to happen?

---

Definitely not. Clearing the cache should delete all that old data. and re-download all the new data from servers/peer connections.

Does it change when you initiate a conversation or if a contact changes a display picture, name or message?

---

How do i re-download the new data?

Yea it changes; but only for those online. The rest remain as history lol

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shadowking
How do i re-download the new data?

---

Messenger will download what it needs to as of when it needs to, you could try viewing everyone's contact cards or opening conversations or something which will download what data it can grab.

yea have done so but their latest dps and nicks cant be retrieved. guess i'll have to wait for them to come online?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shadowking
yea have done so but their latest dps and nicks cant be retrieved. guess i'll have to wait for them to come online?

---

Which might explain (or at least proof) why you had problems in the beginning. Messenger had troubles retrieving updates for contact's names and stuff for certain contacts.

Anyway, since WLM is designed to use the cache for your contactlist and since you removed the cache, it is normal that WLM reverts back to old names and stuff, or even no names at all.

Changes in names and so on are directly directed to your Messenger instead of being stored on the services. Only once in a while they are also stored on the server as a kind of 'backup' with the current protocol.

That's how I would explain why you now see old names after you've removed the cache and why they aren't updated all at once.