If you want to add colour, etc. to your name, go to Tools > Options then click the Format Codes button:
If you want to add colour, etc. to your text in conversation, click the Format button:
If the buttons are
not there, then we have a problem. If that's the case, do you have any
other add-ons or modifications other than Messenger Plus! Live, such as SweetIM,
SmileyCentral, Mess Patch or A-Patch? They can cause problems and need to be removed.
On Windows Live Messenger main window (where your contacts list is), along the toolbar
where File, Contacts, Actions, etc. are, do you see one saying Plus! like this?:
..If you don't, Messenger Plus! has
not been installed. If it
is there, but you don't have
some of the buttons shown in screenshots above, then unfortunately there's some
technical problems we'll have to try and fix.
You should also check you have the correct versions. Go to Help > About Messenger > You
should have version 8.5.1302 from the download link I gave you. Then go to Plus! > About
Messenger Plus! and make sure you have version 4.70 or 4.79
Hope that helps.