The error can be encountered with Windows Live Messenger 2009 due to any of the following conditions:

- You may have an older version of the F-Secure Internet Security software
- The NVIDIA Network Access Manager might be filtering off the Messenger application
- You have malicious software in your computer
- There DLL files in your computer that are in conflict with wlcomm.exe

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS

1. If you have F-Secure Internet Security 2008, update it to the latest version (F-Secure Internet Security 2009). For additional information about updating your F-Secure software, please contact their support team: http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/support/home-office/contact-support/

2. Temporarily disable NVIDIA Network Access Manager, if you have one, to check if it’s filtering off Windows Live Messenger 2009.

a. Click Start, click Run, type taskmgr.exe in the Run box and press ENTER or click OK. If you are on WINDOWS VISTA, click on Start, type taskmsgr.exe in the Start Search box and then press ENTER.
b. On the Windows Task Manager window, click the Process tab.
c. Under Image Name, locate Nsvcappflt.exe and click the End Process button.
d. Click Yes to confirm.
e. Sign in to Windows Live Messenger.

If you wish to uninstall the Nvidia Network Access Manager from your computer, please contact your computer manufacturer for further assistance.

3. There are DLL files, either related to 3^rd party programs or malwares, that may trigger the Windows Live Communication Platform Error. Please refer to the list below:

- BHOCITEU.DLL
- BHOCITUS.DLL
- BHOECART.DLL
- BHOSSAFE.DLL
- EVENTDLL.DLL
- HOOKTOOL.DLL
- TMEEJDLL.DLL
- TMEEJMD.DLL
- UWEYIWE0.DLL
- UWEYIWE1.DLL

To check if any of the above DLL files are on your computer, follow these steps:

a. Click on the Start.
b. Click on Search.
c. Click on All Files and Folders.
d. Click on more advanced options.
e. Put a check on "Search system folders" and "Search hidden files and folders".
f. For example, type in BHOCITEU.DLL on the search box then click on "Search".
g. Delete all files that you see with the name that you searched.
h. Do this for BHOCITEU.DLL and other DLL files listed above.

4. If you are connected through a router connection, try to bypass it and connect directly to your Internet modem.

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS

1. Determine whether you have MyWebSearch Toolbar, Smiley Central, Messenger Plus, Kiwee Toolbar, Info Pen or MacroGaming SweetIM installed in your computer. If you have them installed, uninstall them.

a. In WINDOWS XP, click Start, click Run, type Control Appwiz.cpl in the Open box, and then click on OK to open the Add or Remove Programs item. In WINDOWS VISTA, click Start, type Control Appwiz.cpl on Start Search box and then press on ENTER.
b. In the list of installed programs, search for any third-party toolbars, such as MyWebSearch Toolbar, Smiley Central, Messenger Plus, Kiwee Toolbar, Info Pen or MacroGaming SweetIM and then uninstall the program.
c. Restart the computer.
d. Sign in to Windows Live Messenger.

2. To install the latest version of DirectX, visit the following Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/directx

3. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/default.mspx to check for spyware. You can also try this URL link http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx.

If the issue persists, it is possible that you have corrupted files associated with Windows Live Messenger. We will do what we call a Clean Install. This is different from the usual uninstall and reinstall process because here, we will completely remove all the components of Windows Live Messenger and install it anew. I know that the steps are lengthy and technical at some points.

For the steps, along with screenshots, please go to http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!15345.entry

4. Windows Live Messenger and an earlier version of Adobe Flash are known to have some conflicting issues when Data Execution Prevention is enabled in Windows Vista. Follow these steps to make sure that you have the latest version of Flash on the computer:

a. Visit the following Web site to verify that you are running the latest version of Flash for the operating system:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_15507

b. The Web site will detect what version you currently have installed. Scroll down and confirm in the "Current Flash Player versions" table that you are running the latest version of Flash on your computer. If you are running the latest version, skip this step (STEP 4).

c. Uninstall the current version of Flash. For instructions, visit the following Web site:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_14157

d. Visit the following Web site to install the latest version of Flash:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

e. Restart the computer, and then try to sign in to Windows Live Messenger.

5. If you have the Nvidia Network Access Manager preinstalled on your computer, try to disable it temporarily from the Windows Task Manager.

a. Click Start, click Run, type taskmgr.exe in the Run box and press ENTER or click OK. If you are on WINDOWS VISTA: Click Start then type taskmgr.exe on the Start Search box. Press ENTER.
b. On the Windows Task Manager window, click the Process tab.
c. Under Image Name, locate Nsvcappflt.exe and click the End Process button.
d. Click Yes to confirm.
e. Attempt to sign in to Windows Live Messenger.

If you wish to uninstall the Nvidia Network Access Manager from your computer, please contact your computer manufacturer for further assistance.

6. Perform clean installation of Windows Live Messenger. Please visit the URL appropriate for your Windows Operating System:

WINDOWS VISTA
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!15378.entry

WINDOWS XP
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!15345.entry

The list below provides troubleshooting steps for the various symptoms that you may experience in Windows Live Messenger. Click on the link that matches to the error code or symptom that you are receiving.

• Windows Live Messenger stops responding
• Windows Live Messenger not responding during IM conversation
• Windows Live Communication Platform Error
• Windows Live Messenger won’t launch or not respond when you attempt to Sign in

If you are receiving a error code or behavior that is not listed below, please contact Windows Live Messenger support with the exact error code that you are receiving so that they can assist you.

You can use these steps when you experience one of the following symptoms :

• When you try to uninstall Windows Live Essentials from Control Panel, nothing happens.
• You would like to uninstall Windows Live Essentials from your computer but you don’t see it from the list of programs in Control Panel’s Add/Remove Programs list

Troubleshooting Steps:

WINDOWS XP:

1. Click on Start then click on Run.
2. Type C:\Program Files\Windows Live\installer\wlarp.exe then press Enter.
3. A new window will open. Select Uninstall and click on Continue.
4. Select the Windows Live Program that you want to remove and click on Continue.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

WINDOWS VISTA:

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Type C:\Program Files\Windows Live\installer\wlarp.exe on the Start Search box then press Enter.
3. A new window will open. Select Uninstall and click on Continue.
4. Select the Windows Live Program that you want to remove and click on Continue.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Steps below provides some guidance on how to uninstall a specific Windows Live client (i.e. Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Family Safety, Windows Live Mail, etc.) from the computer.

Troubleshooting Steps:

WINDOWS XP:

1. Click on Start then click on Run.
2. Type appwiz.cpl then press Enter.
3. Look for Windows Live Essentials and click on Change/Remove.
4. A new window will open. Select Uninstall and click on Continue.
5. Select the Windows Live Program that you want to remove and click on Continue.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

WINDOWS VISTA:

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Type appwiz.cpl on the Start Search box and then press Enter.
3. Look for Windows Live Essentials and click on Uninstall/Change.
4. A new window will open. Select Uninstall and click on Continue.
5. Select the Windows Live Program that you want to remove and click on Continue.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

NOTE: This information generally applies to majority of the installation errors.

Troubleshooting Steps:

WINDOWS XP:

1. Verify that you are logged on as a user who has Administrator rights.

a) Right-click Start and then click Explore.

b) In the navigation pane, scroll to the My Computer folder.

c) Right-click the Computer folder or the My Computer folder and click Manage.

d) In the left panel, expand Local Users and Groups folder, and select Groups.

e) In the right pane, right-click Administrators and select Properties.

f) In the Member list, verify that your user name is in this list. If not, close all the applications save the data and logoff then logon as a user who has Administrator credentials. Otherwise, go to the next step.

2. Temporarily disable your firewall.

Note: Disabling the firewall may make your computer or your network vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. Please make sure that you do not have any other Internet Explorer window open or any other programs running while trying to install Windows Live products. Once you are able to install the Windows Live programs, please turn your firewall back on.

3. Visit the Windows Update Web site to verify if you have the latest updates installed:

a) Visit http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx

b) Check if the computer requires updates, and then install the updates as necessary.

c) Restart the computer after you apply the updates.

4. Verify that you have sufficient disk space on the hard disk:

a) Right-click on the Start menu, and then click on Explore.

b) In the Start Menu window, right-click on your system drive (usually Drive C:) in the left window, and then click Properties.

c) Make sure that you have at least 200 megabytes (MB) of free space on your system drive (usually Drive C :).

5. Use the Disk Cleanup Manager utility to clear the temporary files and folders:

a) Click on the Start menu, click Run and type cleanmgr then click OK.

If you have more than one hard disk in your computer, the Select Drive window appears. If this is the case, select your system drive (usually C:) on the drop-down menu, and then click OK.

The Disk Cleanup utility analyzes the drive to determine the free space that you can achieve. This process may take several minutes.

b) In the Disk Cleanup for (Drive C:) window, click the Disk Cleanup tab.

c) Click the check boxes to select the following items:

• Downloaded Program Files
• Temporary Internet Files
• Temporary Files
• Temporary Offline Files
• Offline Files

d) Click OK to delete the selected file types.

e) When you are prompted, click Yes to start the Disk Cleanup utility. This process may take several minutes.

6. Make sure that the following applications are closed.

• MS Outlook
• Windows Live Messenger
• Windows Live Mail Desktop
• Windows Live Writer
• Windows Live Toolbar
• Windows Live OneCare Family Safety

7. Close all Windows Live applications

8. Remove the Windows Live programs installed on your computer.

a) Click Start and type appwiz.cpl in the Run box then press Enter.

b) In the list of currently installed programs, locate and select Windows Live (you may see more than one program with the Windows Live name) and then click Remove.

c) If you are prompted to confirm, click Yes.

d) Do this until all the programs are uninstalled.

9. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Windows Live and delete the Installer folder

10. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data and delete both Windows Live Installer and WLInstaller directories if you have them.

11. 11. Restart your computer. This is a must.

12. 12. Download the programs you want to install by visiting http://download.live.com

WINDOWS VISTA:

1. Verify that you are logged on as a user who has administrator credentials.

a) Click on the Start menu and type windows explorer in the Start Search box then press ENTER.

b) In the navigation pane, scroll down to the Computer folder.

c) Right-click the Computer folder, and then click Manage.

Note: Select Continue when you are prompted by the User Account Control.

d) In the left panel, expand Local Users and Groups folder, and then select Groups.

e) In the details pane, right-click Administrators, and then select Properties.

f) Examine the Member list for your user name, and then take the appropriate action:

If your user name is not in the Member list, close all the applications, save the data, and then log off. Then, log on as a user who has administrator user rights.

2. Disable User Account Control

a) Click on the Start menu and type MSCONFIG in the Start Search box then press ENTER.

b) Click on the Tools tab. Scroll down till you find Disable UAP/UAC. Click on that line.

c) Press the Launch button.

d) A CMD window will open. When the command is done, you can close the window.

e) Close MSCONFIG. You need to reboot the computer for changes to apply.

Note: Repeat the above steps to re-enable User Account Control once done with the troubleshooting.

3. Temporarily disable your firewall.

Note: Disabling the firewall may make your computer or your network vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. Please make sure that you do not have any other Internet Explorer window open or any other programs running while trying to install Windows Live products. Once you are able to install the Windows Live programs, please turn your firewall back on.

4. Visit the Windows Update Web site to verify if you have the latest updates installed:

a) Visit http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx

b) Check if the computer requires updates, and then install the updates as necessary.

c) Restart the computer to make sure that the updates are properly installed.

5. Verify that you have sufficient disk space on the hard disk:

a) Right-click on the Start menu, and then click on Explore.

b) In the Start Menu window, right-click on your system drive (usually Drive C:) in the left window, and then click Properties.

c) Make sure that you have at least 200 megabytes (MB) of free space on your system drive (usually Drive C:).

Use the Disk Cleanup Manager utility to clear the temporary files and folders:

a) Click on the Start menu and type cleanmgr in the Start Search box then click OK.

If you have more than one hard disk in your computer, the Select Drive window appears. If this is the case, select your system drive on the drop-down menu, and then click OK.

The Disk Cleanup utility analyzes the drive to determine the free space that you can achieve. This process may take several minutes.

b) In the Disk Cleanup for (Drive C:) window, click the Disk Cleanup tab.

c) Click the check boxes to select the following items:

• Downloaded Program Files
• Temporary Internet Files
• Temporary Files
• Temporary Offline Files
• Offline Files

d) Click OK to delete the selected file types.

e) When you are prompted, click yes to start the Disk Cleanup utility. This process may take several minutes.

6. Make sure that the following applications are closed.

• MS Outlook
• Windows Live Messenger
• Windows Live Mail Desktop
• Windows Live Writer
• Windows Live Toolbar
• Windows Live OneCare Family Safety

7. Close all Windows Live applications

8. Remove the Windows Live programs installed on your computer.

a) Click Start and type appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box then press Enter.

b) In the list of currently installed programs, locate and select Windows Live (you may see more than one program with the Windows Live name) and then click Uninstall.

c) If you are prompted to confirm, click Yes.

d) Do this until all the programs are uninstalled.

9. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Windows Live and delete the Installer folder

10. Restart your computer. (mandatory). Download the programs you want to install by visiting http://download.live.com

You are getting this error due to the flowing reasons :

• You are not connected to the Internet when you tried to install the services.
• Your proxy settings are not set.
• A third-party firewall is blocking the Windows Live program installation.
• You do not have the latest Microsoft updates installed on your computer.
• You are installing or removing Windows Live Messenger while other programs are being installed.

Troubleshooting:

If you are using WINDOWS XP operating systems please follow these steps :

Repair Internet Connection:

In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Run.

1. Type ncpa.cpl and then press ENTER.
2. Right-click your Internet connection icon then click Repair.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Try installing Windows Live programs through http://download.live.com/
5. If your Internet connection still does not work, contact your Internet Service provider.

Check Proxy settings:

If your computer is part of a company network, contact the network administrator to determine whether your company's proxy server is preventing you from using Windows Live Installer. If your computer is not part of a company network, you may receive a message that states that your proxy settings are incorrect. In this case, check the proxy settings:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
4. Clear the automatically detect settings check box, and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

Check for Firewall Settings:

If your computer has any firewall programs, such as Norton, PC-cillin, MacAfee, Windows Live OneCare, Zone Alarm etc, make sure that the firewall is set to allow Windows Live Installer. You may also temporarily disable your firewall while installing Windows Live products.

Note: Disabling the firewall may make your computer or your network vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. Please make sure that you do not have any other Internet Explorer window open or any other programs running while trying to install Windows Live products. Once you are able to install our services, please turn your firewall back on.

Check for Microsoft Updates:

1. Visit http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx
2. Follow the instructions to install the updates.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Try installing Windows Live programs from http://download.live.com/

If you are using WINDOWS VISTA operating system, please follow these steps :

Repair Internet Connection:

In Windows Vista, click Start.

1. Type ncpa.cpl on the Start Search box and then press ENTER.
2. Right-click your Internet connection icon then click Repair.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Try installing Windows Live programs through http://download.live.com/
5. If your Internet connection still does not work, contact your Internet Service provider.

Check Proxy settings:

If your computer is part of a company network, contact the network administrator to determine whether your company's proxy server is preventing you from using Windows Live Installer. If your computer is not part of a company network, you may receive a message that states that your proxy settings are incorrect. In this case, check the proxy settings:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
4. Clear the automatically detect settings check box, and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

Check for Firewall Settings:

If your computer has any firewall programs, such as Norton, PC-cillin, MacAfee, Windows Live OneCare, Zone Alarm etc, make sure that the firewall is set to allow Windows Live Installer. You may also temporarily disable your firewall while installing Windows Live products.

Note: Disabling the firewall may make your computer or your network vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. Please make sure that you do not have any other Internet Explorer window open or any other programs running while trying to install Windows Live products. Once you are able to install our services, please turn your firewall back on.

Check for Microsoft Updates:

1. Visit http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx
2. Follow the instructions to install the updates.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Try installing Windows Live programs from http://download.live.com/

You can  install Windows Live programs on your computer if you have Administrator access. You will receive the error 0x80070005 if you are signed in to a Windows profile that does not have administrative privileges on the computer.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Verify that you are logged on as a user who has administrator credentials.

WINDOWS XP:

1. Right-click Start then click Explore.
2. In the navigation pane, scroll down to the Computer folder.
3. Right-click the Computer folder, and then click Manage.
4. In the left panel, expand Local Users and Groups folder, and then select Groups.
5. In the details pane, right-click Administrators, and then select Properties.
6. Examine the Member list for your user name. If your user name is not in the Member list, close all the applications, save the data, and then log off. Then, log on as a user who has administrator user rights.

WINDOWS VISTA:

1. Click Start and type windows explorer in the Start Search box then press ENTER. (Vista)
2. In the navigation pane, scroll down to the Computer folder.
3. Right-click the Computer folder, and then click Manage.  Note: Select Continue when you are prompted by the User Account Control.
4. In the left panel, expand Local Users and Groups folder, and then select Groups.
5. In the details pane, right-click Administrators, and then select Properties.
6. Examine the Member list for your user name. If your user name is not in the Member list, close all the applications, save the data, and then log off. Then, log on as a user who has administrator user rights.

Disable User Account Control

1. Click Start and type MSCONFIG from the Start Search box then press ENTER.
2. Click on the Tools tab and scroll down till you find "Disable UAP/UAC". Click on that line.
3. Press the Launch button.
4. A CMD window will open. When the command is done, you can close the window.
5. Close MSCONFIG. You need to reboot the computer for changes to apply. Note: Repeat the above steps to re-enable User Account Control once done with the troubleshooting.

2. Download the programs you want to install by visiting http://download.live.com

This issue occurs because one of the previous installations puts the computer in a restart pending state.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Restart your computer
2. Visit http://download.live.com
3. Click on the Download button
4. When the file download dialog pops up, click on Run to launch the installation wizard
5. Re-install Windows Live Essentials

If the steps above don’t work, try the steps below:

1. Clear the entries in the Windows Installer database by using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility:

              a. Download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from this site: http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exeStart the utility. (Click

              b. Start, click All Programs and then click Windows Install Clean Up.

            c. On the list of Installed Products, select all instances that have (All Users) Windows Live on it. To make sure that you are removing the right programs, click on one item at a time then click on the Remove button until all entries with (All Users) Windows Live are deleted from the list.

             d. Click "Exit."

2. Restart your computer to make sure that all changes made will take effect.

3. Install the latest version of the Windows Live Programs from the Windows Live Essentials website: http://download.live.com

Windows Live Essentials require the following:

• Operating System: Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (32-bit edition only), Windows Vista (32-bit or 64-bit editions), Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit editions), or Windows Server 2008.

Note: Windows Live Movie Maker and the slide show feature of Windows Live Photo Gallery are not supported on Windows XP.

• Processor: 1 GHz or higher for Windows 7 or Windows Vista; 800 MHz or higher for Windows XP.
• Memory: 512 MB of RAM for Windows 7 or Windows Vista; 128 MB (256 MB or more recommended) for Windows XP.
• Resolution : Minimum 1024 x 768
•  Internet Connection: Internet functionality requires dial-up or broadband Internet access (provided separately). Local or long-distance charges may apply.
• Browser: Windows Live Toolbar requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, or Internet Explorer 8.
• Graphics or Video card : Windows Live Movie Maker requires a video card that supports DirectX 9.0 or higher, and Shader Model 2.0 or higher.

To determine the exact error code you’re getting in Windows Live Messenger, click the “Show details” option from the dialog box that pops-up when the sign-in attempt to the service fails. Take note of the error and specify it when you contact support through http://support.live.com

This image illustrates how to get the error code from the pop-up you receive for a failed sign in attempt to Windows Live Messenger.

Sign-in issues with Windows Live Messenger can be triggered by a wide array of probable causes. It might be due to as simple as an incorrect date and time settings on your computer, or as complicated as problems with your Internet connection.

We've listed some troubleshooting steps below that may help resolve the problem. Follow the steps appropriate for your computer's Windows Operating System.

1. Check Date and Time Settings

WINDOWS XP

a.  Click Start, click Run, type control timedate.cpl , and then click OK. 
b.  In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK. 

WINDOWS VISTA

a.  Click Start, type control timedate.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. 
b.  In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK. 

2. Configure your Firewall Settings

To configure Windows Live Messenger through the most common firewalls, visit:
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com

Refer to "How to enable Windows Live Messenger through your firewall" under the FAQ section, click the link for the firewall that is installed on your computer, and then follow the steps on the screen.

However, if you have a firewall that is not listed, see the firewall manufacturer's documentation or contact your firewall manufacturer to configure Windows Live Messenger.

3. Upgrade your Windows Live Messenger to the latest version. Get if from http://download.live.com

4. Clear the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box.

a.  Start Internet Explorer. 
b.  On the Tools menu, click Internet Options. 
c.  Click the Advanced tab. 
d.  Under Security, uncheck the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box. 
e.  Click OK. 
f.  Exit Internet Explorer. 

5. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder and Messenger cache. This will make sure that the locally stored information related to your account is refreshed on Windows Live Messenger.  

Change the Microsoft Windows Explorer settings. To do this, use one of the following methods:

WINDOWS XP

a. With your mouse, right-click the Start button, and then click Explore to open Windows Explorer. 
b. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options. 
c. On the View tab, in the Advanced settings list, select Show hidden files and folders under Hidden Files and Folders. 
d. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box. 
e. Click OK to close the Folder Options window. 

WINDOWS VISTA 

a. With your mouse, right-click the Start  button, and then click Explore to open Windows Explorer. 
b. On the Organize menu, click Folder and Search Options. 
c. On the View tab, in the Advanced settings list, select the Show hidden files and folders check box under Hidden Files and Folders. 
d. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box. 
e. Click OK to close the Folder Options window. 

Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder. To do this, follow these steps:

Note: Before doing these steps, make sure to exit Windows Live Messenger and that it is not running on the background. To double-check this, open the Task Manager window and check whether the msnmsgr.exe is running on Processes.  If it is, select the application and click End Process. If you are prompted, click Yes.

To open the Task Manager:

WINDOWS XP: Click Start and then Run. Type taskmgr.exe and click OK.
WINDOWS VISTA: Click Start and then type taskmgr.exe on the Start Search box. Press Enter on your keyboard.

a. Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer window. 
b. In the Windows Explorer window, locate the folder for the operating system that you are using: 

WINDOWS XP: C:\Documents and Settings\ Your Windows logon name \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft
WINDOWS VISTA: C:\Users\ Your Windows logon name \AppData\Local\Microsoft

Note: In these examples, Windows Logon name is the logon name that you use to sign in to Windows.

c. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.

Re-launch Windows Live Messenger and try to sign in again, and verify if the issue remains.

With new IM capabilities now available from Windows Live Hotmail in many countries around the world*, Hotmail is ready to step up to more responsibility as MSN Web Messenger prepares to retire.

You can now chat from your Hotmail inbox or contact list, instead of going to MSN Web Messenger (http://webmessenger.msn.com/). Go directly to the Windows Live People page at http://people.live.com and log into Messenger (orange arrow in the picture below) to continue instant messaging on the web with your Messenger friends.

Instant messaging from Hotmail makes it easier to communicate and share in new ways in comparison to MSN Web Messenger. Because of integration with the Windows Live Suite, you can view presence information while reading an email and simultaneously start a chat to clarify your friend’s e-mail message. We’re pointing customers to the new web version of Messenger so that we can focus our efforts on delivering an even better IM experience.

Give it a try! We hope that you’ll enjoy Hotmail’s version of Messenger on the web.

After installing Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Windows Live Messenger 14.0 may no longer start.

If Windows Live Messenger 14.0 was running when you installed Vista SP2 it may run until you exit the program. Once you exit Windows Live Messenger you will not be able to start the program again. If Windows Live Messenger is installed when you installed Vista SP2, Live Messenger will not start.

This issue can occur after Windows Live Messenger detects that an operating system upgrade has been installed and then attempts to perform a repair of Live Messenger. When this occurs Windows Live Messenger tries to use an incorrect Microsoft Installer package.

Please follow these steps below :

To resolve this issue download and re-install Windows Live Messenger:

1. Visit http://download.live.com
2. Click on the Download button

3. When the file download dialog pops up, click on Run to launch the installation wizard

4. On the "Choose the programs you want to install" window you will see Messenger under "This program will be updated"

5. Click on Install and complete the installation
6. Launch messenger and this time it should run fine

Important: Do not attempt to uninstall Windows Live Messenger before you re-install.

1.  Click the Start button on the Windows task bar.

2. Type Regedit into the search bar and press Enter.

3. At this point your screen will glaze over and Windows will ask you for permission to run this command, Click Continue and Registry Editor will open.

4. Within the Registry Editor Window, click File and then click Export as seen in the image below.

5. Enter the filename for your registry file as shown on the example below. Change Export Range to All and then click Save. Please take note of the location where you will save the registry file.

6. Give your computer a moment to complete the task and then you should have something that looks like the image below where you saved the backup.