MSN Messenger/Live Messenger issues

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SeraphGS

3 posts

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#12914 13-Apr-2007 11:27

A few days ago my messenger decided to go wacky. I think this might be coinciding with me buying a new router for our network, but the fact that my brother's PC is using the same router and is still messenger-able, suggests to me that the problem is somewhere on my own PC and not the router.

The problem is this:

Trying to start Live Messenger seems to open it, but nothing appears. The reason I figure it's open is because in the startup menu I see the program name and the memory it's sponging. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling; no cigar.

So I tried downloading and using the regular ol' Messenger 7 instead. The MSN Messenger window appears, but all progress freezes when it attempts to connect. Thereafter, I'm forced to ctrl/alt/del terminate the operation.

Incidentally, just prior to discovering this instant messenger problem, I noticed Morpheus - a p2p program I've been using for years - was doing the same 'open, only to have it freeze' dance.

All my other programs are working fine. Yahoo Messenger, AIM, etc. I've run virus scans several times, and every scan has told me the same: there are no viruses.

Has this behavior been documented before?

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#67015 13-Apr-2007 12:02

Welcome to Geekzone... Check that the other PC is not using UPnP to configure the router - this could be messing up the configuration in the network.

Also, check your PC's timezone, date and time are correct.

SeraphGS

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#67021 13-Apr-2007 13:39

Thanks, Freitasm.

How do I go about checking if UPnP is being used? And what is it exactly?

edit: I just looked it up... Universal Plug and Play? I guess that might have something to do with my networking guy telling me all I'd have to do it plug the router in, connected the computers, and I'd be set to go?

allstarnz

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#67022 13-Apr-2007 13:41

a couple of my collegues had been having issues getting Live Messenger 8.1 working, suddenly stopped working for no reason.

We are all on the same network.

We never figureed out how to fix it, except to go back to version 8.0

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#67024 13-Apr-2007 13:47

Check that the other software (suc has the P2P) is not using that feature - usually a checkbox in the Options. Also open Messenger, Tools, Options, Connection and there's a TEST button. See if your PC can resolve the server, etc.

But seeing there are other software on your PC that are not connecting I would check your firewall software, AV software and apply any pending Automatic Updates...

SeraphGS

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#67031 13-Apr-2007 14:14

freitasm: Check that the other software (suc has the P2P) is not using that feature - usually a checkbox in the Options. Also open Messenger, Tools, Options, Connection and there's a TEST button. See if your PC can resolve the server, etc.

But seeing there are other software on your PC that are not connecting I would check your firewall software, AV software and apply any pending Automatic Updates...

I wish I could check the software options but neither of those programs will open at all. The router did come with software. My network guy told me I didn't need it, because plugging in and using was simpler. But should I install it? And does it matter which PC I install the software and adjust the firewall options on?

Both computers get Internet access from the router so I'm guessing it should matter...

gehenna

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#67489 18-Apr-2007 10:48

if you're having problems opening programs to check their network settings you may be best to uninstall them all and then reinstall them one at a time.

personally i wouldn't install the software for the router itself, as you've been told you can connect directly to it to do all the management of it. there is really no need for pc based software to manage the router.

if you choose to reinstall the programs one by one, it will give you a better understanding on how each one is interacting with the router. for instance if you install MSN first, you can then go into msn and check all its connection settings. then go to the router and set that up to correspond with the msn settings. UPnP is good if you're only using one program at a time that uses UPnP, but if you have several open at once the router quickly gets confused. So i would suggest turning that off completely on each program you use, and then just configure the router with each port that each program uses.

www.portforward.com should help with that side of things.

stacey1122

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#67542 18-Apr-2007 13:38

the best place to ask windows live messenger and msn messenger related questions is at the official newsgroup where microsoft staff are at.

go to google and type in this:

windows live messenger newsgroup

post your question there.