There is no Messenger UI

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom Leylan
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom Leylan

1) I have WinXP
2) I might have uninstalled/disabled whatever messenger product came with it
cause as I recall something was annoying me :-)
3) I decided to install the latest version of Windows Messenger
4) I don't seem to be able to see the version number (why would this be a
secret) but I got it from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/download.asp

5) It got installed, I can see it running as a service and there is an icon
for it in my IE 6.0xxx
6) That's it... I can't seem to get any kind of UI to the thing. No list of
users, no ability to send a message, etc. Nothing happens when I click the
icon.

Not that that isn't fun or anything :-) but uhhh... it's gotta do more than
that.

I have a SMC Barricade router and I haven't changed anything to permit
messenger traffic through (I imagine this might be a requirement) but do you
think this is preventing the UI from appearing? That's sounds peculiar
doesn't it?

Does anybody have any idea? I'm searching the net in the meantime but so
far no luck...

Thanks,
Tom
 
Greetings Tom,

Download and run these .reg files in the affected account:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/enablewindowsmessenger_user.reg
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/enablemessenger.reg
After running these, reboot and then try opening Windows Messenger again.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
Well you fixed it... thank you very much. I just had an online "chat" with
a friend of mine. It looks like I might have a bit of trouble enabling the
transfer of photos however. I note your sight indicates I may have to open
most of the ports on my SMC router to get it to work... I'll have to check
around a bit more.

Thanks again,
Tom
 
Oh... while I've got you,

I read the docs on your site about firewalls.
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=16

I don't know if the document is dated but my router an SMC-Barricade 7004VBR
has an option for UPnP. I've enabled it but I'm not certain if that is all
I have to do. Do I also set the ports that you show being set up on
Internet Connection Firewall (but on the Barricade instead?)

Also may I offer a suggestion? Instead of entering MSN Connection 13 times
I placed the port number in the name "MSN 1863" for instance so I can find
it again if I need to. And one of the ports is already assigned 3389 is set
to Remote Desktop. Perhaps a word about that would be helpful in case
somebody gets confused.

And if I might bother you with one more question. I'm technically minded
but I have to guess that lots of "just plain folk" are using Windows
Messenger. Are they all using your site as a guide to walk them through the
process of setting ports on the Local Area Connection? Gotta admit it would
be handy if that was some sort of automated option or even outlined on the
MS website explaining how easy it is to use and get started.

If you have any info (or any pointers) about running through the Barricade
I'd sure appreciate it. If I get stuck I'll have to disconnect it while I
play and reconnect it afterward.

Thanks again,
Tom
 
Hi Tom,

That's all you need to do, any further configuration can actually stop Messenger's
functionality from working.

The information in that article only applies to Windows Messenger 4.7/5.0 and even then is
out of date, I'd simply ignore it. The reason why the entire site has not been updated is
because of constant stealing of my content by others using it for financial gain.

However, file transfer-wise, you will need to use Windows Messenger 5 or MSN Messenger in
order to send files, as Windows Messenger 4.x doesn't support UPnP enabled file transfer (and
therefore you can't send files using your router without it).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
 
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