Windows Live Messenger problems...

[southpaw]

You lot might not be able to help but my MSN is being really annoying. I'm using Windows Live Messenger 8.1 on XP which has been working fine all day, however since about 7pm when I try and sign it, it seems to sign in but my contact list doesn't show me who's online and it freezes, after about 45 seconds my laptops fan comes on, then after about 2 minutes it just closes down on its own Tried my mates account and it works fine - any ideas?

[toni896]

are you going via a proxy ? I have this at work and can only use web messenger.
at home with a direct net connection it's fine.

[southpaw]

Nope direct connection, as I say its been working fine for ages and just stopped working since earlier this evening. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling but to no avail

[ThePassenger]

Dunno much about MSN but try snagging something like gAIM and feeding it your account details... if it connects and keeps chugging happily then the install/uninstall of MSN isn't removing all the files and some form of local profile is corrupted.

Hunt through your Documents and Settings\<username> folders (making sure to tell explorer to show hidden & system files/folders) and kill off anything to do with MSN/Messenger/Live, after that reinstall and see if it works.

Obviously if gAIM goes the same way then something server side is stuffed and you're only option is to contact Microsoft.