Q316660: Frequently Asked Questions About MSN Messenger
Article: Q316660
Product(s): The Microsoft Network
Version(s):
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 13-FEB-2002
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.5
- Microsoft MSN Messenger 4.6
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SUMMARY
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MSN Messenger lets you see when your friends are online and exchange instant
messages with them. This article explains the answers to the most frequently
asked support questions about MSN Messenger.
MORE INFORMATION
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To use MSN Messenger on the Internet, you need a .NET Passport. If you have a
Hotmail account, that serves as your .NET Passport.
Support for MSN Messenger
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Support for MSN Messenger is available 24 hours a day. For support, see the
following Microsoft Web site:
http://messenger.msn.com
You can download the latest version of MSN Messenger on this site or receive
support directly by clicking the Help link. The Help page contains a list of
current frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other important support
information.
You can also receive support at any time while you use MSN Messenger. To do this,
click the Help button in your MSN Messenger pane. This Help button also lets you
use the full library of MSN Messenger Help topics.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, do one of the following:
- Click "Contact us" at the bottom of the Help topic to e-mail your question to
Microsoft support.
-or-
- See the following Microsoft Web site:
http://messenger.msn.com/support/contactus.asp?
Microsoft makes every effort to answer e-mail support requests within 24 business
hours. However, the answers to virtually all MSN Messenger support questions can
be found on the Help pages.
Frequently Asked Questions About MSN Messenger
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Q1: Why am I having problems downloading the MSN Messenger software?
A1: Save the software to your hard disk. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Create a folder in which save the software on your hard drive. Make a note of
the folder's name so that you can find the software after you download it.
2. See the following Microsoft Web site:
http://messenger.microsoft.com/download/download.asp
3. Click Download Now, and then click "Save this program to disk" (or click Save
if you use Microsoft Windows XP).
4. Click OK.
5. In the Save As dialog box, browse to the folder that you created in step 1,
and then click Save.
6. Open the folder that you created, and then double-click Mmssetup.exe to
install MSN Messenger.
If you receive a "page not found" error message when you trying to download the
software, either refresh the page or click the "Contact us" link at the bottom
of the page to send e-mail asking for additional help.
Q2: Why am I having problems installing MSN Messenger?
A2: Use the following methods before you try to install MSN Messenger again:
- Quit as many programs as possible before you try to install MSN Messenger. To
quit programs, right-click the program icons in the taskbar, and then click
Close or Exit.
- Make sure that your browser files from Microsoft Internet Explorer are not
corrupted. Other programs can sometimes write over or corrupt these files. To
install MSN Messenger, you may want to upgrade, reinstall, or fix these
files. See Help in Internet Explorer for more information, or see the
Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp
- If you use Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft
Windows XP, make sure that you have the proper permissions to install
programs on your computer. If you are unsure about what permissions you have
on your computer, contact your system administrator for more information.
- This workaround applies to corporate users. Network administrators can
prevent MSN Messenger from running in their corporation or organization. If
you receive an error message when connect to .NET Messenger Service at the
end of installation, you are not having problems with installing MSN
Messenger. Proceed to the next question.
Q3: I cannot connect to .NET Messenger Service. Why?
A3: There can be several reasons why you cannot sign in to .NET Messenger
Service:
- If your .NET Passport is not recognized, follow these steps:
1. See either of the following .NET Passport sites:
http://www.passport.com
http://www.hotmail.com
2. Sign in.
3. If you are recognized there but still cannot sign in to .NET Messenger
Service, the messaging servers may be temporarily down for maintenance or
may have reached capacity due to heavy Internet traffic (during peak usage
hours). Wait a short while, and then try again. To check the .NET
Messenger Service status, see the following Microsoft Web site:
http://messenger.microsoft.com/support/status.asp
- This workaround applies to corporate users. If you are behind a firewall or
within a company local area network (LAN), MSN Messenger and other instant
messaging programs may be blocked by the firewall or your company's security
restrictions. Please contact your network administrator for assistance. For
more information about which ports a network administrator should open for
MSN Messenger to work, please see the "Guide for Network Administrators" in
Help.
- This workaround applies to corporate users. Make sure the "I use a proxy
server" check box is cleared (not selected) on the Connection tab. (To find
this check box, click Options on the Tools menu.) Only certain proxy servers
require you to select this check box. Unless your network administrator tells
you to select the "I use a proxy server" check box, do not do so.
Q4: I forgot my password. What do I do?
A4: See the following .NET Passport Member Services Web site:
http://memberservices.passport.com
Click "I forgot my password".
Q5: I cannot send files or start an audio conversation with another contact. What
do I do?
A5: You may be behind a firewall or may be using Internet-sharing software or
hardware, a system that is also known as ICS/NAT. To learn more, see Internet
Connection Sharing using ICS/NAT at the following Microsoft Web site:
http://messenger.microsoft.com/support/knownissues.asp
If you are behind a firewall, contact your network administrator and request that
they consult the MSN Messenger Help topic "Guide for Network Administrators."
The basic functions of MSN Messenger should be unaffected because ICS/NAT issues
affect only certain features.
Also, make sure your contact is not behind a firewall or ICS/NAT. If possible,
try this with more than one contact.
Additional query words:
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Keywords :
Technology : kbMSNSearch kbMSNMessangerSearch kbMSNMessanger450 kbMSNMessanger460
Version : :
Issue type : kbinfo
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