MSN Messenger 5.0 - Windows XP
It is possible to run MSN Messenger 5.0 and Windows Messenger at the same time but you must use different identities. MSN Messenger 5.0 can use any email address you like. For example, I currently have an @hotmail, an @passport and an @mvps.org identity, all of which can be used with both versions of Messenger.
Problems
If you sign into the Hotmail web site, and Windows Messenger is not running, it will still start up even if you are signed in using the same Hotmail address using MSN Messenger.
Windows Messenger will also start up when you use Outlook Express.
Hotmail - activating the free Hotmail email account
Many people complain that when they create a new email account, they are unable to get past the page offering the pay-for Hotmail service and can't find a way to say 'no' to the offer.
The link is there, just easily missed. Look down the bottom, under "About MSN Hotmail Accounts"... you will find the paragraph pictured below. Use the link that is part of the sentence "click here to sign up....for a 2 Meg account (which is the free account).
Below is a picture of the link:
I have noticed that if I choose Australia as the country of origin, I bypass the sign-up page mentioned above... if this is the same for you, or if it isn't, please let me know by sending me an email.
What ports are used by Messenger?
.NET Messenger Service:
1503, 1863, 5060, 6891-6900, 3389, 5060
Video and Voice: UDP 5004-65535
Q175610 How to Manually Remove Internet Explorer 4.0
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q175610
List of issues fixed in IE 5.01 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q257978
Q183436 How to Create a Text File of Web Addresses in Favorites Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q183436
"Dial Up Settings" button is greyed out
Check the following registry keys are set as follows:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings (EnableAutodial should be set to 01 00 00 00)
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings (EnableAutodial should be set to 01 00 00 00)
IEXPLORE or MSIMN Causing an Invalid Page Fault in Module Rpcrt4.dll
The file schannel.dll is missing or damaged. Instructions on replacing the file can be found at the link below:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315209
Error 0x800ccd01 Occurs When You Start Outlook Express
The identities key in the registry is damaged. Information about how to fix that problem can be found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q310894
Creating a separate MSN Dial Up Connection
Making A Connection File Or "Connectoid" For MSN Explorer [Q294853]
msn_dun.txt (a copy of the currently unavailable KB
article)
or
A copy of Jim Forbes' old page (the original doesn't exist)
http://web.archive.org/web/20011130034700/http://www.urx.com/jforbes/dun.htm
(missing graphics)
or
http://nickg.homestead.com/dunsetup.html
or
http://www.birusoft.com/msn.htm
Failed to load the Internet Connection Wizard Helper Component
Err
Msg: "Failed to Load the Internet Connection Wizard..."
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q224828
Err Msg: Failed to Load the Internet Connection Wizard Helper...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q193892
No taskbar button when minimising windows
You may have the "Friends Greeting" application installed, also known as WORM_FRIENDGRT.A, installed on your computer.
Delete it via Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs (Friend Greetings and Winsrv Reg). You may also need to delete the following files manually that appear in the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Media.
Install.log
uninstall.exe
Friend Greetings.msi
Friend%20Greetings[1].msi
Otms.exe
OTDock.dll
Otglove.dll
Otupdate.exe
Winsrvc.dat
Winsrvc.exe
You also need to clean up your registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Delete the following value:
PMedia C:\Program Files\Common Files\Media\winsrvc.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WinSrvReg
Delete the following values:
DisplayName WinSrv Reg
UninstallString C:\Program Files\Common Files\Media\UNINSTAL.EXE C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Media\INSTALL.LOG WinSrv Reg Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser
Helper Objects
Delete the following key:
{7011471D-3F74-498E-88E1-C0491200312D}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES
Delete the following keys:
IEEvtCatcher.IEEvtCatcherObj.1
IEEvtCatcher.IEEvtCatcherObj
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID
Delete the following keys:
{7011471D-3F74-498E-88E1-C0491200312D}
{7677C920-9CC3-4621-AF8C-AD45402DC2FD}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib
Delete the following key:
{3972ADCE-8737-45DE-A6E2-A253348E5A1E}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\Interface
Delete the following key:
{059D8C85-A00F-40AF-8078-7692A0A79F19}
This is how the software (virus) is installed.
An email is received:
Subject: <Recipient> you have an E-Card from
<Sender>
Message Body: Greetings!
<Sender> has sent you an E-Card -- a virtual postcard from FriendGreetings.com.
You can pickup your E-Card at the FriendGreetings.com by clicking on the link
below.
http://www.friendgreetings.com/pickup/pickup.aspx?code=<sender>&id=<id number>
Message:
------------------------------------------------------------
<Recipient>, I sent you a greeting card. Please pick it up.
<Sender>
------------------------------------------------------------
When you click on the link, you will see the following prompt:
then an Install Shield downloading and install window...
The following "License Agreement" appears:
When you accept the conditions, an email is sent to everybody in your contact list, the same as the one you received - JUST LIKE THE AGREEMENT SAYS IT WILL.
MSN Explorer has a white background
Go
to Control Panel. Is "accessibility options" available? If not install it (it is
a Windows component).
When using XP the problem can often by resolved by re-applying XP styles.
Exporting MSN Explorer favorites
Search for a hidden file called favorites.xml (or favourites.xml). This is
what the favorites are stored in. There is a utility available online at
the link below that may do what you want:
http://www.mainsoft.fr/freeware_en.htm
You will find the file in a variation of the following address in W2K, Windows ME and Windows XP (* is variable):
C:\Documents and Settings\*username*\Application Data\MSN*\UserData\{**************}
Changing the type of attachment blocked by the "do not allow attachments" dialogue in OE6 up
Outlook Express uses the Internet Explorer 6 unsafe file list and the "Confirm
Open After Download file type setting to determine whether a file is classed as
safe.
To remove the file type from the block list, you need to go to "My Computer, View, Folder Options, <select file type> (or Control Panel, Folder Options depending on your operating system.).
Highlight the file type you want to change. Select edit. Adjust the "Confirm Open After Download" settings as follows.
Turn the option on to block access or turn it off to allow access.
Note that some file types are 'locked', meaning the "Confirm Open After Download" option cannot be changed. These files types (for example *.exe files) cannot be removed from the block attachment list.
EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in MSHTML.DLL
Go to IE, Help, About. Check what patches and updates have been applied then check to make sure that the version of mshtml.dll on your computer is correct.
For example, the June 2003 cumulative patch (Q818529 - MS02-020) included mshtml.dll version 6.0.2800.1170, 6.0.2726.2500, 5.50.4926.2500 or 5.0.3516.2800 depending on your operating system and version of IE as per its knowledge base article:
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;EN-US;q818529
If incorrect, uninstall and reinstall the patch (make sure you turn off antivirus, crashguards and other programmes). If you still have problems, please post to the Microsoft Public Newsgroups for more assistance.
Specific knowledge base articles about the error include the following:
Blank desktop or illegal operations error message after installing IE - 249191
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q249191
An
access violation occurs in an HTML page with a table when you scroll in a small
window - 309456
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309456
An
access violation occurs when you refresh a web page (mshtml.dll) - 817786
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q817786
Error Message: Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Mshtml.dll at
015f:70cbb044 - Q298098
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q298098
"Illegal Operation" or "Application Error" Opening a Web Page - Q185512
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q185512
INFO: Explorer Caused an Invalid Page Fault in...Q175379
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q175379
Clicking OK in About Internet Explorer Causes Error Message Q178689
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q178689
Illegal Operation Error Message When You Try to Print a Web Page Q194176
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q194176
Iexplore/Explorer caused an invalid page fault in SHDOCVW.DLL
The Microsoft articles addressing the above errors are as follows:
Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations
Error Message After You Install Internet Explorer Q249191
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q249191
Illegal Operations or Access Violations When Starting Windows Q175930
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q175930
Error Message Typing Address in Address Box or in Open Box Q221085
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q221085
If none of the above works, follow the advice for kernel32 errors:
IEXPLORE caused an invalid page fault in KERNEL32.DLL
Trouble installing vector graphics rendering
First, make sure that you follow the suggestions at this link:
If that doesn't work, the following
is suggested by my contact at MS:
1. Manually install vector graphics rendering.
A. Create a folder on the C: drive and call it VGX. Do this by double-clicking
on My Computer, then double-clicking on the C: drive. Right-click on an open
spot in that window and select New>Folder. While the "New Folder" title is
highlighted, type in VGX and press [enter]
B. Extract the following 3 files into the C:\VGX folder: vgx.cat, vgx.inf,
vgx.dll. Do this by searching for the VGX.CAB file on your hard drive.
Double-click on it. Extract the 3 vgx files listed above to C:\VGX.
C. Register the files from step B.
by clicking on Start>Run, and pasting in the following line and clicking Okay:
rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 C:\VGX\vgx.inf
Check to see if this fix worked by restarting your computer, then going nto My
Computer-->Control Panel-->Add/Remove Programs. Double-click on MS Internet
Explorer 6. See if we can still add in the component vector graphics rendering.
If it is no longer an option, it has been installed successfully. If that did
not work, try the next fix:
2. Move the C:\windows\hosts directory so that Windows cannot find it.
A. Double-click on My Computer. Double-click on the C: drive.Double-click on
Windows.
B. Inside the Windows directory, right-click on the hosts folder and hold the button down. Drag the folder to the desktop and let go of the button. Click on "move here." Try adding in the components again. It should now finish everything. If it does not finish installing all components, move the hosts folder back into the C:\windows directory.
How to cancel your MSN account:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q173227
MSN account and billing questions and answers
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;EN-US;q153806
Includes answers to:
How can I cancel my account?
How can I check or change my MSN account member information?
How can I change my member ID?
Can I set up two different member IDs for the same account?
What should I do if I forget my password?
Are member IDs and passwords case sensitive?
What areas on MSN are free of connection charges?
How can I print a copy of my billing statement?
What do the various terms on the billing history mean?
Why did I receive a message stating that my password is not valid when I tried
to sign back in after changing my MSN password?
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Last updated Sunday, August 20, 2006