XP Messenger 4.7.2009 Disconnects

Hello,

I've been using Windows Messenger 4.7.2009 since it came out because it's
light weight, not bloated, and has the hotmail plugin that works great.
However, in the last few months I've been getting massive disconnects
without doing anything. I'll boot my PC, messenger will work for about 5
minutes. Then it's as if it looses it's connection, but yet messenger
doesn't know it. Messenger still acts like it's online showing the others
who are online or offline. But as soon as I double click on a name to IM
the person, it disconnects itself saying I'm not connected.

Others on my IM list have said that I was offline the entire time when I
asked them. Is this something that would pertain to my router knocking me
off like this, or is Microsoft not allowing connections from the older XP
Messenger anymore?

Brad