Service is temporarily unavailable

[erato]

When using an XP machine to sign in to Windows Messenger I receive the
following error message: "Signing in to .NET Messenger Service failed
because the service is temporarily unavailable". I have noticed that
many people have had this same problem but none of the fixes that I've
read have worked for me. I'm accessing the internet through a proxy
server and from behind a firewall but I can sign in to Messenger fine
from a Windows 2000 machine so I think the problem lies with XP. I
have checked that my time and date are correct.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Erato,

Have you tried all of these?
1. If your password information is not saved, verify that you are typing it in with the
correct case (uppercase or lowercase).
2. Change your password @ http://memberservicesnet.passport.com/memberservice.srf, then try
signing in again.
3. If you use a firewall (like ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security etc. ), it's possible
that Messenger doesn't have the correct rights to access the Internet, especially since you
upgraded. You may need to re/add Messenger to the allowed list of programs in your firewall
if this is the case.
4. If you disabled your firewall in the past, it still may be blocking Messenger -- try
restarting it and see if that helps the situation. You also might try uninstalling an
installed firewall, to verify that it isn't causing a problem (even if it is disabled).
5. Clear your IE cache and cookies -- open Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then
Internet Options, then click the Delete Files button, and when that's complete click the
Delete Cookies button.
6. Check your IE Security settings -- open Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then
Internet Options, then Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section, and verify that "Check
for server certificate revocation" is unchecked. Also verify that 'Use SSL 2.0' and Use SSL
3.0' is checked, then click OK.
7. Click Start, then Run, and enter the following:
regsvr32 softpub.dll
then click OK
Then try again.

Also, make sure you're running the latest version of Windows Messenger 4.x (or 5.x), older
versions can no longer connect:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/messenger/download.asp
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[erato]

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for your reply. I had seen one of your earlier postings and
tried your suggestions but to no avail. However, I have managed to
solve the problem today. I simply had to install the firewall client
for Windows XP. I unchecked the "Automatically detect ISA server" and
typed in the name of the proxy that I am using and Messenger works
fine. This also cleared up another couple of problems I was having
with internet radio and viewing videos on websites too. Thanks again
for your help.

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Erato,

Great, thanks for the feedback =)
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com