Duplicate online contacts - how to fix?

[Tiny Tim]

I am running Windows Messenger 5.0 under Win XP Pro SP1. Everything has been
running fine for years until about a month ago when three of my online
contacts got duplicated in my contacts list. I share my contacts information
between Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express 6. All my online contacts are
defined in my shared Outlook contacts address book.

But every time I logon to Windows Messenger (or reboot etc) I keep getting
told that three of my contacts (the three are generally the same three but
sometimes one or more names differ) have added me and do I want to allow
them to see me or block them and do I want to add them to my contacts list.
I keep allowing them and adding them and I keep getting the prompts at every
logon. I've also tried blocking and not adding them but the same routine
still repeats every time I boot.

If I open up Windows Messenger and see a list of my contacts (I have not
grouped them) I see a list like this...

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)

so, for example, I have duplicates of contact3, contact6 and contact10.
Sometimes the duplicated contacts are different people - e.g. contact2,
contact5, contact10 - but there always seem to be three duplicates.

If I look at the contacts list within Outlook Express the duplicated people
are identified in one instance by their proper name, as per my contacts
details, and once by their hotmail address - e.g. one entry will be for "Kim
Jones" and the duplicate entry will be (e-mail address removed).

Within Windows Messenger the list would show (e-mail address removed)
followed by (e-mail address removed) again.

How do I fix this?

Thanks,
Tim.

 

[Tiny Tim]

I am running Windows Messenger 5.0 under Win XP Pro SP1. Everything
has been running fine for years until about a month ago when three of
my online contacts got duplicated in my contacts list. I share my
contacts information between Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express 6. All
my online contacts are defined in my shared Outlook contacts address
book.

But every time I logon to Windows Messenger (or reboot etc) I keep
getting told that three of my contacts (the three are generally the
same three but sometimes one or more names differ) have added me and
do I want to allow them to see me or block them and do I want to add
them to my contacts list. I keep allowing them and adding them and I
keep getting the prompts at every logon. I've also tried blocking and
not adding them but the same routine still repeats every time I boot.

If I open up Windows Messenger and see a list of my contacts (I have
not grouped them) I see a list like this...

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)

so, for example, I have duplicates of contact3, contact6 and
contact10. Sometimes the duplicated contacts are different people -
e.g. contact2, contact5, contact10 - but there always seem to be
three duplicates.

If I look at the contacts list within Outlook Express the duplicated
people are identified in one instance by their proper name, as per my
contacts details, and once by their hotmail address - e.g. one entry
will be for "Kim Jones" and the duplicate entry will be
(e-mail address removed).

Within Windows Messenger the list would show (e-mail address removed)
followed by (e-mail address removed) again.

How do I fix this?

Thanks,
Tim.

 

[Tiny Tim]

<snip>

I might add that the problem appears on two different laptops so it seems
like a cock-up with the Messenger Service for my passport rather than an
installation problem with my kit.

 

[dirk]

Tim,
I am having an identical problem (on two separate
computers as well) that started approx. the same time as
yours did. I've posted a message before, with no help.
If you should find something out, please email me,
(e-mail address removed).
Thanks,
dirk

 

[Desmond Clarkson]

The problem seems to have something to do with the changes made to MSN Hotmail... with the new changes, your Windows or MSN Messenger Contacts are automatically added to your Hotmail Contacts and your Hotmail Contacts are automatically added to your Messenger Contacts... check your Hotmail Contacts to make sure that you don't have any duplicates listed there.
I am running Windows Messenger 5.0 under Win XP Pro SP1. Everything has been
running fine for years until about a month ago when three of my online
contacts got duplicated in my contacts list. I share my contacts information
between Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express 6. All my online contacts are
defined in my shared Outlook contacts address book.

But every time I logon to Windows Messenger (or reboot etc) I keep getting
told that three of my contacts (the three are generally the same three but
sometimes one or more names differ) have added me and do I want to allow
them to see me or block them and do I want to add them to my contacts list.
I keep allowing them and adding them and I keep getting the prompts at every
logon. I've also tried blocking and not adding them but the same routine
still repeats every time I boot.

If I open up Windows Messenger and see a list of my contacts (I have not
grouped them) I see a list like this...

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)

so, for example, I have duplicates of contact3, contact6 and contact10.
Sometimes the duplicated contacts are different people - e.g. contact2,
contact5, contact10 - but there always seem to be three duplicates.

If I look at the contacts list within Outlook Express the duplicated people
are identified in one instance by their proper name, as per my contacts
details, and once by their hotmail address - e.g. one entry will be for "Kim
Jones" and the duplicate entry will be (e-mail address removed).

Within Windows Messenger the list would show (e-mail address removed)
followed by (e-mail address removed) again.

How do I fix this?

Thanks,
Tim.

 

[Tiny Tim]

I think you may have found the answer. I've completely deleted all my Hotmail contacts, sorted out my Outlook address book and online contacts and reimported contacts to Hotmail. So far all seems to be going well.

Thanks.

 

[Bart]

Thank goodness! This has been driving me crazy.

Thank you.

Bart
The problem seems to have something to do with the changes made to MSN Hotmail... with the new changes, your Windows or MSN Messenger Contacts are automatically added to your Hotmail Contacts and your Hotmail Contacts are automatically added to your Messenger Contacts... check your Hotmail Contacts to make sure that you don't have any duplicates listed there.
I am running Windows Messenger 5.0 under Win XP Pro SP1. Everything has been
running fine for years until about a month ago when three of my online
contacts got duplicated in my contacts list. I share my contacts information
between Outlook 2003 and Outlook Express 6. All my online contacts are
defined in my shared Outlook contacts address book.

But every time I logon to Windows Messenger (or reboot etc) I keep getting
told that three of my contacts (the three are generally the same three but
sometimes one or more names differ) have added me and do I want to allow
them to see me or block them and do I want to add them to my contacts list.
I keep allowing them and adding them and I keep getting the prompts at every
logon. I've also tried blocking and not adding them but the same routine
still repeats every time I boot.

If I open up Windows Messenger and see a list of my contacts (I have not
grouped them) I see a list like this...

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed)

so, for example, I have duplicates of contact3, contact6 and contact10.
Sometimes the duplicated contacts are different people - e.g. contact2,
contact5, contact10 - but there always seem to be three duplicates.

If I look at the contacts list within Outlook Express the duplicated people
are identified in one instance by their proper name, as per my contacts
details, and once by their hotmail address - e.g. one entry will be for "Kim
Jones" and the duplicate entry will be (e-mail address removed).

Within Windows Messenger the list would show (e-mail address removed)
followed by (e-mail address removed) again.

How do I fix this?

Thanks,
Tim.