Jonathan Kay, can you please assist

  • Thread starter Thread starter Richard Urban
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Richard Urban

Hello Jonathan,

I build and repair computer (many, many hundreds since Windows XP came out)
and seldom ever post here for my own assistance. I have an ongoing
problem/condition with one computer. Comically, it is one of my own.

Using Windows Messenger, any version (I am presently using ver 5.1.0639)
Messenger steadfastly refuses to update the "presence" of anyone on my
contact list. I constantly have to log off/log on to see who is really on
line.

If I fail to do this, many times, but not every time, my typed message will
fail to go through and messenger tells me I am NOT logged on!

This is very exasperating as I use messenger to keep in contact with my
clients, to assist with the many small problems that pop up on their
computers. Yet, I can't get my own problem put to bed.

I have Windows XP Professional with SP2 and all current Windows Updates
applied. I am using ZoneAlarm Professional behind a Linksys router (BEFSX41)
with the latest firmware upgrade.

If I log off/log on I can do anything (file transfer, audio, video etc.)
until the problem again presents itself. It may be good for 2-3 hours or it
may only last a couple of minutes.

Do you have any ideas as to what I should look for, or links to websites
that may be of assistance in this problem. I am really against a wall here.

Thank you for your assistance!

Richard

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Richard

I have exactly the same problem.. I have yet to find a way around it..
 
I think I am going to roll back my second O/S to just the base install using
SP2 to see if it works without any other software installed. It just may be
a software conflict. Then I can boot into the system and if all is well I
will proceed from there, installing remaining Windows Updates, Utilities and
programs - one at a time with sufficient testing afterward. Hell, it may
take me a month to find out which software is causing a conflict.

If it doesn't even work correctly with SP2 I will then clean install from my
3 year old install CD withing nothing added but what I need to make the OS
work.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Richard

I have monitored it today, and so far it has remained logged on.. I am not
entirely convinced that it is a local problem.. if it was, I would expect it
to go down all of the time, but it doesn't.. it is an entirely random
event..

Out here on the perimeter of the Ottawa Valley, we still have to rely on
dialup (or get satellite), and I have a feeling that the problem lies with
the ISP.. maybe losing connectivity with the .NET server..

Bell Sympatico are presently attempting to upgrade everywhere to high-speed,
but it is taking time.. in the meantime, I have no doubt that they are
cutting back on the hardware that supports us..

The flowchart used by Bell Sympatico support staff comes up with two
solutions.. re-install Windows (the old and trusted route), or convert to
Bell ExpressVU..

Q. Will it get over my problems..
A. I will just go and ask my supervisor.. (irritating music)

Q. Is it true that my telephone line will still be tied up while online..
A. I will just go and ask my supervisor.. (irritating music)

Q. Is it true that the download limit per month is less than any other
high-speed service in Canada
A. I will just go and ask my supervisor.. (irritating music)

Q. Will I be able to get all of my favourite Cable channels..
A. Yes, I think so, but will check with my supervisor.. (irritating music)

Q. Can I talk to somebody who knows..
A. I will go and ask my supervisor.. (irritating music).. Hello, sir.. its
me again (question answered)

Obviously, only the supervisor has a flowchart for Bell ExpressVU..

The best part is that Sympatico have teamed up with MSN, which is when I
noticed the .NET service having a problem..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Greetings Richard,

Have you tried using MSN Messenger instead as it has a completely different way of staying
online (not to mention, Linksys firmware doesn't mess with it like the older protocol in
Windows Messenger):
http://messenger.msn.com/Download
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
I have, till this point, stayed with Windows Messenger because that is what
is designed for the O/S. If I were to switch to MSN Messenger, which version
should I investigate and can you supply a quick link for it (if it is not
the current version)?

Thanks!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
I am having the exact same issue, I look forward to following this post for
help. I wish I could be more helpful. Thanks
 
Richard

Over the last two days, having changed nothing at all, Windows Messenger has
maintained the contact list and has remained in logged on state..

I still think that my ISP loses connectivity with the .NET server, and that
it is not a 'local' problem..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Possibly a condition with the Microsoft servers? I have thought that
numerous times over the past year. Just the past 2-3 days getting onto the
MSN website has been spotty with Internet Explorer. I can get on with
Firefox though. Then 4 hours later, IE pulls up MSN.com just fine.

And there is always the problem with these news groups not showing a new
post for sometimes hours on end. Then, all of a sudden you get 50-60 posts
going back three hours. And it is only certain groups at certain times.
Almost like a rotating schedule or something! It doesn't happen with any
other non Microsoft news groups I hang out in.

Maybe it will all be sorted out with Longhorn (-;

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
As long as 'LongHorn' doesn't contract Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE)..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user
 
Hi Richard,

I haven't seen that particular issue with the Microsoft newsgroups in ages.

I think there's some other issue going on for you....
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
Using MSN Messenger now, beta version 7.0.0429. It "seems" to have solved
the presence detection problem. Time will tell (-:

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Another question Jonathon, if you please?

I notice that when I boot the computer that passport signs out (I guess from
the old Windows Messenger), and then signs into passport again (I'm guessing
for MSN Messenger). This action sometimes causes MSN Messenger to not start.

Any comments on how I can control the interaction of the two?

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Hi Richard,

Yes, if you wish to use MSN Messenger, you should just disable Windows Messenger.

To do so, open it up (click Start, then Run, type "msmsgs" and click OK), click Tools,
Options, Preferences tab and uncheck 'Run this Program when Windows starts' or 'Run Windows
Messenger when Windows starts' (depending on version) as well as 'Allow this program to run
in the background' or 'Allow Windows Messenger to run in the background' (depending on
version). This won't remove Windows Messenger, so features like Remote Assistance, Whiteboard
and Application Sharing will continue to work, but it will let it stay out of your way.

Also, do you have Norton Antivirus installed? Recent versions of Norton Antivirus added a
new "instant messaging scanning" feature, which can conflict with Messenger and cause it to
also keep starting. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus
icon in the System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'),
click Options, then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
No, I am not using Norton AntiVirus. I recently started using ZoneAlarm
Security Suite. Disabling Windows Messenger did the trick.

I noticed that when I open Outlook Express that msmsgs runs, even though I
have the check removed from start Messenger with Outlook Express. When I
shut down Outlook Express it stays running, along with MSN Messenger. No
icon is displayed in the notification area though! Is this also normal, or
should it shut down until called upon again, say for remote assistance?

Thanks for your help!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Hi Richard,

The checkbox doesn't actually completely turn off the feature. To -really- turn it off,
close Outlook Express, then download and run the following .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/stopmessenger_oe.reg

You won't actually lose anything by doing this (besides seeing Messenger status' in Outlook
Express).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2005 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
 
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