Greetings Mercedes,
Assuming this is a software problem, as a "quick fix" you might try using System Restore your
computer back to before this started happening. To do so, click Start, then Help & Support,
then "Undo changes to my computer using System Restore" and restore back to before this
problem started to occur.
If you don't want to do that, or this didn't solve the issue, here are a few suggestions:
If you're using ZoneAlarm, try putting it into the "Medium" setting and then see if the
problem disappears. Other third-party firewall applications (like Norton Internet Security,
Sygate, etc.) should have Messenger set to 'Permit All' or 'Allow All'.
If you're using a router, make sure you have the latest firmware from your router
manufacturer. As well, you might try setting your computers local IP into the routers DMZ
setting (see documentation on how to do this).
This can also happen due to a lack of bandwidth. If you have Kazaa, WinMX, GNUtella or some
other file sharing-type application or something else that takes considerable amounts of
bandwidth, you may want to shut it down and see if that helps the situation (even if you're
using a high speed connection, these applications can use most of the resources of your
connection).
Finally, you might try MSN Messenger 6, as it supports a different way of keeping the
connection "alive" then other versions of Messenger:
http://messenger.msn.com/Download
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources -
http://messenger.jonathankay.com