.Net Passport Lockout (Messenger Running in Background)

[Guest]

I previously had installed MSN Messenger on my machine (Windows XP with SP 2
installed), but I removed it and Windows Messenger (or so I thought).
However, everytime I boot up my machine and attempt to log-in to Hotmail
through IE, I get an error message from Hotmail that there have been too many
unsuccessful attempts at logging into my .Net Passport account and that the
account has been temporarily locked out.

This is never an issue when I am logged onto my Windows 2000 machine in the
office. I actually had the opportunity to witness it today when my
father-in-law booted up my XP machine at home while I was in the office and I
had difficulty logging into Hotmail during the time he was on my home
machine. Has anyone had any experience like this? I'm assuming that some
Microsoft software is repeatedly attempting to log into my .NET passport
account with an old password that no longer is appropriate.

Thanks - Jeff

 

[Guest]

Hi Jeff, I've had problems with MSN Hotmail and Messenger similar to yours
and in a few different variations. I don't know why it happens when it does,
like the weather, but I have thought it's because my Hotmail account is free.
Imagine paying for this kind of service?

When I couldn't stand my own ignorance about not being able to log on for
email after many daze, or kept getting that message about being signed onto
another computer, I asked them for help and was advised to update or "reset"
my password . . . another version of the turn-off, turn-on again school of
repairs and fix-it-all! It didn't help, but then the next day I was able to
log on again. As I said, like the weather . . .

Anyway, just wanted to ramble on to let you know you're not alone even
though in cases such as this it doesn't make any difference at all! Ain't
technology great? Maybe someone will answer your questions and it will help
me too . . . when the weather changes . . .

 

[Guest]

Thanks OKS,

Last night, I tried something else, like getting into some registry editor
that Taurarian posted a few weeks ago

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302089

and shut off Windows Messenger altogether. Even though I thought I had
removed it (the add/remove Windows components feature in Add/Remove Programs
is a little klunky, but that's just me...), perhaps there was something left
in the background associated with that. We'll see. I also removed every .Net
passport profile from my machine so that Windows XP doesn't get any fresh
ideas. All of these problems started when I decided to remove MSN Messenger
and Windows Messenger, then re-set my passwords, and use Web Messenger
instead...for some reason, something on that machine kept trying to log in...

And I hear what you're saying about Microsoft. They kept making it seem like
I was the big dummy that couldn't type in his password the right
way...somedays it works, somedays it doesn't. And unfortunately there is no
one to really talk to about the problem...

 

[Guest]

Jeff, That sounds interesting and hopefully it'll work for you. Anything
involving registry is not something I'll venture into for a very long time -
if ever! I can get in enough trouble without delving that much into the
innards of the machine.

I meant to mention before that I've read somewhere along the way that
"Windows" Messenger should be disabled unless you're a techie type with LAN
or computer to computer workings and need to use that service. Otherwise,
having it abled and open allows "those" people with more knowledge for no
good, that yearn to mess up our world for fun, will possibly do harm to your
computer - cause that's how they get off . . .

Anyway, the Messenger you need to have abled for chatting is MSN Messenger,
and never Windows Messenger . . . they are not one and the same. Who would
know?

Again, good luck with your latest attempts to get it right. The way I
figure it, about the time you get it just about right, something else happens
.. . . cause it's always something . . . OKS! (Caught me off-guard when I saw
your greeting!)