Windows Messenger will not launch

[Anton]

Greetings all,

I am having trouble getting Windows Messenger to launch on
an IBM ThinkPad T30 running Windows XP w/SP1, with latest
windows update patches.

If I attempt to launch Windows Messenger my cursor briefly
changes to the hour-glass, then almost immediately changes
back to the normal pointer; Windows Messenger does not
launch, no error message appears. Interestingly, if I
install and run MSN Messenger 5.x it works like a charm.
I've tried using control panel to uninstall Windows
Messenger and reinstall it but get the same results, the
application simply refuses to launch. Are there specific
services that are absolutely required to be running in
order for Windows Messenger to work? Any other ideas?

I've tried the information posted in the following
newsgroup post but the .reg file didn't help the situation.

Oh, and I'm running as a domain account which is a member
of the local Administrators group.

Thanks for any ideas anyone might have.

-----------------------
Message 3 in thread
From: Graham Carroll ([email protected])
Subject: Re: Messenger for XP won't launch!


View this article only
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.messenger
Date: 2002-08-13 20:04:59 PST


Are you using version 4.6 in a user account, if yes try
this from Jonathan
Kay.
Here is Jonathan Kays answer to Simons post a little bit
back.Have you tried
my .reg fix on this?
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/downloads/limiteduserfix.r
eg
Log into the accounts where Messenger isn't working, then
run the file,
confirm to add the
information into your
registry (it asks), then log off the account and log back
in again.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
It is wgat you need.
-----------------------

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Anton,

Firstly, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302089
Go through the applicable steps, except when choosing 'Do not allow Windows Messenger to
run', be sure it's set to Disabled. Then check the registry method (the last method listed
on the page), instead of setting a 'PreventRun' DWORD, delete it (as above with the Hide
Messenger DWORD). You will need to reboot to see the change.

If that's not the cause, do you happen to have DirectX 9 installed (it may have been
installed with a game or demo as well)? To check, click Start, then Run, enter "dxdiag" and
click OK. In the first window that appears, you'll see "DirectX version" listed, if it's 9,
then upgrade to DirectX 9a:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/drx90.asp

If your DirectX version is listed as 8.1, then this isn't the problem.

Finally, in none of this worked or applies, you can try a full reinstallation of Windows
Messenger:
Click the start button, then click Run and type in (copy-paste if you like):

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Then click OK.
Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed instructions and screenshots, go to,
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7

Then reboot, click "Yes" to remove your personal settings, and then reinstall from:
http://messenger.microsoft.com/download/download.asp?client=0.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Anton]

Thank you Jonathan!

I went to the following location in group policy:

GPEDIT.MSC > Local Computer Policy > Computer
Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows
Components > Windows Messenger >

I then set the following two settings to "Not Configured"
instead of "Enabled" (see below). This fixed the problem!
Thanks again!

Do not allow Windows Messenger to run
Do not automatically start Windows Messenger initially

-----Original Message-----
Greetings Anton,

Firstly, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302089
Go through the applicable steps, except when choosing 'Do not allow Windows Messenger to
run', be sure it's set to Disabled. Then check the

registry method (the last method listed

on the page), instead of setting a 'PreventRun' DWORD,

delete it (as above with the Hide

Messenger DWORD). You will need to reboot to see the change.

If that's not the cause, do you happen to have DirectX 9 installed (it may have been
installed with a game or demo as well)? To check, click

Start, then Run, enter "dxdiag" and

click OK. In the first window that appears, you'll

see "DirectX version" listed, if it's 9,

then upgrade to DirectX 9a:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/drx90.a sp

If your DirectX version is listed as 8.1, then this isn't the problem.

Finally, in none of this worked or applies, you can try a full reinstallation of Windows
Messenger:
Click the start button, then click Run and type in (copy- paste if you like):

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir% \INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

Then click OK.
Messenger will then be uninstalled. For more detailed

instructions and screenshots, go to,

http://messenger.jonathankay.com/problem.aspx?ID=7

Then reboot, click "Yes" to remove your personal

settings, and then reinstall from:

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Anton,

Glad to hear it =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com