Windows Live Messenger

[Ogre]

Hey,

I was forced to update to the latest version of Windows Live Messenger (version 8.5 to 14) when I logged ontoday and now I am having a few problems.

My main problems are:

• Clicking the email button no longer automatically logs me into hotmail like 8.5 did.
• Secondly once I manually log in to hotmail, and say a mate comes and logs into msn, if he clicks on the email button it will automatically open up my email. Instead of asking him to enter a password like it did with 8.5.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a solution to my problems.

I know there are alternatives to messenger like trillian and that, but I would need one that can handle both video and voice chat on the windows live network.

Any help would be great.

Cheers

[Fraggle]

Bit of background information I found here:
http://messengersays.spaces.live.com...9E!98984.entry

If you can still find the 8.5 installer, but might be a bit late if you've already done the upgrade, tried this solution and works fine (except seems to kill Messenger Plus if you plan on using that, tho Patchou's patch still working fine for banner removal )
http://messengersays.spaces.live.com....entry#comment

I found an awesome solution:

1. Firstly, exit Messenger so it is not running.
1. Download ResHacker. link: http://download.cnet.com/Resource-Ha...-10178587.html
2. Once open, go to File > Open > C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe.
3. On the left, select the Version Info folder, then 1, then 1033.
4. In the main panel, scroll down to where it says:

code:VALUE "ProductVersion", "8.5.xxx"
The x's represent the version you have.

** 5. Change the version number to the latest Messenger version, example: 14.0.8089.0726
6. Click the Compile Script button.
7. Then go to File > Save.
8. Close ResHacker. Run Messenger.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


**For me so I finished working:

1 VERSIONINFO
FILEVERSION 14,0,8089,726
PRODUCTVERSION 14,0,8089,726
FILEOS 0x4
FILETYPE 0x1
{
BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
{
BLOCK "040904b0"
{
VALUE "CompanyName", "Microsoft Corporation"
VALUE "FileDescription", "Windows Live Messenger"
VALUE "InternalName", "msnmsgr.exe"
VALUE "LegalCopyright", "© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved."
VALUE "OriginalFilename", "msnmsgr.exe"
VALUE "ProductName", "Windows Live Messenger"
VALUE "FileVersion", "14.0.8089.0726"
VALUE "ProductVersion", "14.0.8089.0726"
}
}

BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
{
VALUE "Translation", 0x0409 0x04B0
}
}

[Ogre]

I have still got the 8.5 installer, so i will give that a try

[The Ginja Ninja]

You can also run the messenger exe in windows 2000 compatibility mode and it will work fine, after doing some installer business briefly. But you won't be able to use certain apps with it, messenger plus for example doesn't work.

So the solution fraggle posted is the better option. Messenger plus is working with it fine for me. If you've got a different version of messenger installed before you put 8.5 back on and hack it, you should probably run messenger and messenger plus once before hacking the version numbers. I suspect this may cause issues otherwise.
Messenger plus for example, trying to install it's dll files and whatever else for a different version(14.* rather than 8.5), causing it to fail.

[Ogre]

I dont use messenger plus, wasnt it like spyware back in the day?

[Mistikal]

Originally Posted by Ogre

I dont use messenger plus, wasnt it like spyware back in the day?

No - only if you opted to install the adware; there has always been an option not to.

[bumography]

With 8.5
If you right click properties on the shortcut or program and change compatibility mode to Windows 2000, it wont ask you for that bullshit update.

Otherwise you can download the offline/standalone installer package. The new WLM (14. something) actually has a few pre-requisites.

Microsoft Application Error Reporting (32-bit)
Microsoft Visual Studio Runtime
Segoe UI Font
Windows Live Communications Platform

[Kung_F00L]

Nice find; worked a treat, Cheers!

[Goth]

I too have been forced to install the newer version and found that it is useless and shite.

What should I do? Re-install the old version over the top?
Where can I get an 8.5 installer?

Will this preserve my contacts list?

[Ogre]

if you uninstalled and then reinstall the older version your contact list should be fine.

[ipex]

forced to upgrade too , keep on getting 80040154 error , tried all the suggestion , register a dll file , do this do that , but still no luck , screw it i'm rolling back

[eskimogenius]

By the way - anyone know of an alternative to the fake invite feature that will work on the latest version of messenger?

[bumography]

I'm still using Messenger 8.5 by using Windows 2000 compatibility mode.

[foxmulder881]

I'm currently logged into my Dad's Windows Vista PC remotely from my Ubuntu 9.10 system. I'm currently updating his Live components as Microsoft has forced upon him, I'll post if I have any issues.