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[idol_wild]

For the past few days I've been unable to sign into MSN Messenger and I am hit with the following message:

"We Can't sign you in to Windows Live Messenger
Signing into Windows Live Messenger failed because the service is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.

Click troubleshoot to fix this problem."

So I do, and I am presented with this:

"Failed to connect to the service. This could be due to improper proxy or firewall settings. Please review your proxy and firewall settings. Proxy settings can be accessed through Windows Live Messenger Options. For Firewall settings, please see the retailer's instructions."

Can anyone advise me on what to do or what is wrong?

[Tubthumper]

Tried uninstalling and re-installing?

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Tubthumper

Tried uninstalling and re-installing?

Not yet. The thought had crossed my mind. I'll give it a bash though, thanks.

[Original Spies]

Tried temporarily disabling your Firewall and other such Internet protection gizmos? Might be a setting automatically rejecting connection to a program it might deem as malicious.

[idol_wild]

Fucksakes, I can't even uninstall it because it's not listed in the Programs and Features section in my control panel. What the fuck dot com?

[Tubthumper]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Fucksakes, I can't even uninstall it because it's not listed in the Programs and Features section in my control panel. What the fuck dot com?

I've got "Windows Live Essentials" in mine. It gives you the option to uninstall a WL program.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Original Spies

Tried temporarily disabling your Firewall and other such Internet protection gizmos? Might be a setting automatically rejecting connection to a program it might deem as malicious.

Yeah, tried this.

Should I also add that when I try to visit hotmail, I just get a blank page?

[The Subtle Arts]

Sounds like you've had your accounts frozen. Theres a virus out there which lays dorment and activates randomly. You'll find messenger listed under Windows components to uninstall it but if it is frozen by this thing then that won't help. You need to contact microsoft and go through a lengthy proceedure to recover everything. One way of finding out if it is the virus is to try the forgotten password scenario and go to answer Security Question, if this has been changed to "What is your favourite historical person" and it wasn't before then its defo the virus! The answer to the question is always King Henry but it doesn't work...

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by The Subtle Arts

Sounds like you've had your accounts frozen. Theres a virus out there which lays dorment and activates randomly. You'll find messenger listed under Windows components to uninstall it but if it is frozen by this thing then that won't help. You need to contact microsoft and go through a lengthy proceedure to recover everything. One way of finding out if it is the virus is to try the forgotten password scenario and go to answer Security Question, if this has been changed to "What is your favourite historical person" and it wasn't before then its defo the virus! The answer to the question is always King Henry but it doesn't work...

Thanks for this. It's odd - I can log in to hotmail from my work computer no problem, but nothing on my own laptop. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but no luck.

The hotmail page is still completely blank from this laptop. Odd.

[The Subtle Arts]

The virus should affect your account no matter where you log in from but obviously won't physically be on other computers. It could be something really simple like cookies if you can get access elsewhere!