Completely remove (MSN/Windows Live) Messenger
Have you already tried to completely remove Windows Live Messenger? But also completely removed the registry settings before reinstalling?
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If you have problems installing Windows Live Messenger, you could first try the small utility named ZapMessenger created by TReKiE. It removes the application files of Windows Live Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger 5.x. It does not (yet) remove your personal settings like your display picture, custom emoticons, etc
Solving Messenger install, reinstall and uninstall issues with ZapMessenger - Windows Live
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The following manual instructions are complementary to ZapMessenger and will erase all Messenger related data on your computer (this may include Messenger related data of other people who use your computer as well).
Please don't skip any step:
1. Close all instances of Messenger completely.
2. Remove any other Messenger related addon (like SmileyCentral, SweetIM, MSN Content Plus, Messenger Discovery, MSNShell, etc)
3. Remove Windows Live Messenger and/or MSN Messenger via your Windows Control Panel and "Add/Remove Programs".
Note that for Windows Live Messenger 8.5 and below (and the beta versions of Windows Live Messenger 2009), the entry is called "Windows Live Messenger".
For Windows Live Messener 2009 and upwards, the entry is called "Windows Live Essentials".
You might need to uninstall both these entries first.
4. Run the following registry file. It will completely remove your registry settings for MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger (note: you will of course loose all your settings):
http://home.scarlet.be/~tsf54471/msn/delete_msn_wlm.reg
5. Open Windows Explorer (Start > Run > explorer.exe) and make sure you can view all hidden and system files:
Tools menu > Folder Options item > View tab > Advanced Settings list > Hidden files and folders > enable "Show hidden files and folders" and disable "Hide extensions for known file types".
6. Remove all the cache and storage directories used by Messenger (if they still exist).
For example, in XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\MSN Messenger\
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Call\
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Messenger\
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Contacts\
C:\Windows\Temp\MessengerCache\
For example, in Vista:
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MSN Messenger\
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows Live Call\
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows Messenger\
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Local\Temp\MessengerCache\
C:\Users\your_username\Contacts\
And the main folders:
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\installer\
note: "C:\Documents and Settings\...", "C:\Program Files", "C:\Windows\Temp" may be named differently on your computer and depend on the used OS. If so, find the appropriate root directories.
You can do this by going to you command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and type "CD xxxx" where xxxx can be:
%programfiles% to go to your "Program Files" or "Programs" folder
%temp% or %tmp% to go to your "Temp" folder
%userprofile% to go to your "User Profile" folder
7. Reboot your computer
8. Make sure you don't have any programs which might block Messenger from installing and running, like internet security software, firewalls, anti-virus software, etc...
If you do have such software, disable it temporarly or set its options and properties properly. For example: you firewall might be blocking Messenger. Or the AVG anti-virus program might be set up to "protect" Messenger and in doing so blocking some needed stuff.
9. If not already done, clear your browser cache completely. Instructions can be found here:
http://support.lexis-nexis.com/nexis/Record.asp?ARTICLEID=wg_cache
https://kb.iu.edu/data/ahic.html
10. Redownload and reinstall Messenger
MSN Messenger 7.0.0820 can be found
here
MSN Messenger 7.5 is not supported anymore by MS.
Windows Live Messenger 8.0 is not supported anymore by MS.
Windows Live Messenger 8.1.0178 can be found
here.
Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018 (2008) can be found
here.
Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8092.0805 (2009) can be found
here.
All above links point to the official Microsoft Download Center - official number one source (please do not download from 3rd party sites)
Latest version can always be found
here.
