3 Problems

[bu1]

I have three problems I am hoping that someone can help
with:

1. I cannot have voice conversations via Windows
Messenger nor can I get remote assistance to work. I
have tried diabling Norton System Works 2003 and Zone
Alarm and still no success.

2. Also, interestingly, when I attempt to "exit" Windows
Messenger, I get a message saying "There are other
applications currently using features provided by Windows
Messenger. You must close these other applications
before you can exit Windows Messgenger............" and
it goes on to list examples.

I have tried closing IE and OE yet I still can't exit and
this concerns me. How can I tell which programs are not
enabling Windows Messenger to close ?

3. When posting a question to newsgroups and later going
back to check for replies, unless you remember the exact
date and time that you posted the question, it is
difficult to find. When I put my name in the "sender's
name" or "senders email address" in the search fields, it
doesn't find it. Since there are generated email replies,
does anyone know of an easier way to locate
questions/replies other than scrolling thru everything ??

Thanks !

[Gary Tsang]

For your second point, disable Norton AV's IM protection for Windows/MSN
Messenger.

That task is known for keeping Win/MSN Messenger open. So long as you have
Auto-protect enabled, you'll still be safe (as it'll scan your received
files as they come in)

--
Gary Tsang


"bu1" > wrote in message
...
> I have three problems I am hoping that someone can help
> with:
>
> 1. I cannot have voice conversations via Windows
> Messenger nor can I get remote assistance to work. I
> have tried diabling Norton System Works 2003 and Zone
> Alarm and still no success.
>
> 2. Also, interestingly, when I attempt to "exit" Windows
> Messenger, I get a message saying "There are other
> applications currently using features provided by Windows
> Messenger. You must close these other applications
> before you can exit Windows Messgenger............" and
> it goes on to list examples.
>
> I have tried closing IE and OE yet I still can't exit and
> this concerns me. How can I tell which programs are not
> enabling Windows Messenger to close ?
>
> 3. When posting a question to newsgroups and later going
> back to check for replies, unless you remember the exact
> date and time that you posted the question, it is
> difficult to find. When I put my name in the "sender's
> name" or "senders email address" in the search fields, it
> doesn't find it. Since there are generated email replies,
> does anyone know of an easier way to locate
> questions/replies other than scrolling thru everything ??
>
> Thanks !

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

1. Firstly, you might try simply uninstalling ZoneAlarm or setting ZoneAlarm to the 'Medium'
setting to see if this have any effect. As well, make sure you've gone through the Audio
(and Video) Tuning Wizard recently (open the main Messenger window, click the Tools menu,
then Audio Tuning Wizard).

You might also try turning off the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall -- click Start,
then click the Control Panel. If you're in category view click Network and Internet
connections then click Network Connections. Right click your network/internet connection,
then click Properties. Click the Advanced Tab, and verify that the Internet Connection
Firewall is unchecked.

If you're using a router, in order for voice conversations to be successful, it will either
have built-in support for Messenger voice/video (usually turned on by setting your computer
into the DMZ of the router, see router documentation on how to turn this on) or need to
support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). There may be an update for your router to support
UPnP, look on your router manufacturers website to see if there's an update for your routers
firmware to allow your router to support UPnP.

2. There are a number of applications that can cause this to happen. The most prevalent
(besides the ones listed) is Norton Antivirus 2003. Norton added a new "instant messaging
scanning" feature to Norton Antivirus 2003, which can conflict with Messenger and cause this
behavior. To stop it, open Norton Antivirus (Right-click on the Norton Antivirus icon in the
System Tray/Notification Area (by the clock), choose 'Open Norton Antivirus'), click Options,
then Instant Messenger then uncheck MSN Instant Messenger and click OK.

3. The web-based newsgroup reader is still a bit buggy (as you've noticed). Instead, you
might try accessing the newsgroups in Outlook Express, see here for details:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/setup.asp (see the Help in Outlook
Express for even more info).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"bu1" > wrote in message ...
> I have three problems I am hoping that someone can help
> with:
>
> 1. I cannot have voice conversations via Windows
> Messenger nor can I get remote assistance to work. I
> have tried diabling Norton System Works 2003 and Zone
> Alarm and still no success.
>
> 2. Also, interestingly, when I attempt to "exit" Windows
> Messenger, I get a message saying "There are other
> applications currently using features provided by Windows
> Messenger. You must close these other applications
> before you can exit Windows Messgenger............" and
> it goes on to list examples.
>
> I have tried closing IE and OE yet I still can't exit and
> this concerns me. How can I tell which programs are not
> enabling Windows Messenger to close ?
>
> 3. When posting a question to newsgroups and later going
> back to check for replies, unless you remember the exact
> date and time that you posted the question, it is
> difficult to find. When I put my name in the "sender's
> name" or "senders email address" in the search fields, it
> doesn't find it. Since there are generated email replies,
> does anyone know of an easier way to locate
> questions/replies other than scrolling thru everything ??
>
> Thanks !