MSN Messenger won't sign in

[Stephen]

I just received an email from my mother which says:

"The messenger 6.0 keeps telling me I cant go on as
either the sign in name doesnt exist or password
forgotten. Been through all this before and its
corrected itself."

My mother is far from being a computer whiz, and I'm not
there (in the country) to see the problem for myself, so
any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

We are running Windows XP, a 2 Gig processor, McAfee
VirusScan, with a dial-up connection.

Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Stephen,

Here are some suggestions for her to test/try:
1. The date on your computer needs to be set properly -- double click the clock verify that
the time and date are set.
2. If your password information is not saved, verify that you are typing it in with the
correct case (uppercase or lowercase).
3. Change your password @ http://memberservicesnet.passport.com/memberservice.srf, then try
signing in again.
4. If you use a firewall (like ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security etc. ), it's possible
that Messenger doesn't have the correct rights to access the Internet, especially since you
upgraded. You may need to re/add Messenger to the allowed list of programs in your firewall
if this is the case.
5. If you disabled your firewall in the past, it still may be blocking Messenger -- try
restarting it and see if that helps the situation. You also might try uninstalling an
installed firewall, to verify that it isn't causing a problem (even if it is disabled).
6. Clear your IE cache and cookies -- open Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then
Internet Options, then click the Delete Files button, and when that's complete click the
Delete Cookies button.
7. Check your IE Security settings -- open Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then
Internet Options, then Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section, and verify that "Check
for server certificate revocation" is unchecked. Also verify that 'Use SSL 2.0' and Use SSL
3.0' is checked, then click OK.
8. Click Start, then Run, and enter the following:
regsvr32 softpub.dll
then click OK

Then try again.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Stephen" > wrote in message
...
> I just received an email from my mother which says:
>
> "The messenger 6.0 keeps telling me I cant go on as
> either the sign in name doesnt exist or password
> forgotten. Been through all this before and its
> corrected itself."
>
> My mother is far from being a computer whiz, and I'm not
> there (in the country) to see the problem for myself, so
> any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
>
> We are running Windows XP, a 2 Gig processor, McAfee
> VirusScan, with a dial-up connection.
>
> Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks

[Steve]

My dear sweetheart's mother and my sweetheart have a similar problem.
However, neither uses firewalls (don't ask me why) or IE. Both run AOL, one
is on W2k, the other XP Home. I've tried all the suggestions below before
(apart from 8) and haven't been able to spot a similar post in the
newsgroup. They use 4.7, but I've installed 6 to no noticeable effect. The
message received every time is "Messenger could not sign you on...". I've
also removed any prohibitions on cookies in aol.

I miss IM'ing my woman - someone help! ICQ works just fine, but I would like
Messenger if only so I can remotely access their pc's & troubleshoot other
problems for them.

Thanks to anyone who has the time to offer comments.

Steve

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings Stephen,
>
> Here are some suggestions for her to test/try:
> 1. The date on your computer needs to be set properly -- double click the
clock verify that
> the time and date are set.
> 2. If your password information is not saved, verify that you are typing
it in with the
> correct case (uppercase or lowercase).
> 3. Change your password @
http://memberservicesnet.passport.com/memberservice.srf, then try
> signing in again.
> 4. If you use a firewall (like ZoneAlarm, Norton Internet Security
etc. ), it's possible
> that Messenger doesn't have the correct rights to access the Internet,
especially since you
> upgraded. You may need to re/add Messenger to the allowed list of
programs in your firewall
> if this is the case.
> 5. If you disabled your firewall in the past, it still may be blocking
Messenger -- try
> restarting it and see if that helps the situation. You also might try
uninstalling an
> installed firewall, to verify that it isn't causing a problem (even if it
is disabled).
> 6. Clear your IE cache and cookies -- open Internet Explorer, click the
Tools menu, then
> Internet Options, then click the Delete Files button, and when that's
complete click the
> Delete Cookies button.
> 7. Check your IE Security settings -- open Internet Explorer, click the
Tools menu, then
> Internet Options, then Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section, and
verify that "Check
> for server certificate revocation" is unchecked. Also verify that 'Use
SSL 2.0' and Use SSL
> 3.0' is checked, then click OK.
> 8. Click Start, then Run, and enter the following:
> regsvr32 softpub.dll
> then click OK
>
> Then try again.
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "Stephen" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just received an email from my mother which says:
> >
> > "The messenger 6.0 keeps telling me I cant go on as
> > either the sign in name doesnt exist or password
> > forgotten. Been through all this before and its
> > corrected itself."
> >
> > My mother is far from being a computer whiz, and I'm not
> > there (in the country) to see the problem for myself, so
> > any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > We are running Windows XP, a 2 Gig processor, McAfee
> > VirusScan, with a dial-up connection.
> >
> > Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks
>
>