On Nov 22, 9:39*am, Jim wrote:
On Nov 20, 12:58*pm, Rob wrote:

For the last week, 11/15/09, Windows Messenger v 5.1.0715 has been asking the
following every time it starts up.
"Please provide a display name so you can sign in. *Do not use your e-mail
address or leave the box blank. *We now require a display name that is not
your e-mail address to protect you from e-mail virus attacks."

My display name is saved in tools/options and has been for years. *It is not
my email address! *Why now must I type it every time I sign in? *I am running
Windows XP Pro with SP3 and every update.

I am recently having the exact same problem.
I have XP Home SP3 and Windows Messenger ver *4.7.3001
I think is started after one of the recent Windows Updates.
I thought it may be KB969947 so I removed it, but Messenger still
fails.
--JimOPI

I found another thread with the same symptoms as this one, and it
solves the problem.
The name is "Display Name popup seen at every start of Messenger"
I followed the suggestions there with some success.
It was very difficult to get logged into live.com and edit my profile
but it worked. It was well hidden.
Now Windows Messenger logs me in automatically......
But when I try to customize my Messenger Display Name inside Messenger
itself,
the change disappears after logging off and back on.
It always uses the name listed in the online live.com profile. Bummer.
IMHO Microsoft needs to hire some programmers that can write User
Friendly code.
---JimOPI