Mac Forum / Applications / Other MS Products / January 2006

Hello to all Mac Messenger users,

I'm reposting the troubleshooting steps I have provided before with
additional suggestions that might help all of you when having sign-in issues
with your MAC Messenger. Please see the suggestions below:

1. Make sure that you are using the latest version of MSN Messenger that is
appropriate for your system.

To remove MSN Messenger for Mac:

 a. Drag the MSN Messenger folder on the desktop to the "Trash".
 b. Click the icon for the hard disk drive, click "Users", and then click
your system user name.
 c. Click "Library", click "Preferences", and then click "Microsoft".
 d. Click "Microsoft Preferences".
 e. Drag the "MSN Messenger preferences" file from the "Preferences" folder
to the "Trash".

To download the latest version of MSN Messenger for MAC:

     a. For Mac OS 9.2.2, please download MSN Messenger for Mac version
2.5.1.  You can download this at:
 http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx?pid=download&location=/mac/download/
misc/msn_messenger2.xml&secid=35&ssid=1&flgnosysreq=False

     b. For Mac OS 10.1.3 - 10.2.7, please download MSN Messenger for Mac
version 3.5.1.  You can download this at:
         http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx?pid=download&location=/mac/DOWNLOAD/
MISC/msn_messenger3.xml&secid=35&ssid=2&flgnosysreq=True

     c. For Mac OS 10.2.8 or higher, please download MSN Messenger for Mac
version 4.0.1.  You can download this at:
         http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx?pid=download&location=/mac/download/
misc/msn_401.xml&secid=35&ssid=4&flgnosysreq=True

     d. For Mac OS 10.3 or higher, please download MSN Messenger for Mac
version 5.0.  You can download this at:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx?pid=download&location=/mac/download/
misc/messenger50_download.xml&secid=35&ssid=27&flgnosysreq=True

     Note: Make sure that you meet the system requirements and follow the
instruction from the above sites before you install MSN Messenger.

2. If you are behind a firewall that does not allow full access to the MSN
Messenger application add MSN Messenger for Mac through the firewall
exception list.

  a. Select "System Preferences" from the Apple desktop menu to open the
System Preferences window.

  b. Click on "Sharing" and in the Sharing window, click on "Firewall".

  c. Click on "New" and choose MSN Messenger from the list of applications.

3. If you connect to the Internet from a local network, you might need to
enable proxy settings that can connect you to Web servers outside of your
organization's firewall. Verify the proxy settings you need to use with your
network administrator. You must be signed out of Microsoft Messenger for Mac
to change your proxy settings.

For MSN Messenger 3.5.1 and 4.0.1:

  a. Sign out of MSN Messenger for Mac. If you are signed in automatically,
click "Cancel Sign in' on the "Network" menu.

  b. Click "Preferences" on the MSN Messenger menu.

  c. Click the "Connection" tab.

  d. Select "SOCKS Version 4.0a" or "SOCKS Version 5.0" in the "Type" list.

  e. Enter the server name and port. For SOCKS proxy, the port is typically
port 1080.

      Note: Please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your
network administrator for the correct proxy server and port numbers.

  f.  Click "OK".

  g. Click "Sign in" on the "Network" menu.

  h. Type your username and password in the appropriate boxes, and then
click "OK".

For MSN Messenger 5.0:

  a. On the Messenger menu, click "Preferences", click "Accounts", and then
click the "Personal" tab.

  b. Under "My Network Settings", click "Manually configure settings", and
then select the "I use a proxy server" check box.

  c. On the "Type" pop-up menu, click the type of proxy server you are
connecting to.

  d. In the "Server" box, enter the address of your proxy server, omitting
the "http://" prefix.

  e. Enter additional settings, such as a port number in the "Port" box, or
when using SOCKS Version 5.0 as the proxy type, a user name and password in
the boxes labeled "User Name" and "Password".

If you are not behind a firewall but use an Internet Service Provider
instead, make sure that the "I use a proxy server" check box is disabled to
establish a direct connection to Microsoft Passport Network.

For MSN Messenger 3.5.1 and 4.0.1:

  a. Sign out of MSN Messenger for Mac. If you are signed in automatically,
click "Cancel Sign in' on the "Network" menu.

  b. Click "Preferences" on the MSN Messenger menu.

  c. Click the "Connection" tab and then uncheck the "I use a proxy server"
check box.

For MSN Messenger 5.0:

  a. On the MSN Messenger menu, click "Preferences", click "Accounts", and
then click the "Personal" tab.

  b. Under "My Network Settings", click "Manually configure settings", and
then uncheck the "I use a proxy server" check box.

4. Make sure you sign in to MSN Messenger using the user name and password
you registered with Microsoft Passport Network.

I have a few reminders about passwords for your reference:

   -  Passwords are case-sensitive. Please use the same spelling and
capitalization you used when you signed up for your Microsoft Passport
account.

   -  Passwords should only have letters and numbers.

   -  Passwords should not have special characters, such as +, $, &, *, or
@.

   -  Passwords should not be less than 6 characters long.

   -  Passwords should not be longer than 16 characters.

   -  To change your password, please go to
https://accountservices.msn.com/.

Tech_guy101