The How To's of MSN Messenger are detailed on this page.. everything from Passport Sign Up through to Uninstalling.


Page Navigation....

[What Version?]
[Contacts List..]
[Passport..]
[Adding People...]
[Change Online Status...]
[Save an IM Conversation...]
[Enable/Disable Emoticons...]
[Stop Autostart..]
[Uninstall...]

What Version?

version 3.6+	version 4.5+

Regardless of MSN Messenger version finding out which one it is that you have installed is exactly the same...
Launch MSN Messenger
Hit Help
Hit About MSN Messenger
The dialog box that appears details the version :-)

Contacts List....
saving your contacts list...
Launch MSN Messenger
Hit File on the Control Menu
Hit Save Contact List
(defaults to My Documents folder but feel free to move it around)
The file will be named Contacts for yourid.ctt (rename if you wish but keep the file extension as .ctt), then hit Save and if sucessfully saved you see...




To restore your contacts list... Launch MSN Messenger
Hit File on the Control Menu
Hit Import Contacts From a Saved File..
if you don't automatically open at your My Documents folder navigate your way to the folder
Locate your file Contacts for yourname (yourname).ctt
click on the file once then hit open (or double click on the file), you'll receive a message confirming the action...
hit OK
then all ppl on your imported contacted list will be sent a requested to add... now it's just a matter of waiting for them to give you the aok and your back up and running again :-)
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Passports....
The main Passport site is aptly called [www.passport.com]
and it's here you can [Change your Password] and [Change your Secret Question] and [Edit your Profile] a one stop passport shop ;-)
Want to sign up for a POP based or non Hotmail/MSN passport?
Use [THIS] form.
Want to sign up for a Hotmail passport?
Use [THIS] form
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Adding ppl to your Contacts List...
and yes you can add ppl to MSN Messenger who don't have an MSN or Hotmail account, all they need to do is sign up for a Passort account using [THIS] form.

Launch MSN Messenger
Hit Add on the Control Menu (an Add Contact.. window opens)
Under How Do You Want To Add A Contact? click the radio button beside By Email Address or sign in name
Hit Next
Type in name@theirdomain.com
Hit Next
Hit Finish
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Save an IM Conversation...
Easy as just...
In the active IM window
hit File
Select Save As...
enter a file name
it will default to a .txt format
hit save
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Changing online Status message...
can be done using either of the ways shown below...


Launch MSN Messenger
click within the area shown in the graphic choose from..
Online
Busy
Be Right Back
Away
On The Phone
Out To Lunch
Appear Offline
*Personal Settings


*this option takes you through to the Personal Tab (available Tools > Options) where you can adjust your Display Name, Edit your Public Profile, Change your font and enable/disable emoticons
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Launch MSN Messenger
on the Control Menu select File
Select My Status
choose from..
Online
Busy
Be Right Back
Away
On The Phone
Out To Lunch
Appear Offline

To turn enable/disable emoticons...
launch Messenger
click Tools
select Options
on the Personal tab go down to My Message Text
check the box to Show Graphics
or uncheck the box if you don't want to display the graphics.
hit OK
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Don't want MSN Messenger Starting with Windows?
Open MSN Messenger
Click Tools
Select Options
Select the Preferences Tab
Uncheck Run this Program when Windows Starts
Hit OK

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Uninstall MSN Messenger?
Double Click My Computer
Double Click Control Panel
Double Click Add/Remove Programs
Select the Windows Setup tab
Select Communications
Click Details
Uncheck MSN Messenger Service
Hit OK
Hit OK

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