Yahoo! Messenger version 8, settings, ports, what you need enabled or disabled...

We've already covered the basic system requirements for Yahoo Messenger v8, in this article we take it all one step further and cover not only the basics required but also what 3rd party software you will need, where to download it from, how it should be installed, what settings need to be enabled an and what to look for when things go wrong or fail to work as expected including port and firewall settings

Firstly the bare basic system requirements are...
Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 or later
Pentium II 233 Mhz or better (500MHz recommended)
Minimum 64 M B RAM for Windows 98 and ME
Minimum 128 M B RAM for Windows 2000 and XP
Minimum 30 Mb disk space needed to install

Avatars and Audibles require Macromedia Flash Player this must be installed via Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you are having flash "issues" uninstall via the instructions (and download link) at...
http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_14157
then re-install flash
http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer/
Note: you need to read and follow the instructions they give exactly as they have stated, if your proceed with the uninstall and ignore any warnings about Flash still running the process will continue but the re-install wont work as the files that were in use wont be overwritten so do make sure everything has been closed first), reboot...

Yahoo! Games requires Java to be enabled
spring open Internet Explorer
hit Tools
select Internet Options
select the Advanced tab
Scroll down to Java Sun category
put a check mark beside Use JRE 1.5..
click Apply
click Ok
restart when prompted
Note:
If you don't have or need a Java update head to http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_automatic.jsp and follow the instructions carefully, this must be installed via Internet Explorer

Voice chat requires the basics and also..
A non-proxy connection to the Internet
A microphone, sound card, and speakers
DSP Group TrueSpeech™ Audio Compression (CODEC) software
Voice Chat firewall and proxy settings
Protocol: UDP or TCP
Servers: v1.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v2.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v3.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v4.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v5.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v6.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v7.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v8.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v9.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v10.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v11.vc.scd.yahoo.com, v13.vc.sc5.yahoo.com, vc1.vip.scd.yahoo.com
Ports: 5000-5010

Calling, Webcam, and Yahoo! Music require:
Windows Media Player - 7 or above
and to use the WebCam feature you will need to have a Yahoo! Messenger compatible WebCam
A non-proxy connection to the Internet
to check this setting login to Yahoo! Messenger
click Messenger select Preferences
click on the Connection category
make sure No proxies is selected
hit OK
log out of Yahoo! Messenger, log back in

Your firewall must be configured to grant outgoing TCP connections on port 5100
Protocol: TCP Server: webcam.yahoo.com Port: 5100
for Super WebCam to work both parties must have a broadband connection

To test your web cam (must be done using Internet Explorer),
head to http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/messenger/messenger7/webcam/webcam-03.html,
when prompted install the Yahoo! WebCam Upload Wrapper, it's an ActiveX control so you need to grant permission first.

If Yahoo! Messenger crashes when you start your web cam then check out this article

Premium Yahoo! Voice services phone out requires Windows 2000 / ME / XP so Windows 98 users don't be surprised if you can't get this working properly
PC to PC calling requires
Protocol: TCP Ports: 5061 or 443 or 80
Voice Calls use
Ports: 5050-5070 to set up the call,
Ports: 5000-65535 to pass the call media

Scripting must be enabled via Internet Explorer (double check this if you can't see the text in your incoming or outgoing IM's)
Log out of Yahoo! Messenger and close, now spring open Internet Explorer
hit Tools select Internet Options
click on the Security Tab to select it
Under Select a Zone to view or change security settings click on the Internet icon (world globe)
Under Security Level for this Zone click on Custom Level
The Settings window will open, scroll down to the category Scripting
Enable
    - Active scripting
    - Allow paste operations via script
    - Scripting of Java applets
click OK, click OK
Launch Yahoo! Messenger, now login again.
Note: with v8.1 make sure you have IE6 SP1 installed (download here), as well as Windows Scripting package which you can download here, look for "Windows Script 5.6" for your Operating System and follow the instructions for installing this file. Thanks to DaveC & PaulK

If your smileys aren't animated check...
log off Yahoo! Messenger and close
fire up Internet Explorer
click on Tools
select Internet Options
click the Advanced tab
under the Multimedia category
make sure Show Pictures has been selected
click Apply
click OK
restart Yahoo! Messenger
click on Messenger
select Preferences
under the Messages category
make sure Enable Emoticons is selected
click Apply
click OK

If you want to stop Yahoo! Messenger from launching every time your computer boots...
launch and login to Yahoo! Messenger
select Preferences
in the General category
under the heading When I start up my computer
uncheck Automatically Start Yahoo! Messenger
click Apply
click OK

If you are still have trouble then check out our article Yahoo! Messenger version 8 Issues, Tips & Tricks or head to our WackyB.co.nz forum for some one on one help :)