(Darth needs your help!) Windows Live Messenger is broken

[Darth]

Hey guys! I have a major problem. MSN just stopped working for me a few weeks ago. It worked before that but now, just suddenly its not letting me sign in.

When i enter my password it takes FOREVER to sign in, it doesnt sign in, i get an error message. I seem to get a different error code each time. This time the error code is:

Ive tried uninstalling and installing it like 4 times now! (IT DOESNT WORK!) Ive even contacted Microsoft and i followed their 15 different ways of getting it working and it still doesnt work! 81000306. Ive searched Google for help so many times.

It just seems to be this machine. If i try it on another computer it works fine. I can sign into Hotmail/Web Messenger fine from this machine too but its just windows live that seems to be broken.

I would really appreciate any help anybody can give me!

Thanks alot

-Darth

 

[Saeten]

Error 81000306: You cannot sign in to Windows Live Messenger
You may not be able to sign in because of one of several problems, such as your proxy settings, the DNS cache, or a firewall (A security feature designed to help protect a computer from unauthorized external access. It can be hardware, software, or both.) . Before working through the steps below, confirm that you're connected to the Internet by visiting another website.

To troubleshoot the problem:
Clear the Windows Live Messenger proxy settings

1. Start Messenger.
2. Select Tools, and then click Options.
3. Under Connection, click Advanced Settings.
4. Delete the entries under SOCKS.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

If your computer is running Windows XP, clear the DNS resolver cache

1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type cmd, and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, type ipconfig/flushdns, and then press ENTER.

If you're still unable to sign in to Messenger

1. Check your firewall settings:
1. Go to the MSN Web Messenger website.
2. Click Start MSN Web Messenger, and then try to sign in.

If you can sign in to MSN Web Messenger, but Windows Live Messenger still can't access the Internet, Windows Live Messenger may be blocked by a firewall. You may need to add MSNmsgr.exe to your firewall's allow list. See your firewall's documentation or website for more information on how to add MSNmsgr.exe to your allow list.
2. A dial-up connection may be timing out. Wait a few minutes, and then try to sign in again.
3. If your computer is part of a corporate network, contact your network administrator to make sure that the network allows access to the Messenger service.
4. Make sure your antivirus or antispyware programs don't conflict with Messenger.

 

[Beta]

You could try an alternative to Live Messenger. Personally I use Pidgin (http://www.pidgin.im/) a free IM client that uses almost every IM client all in one.

 

[Saeten]

You could try an alternative to Live Messenger. Personally I use Pidgin (http://www.pidgin.im/) a free IM client that uses almost every IM client all in one.

Yeah these work pretty well if MSN isn't working.

 

[Darth]

You could try an alternative to Live Messenger. Personally I use Pidgin (http://www.pidgin.im/) a free IM client that uses almost every IM client all in one.

Yea, ive tried Pigdin in the past and i dont like it very much. Im used to MSN and i just want to get it working again, thanks for the suggestion though.

Error 81000306: You cannot sign in to Windows Live Messenger
You may not be able to sign in because of one of several problems, such as your proxy settings, the DNS cache, or a firewall (A security feature designed to help protect a computer from unauthorized external access. It can be hardware, software, or both.) . Before working through the steps below, confirm that you're connected to the Internet by visiting another website.

To troubleshoot the problem:
Clear the Windows Live Messenger proxy settings

1. Start Messenger.
2. Select Tools, and then click Options.
3. Under Connection, click Advanced Settings.
4. Delete the entries under SOCKS.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

If your computer is running Windows XP, clear the DNS resolver cache

1. On the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type cmd, and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, type ipconfig/flushdns, and then press ENTER.

If you're still unable to sign in to Messenger

1. Check your firewall settings:
1. Go to the MSN Web Messenger website.
2. Click Start MSN Web Messenger, and then try to sign in.

If you can sign in to MSN Web Messenger, but Windows Live Messenger still can't access the Internet, Windows Live Messenger may be blocked by a firewall. You may need to add MSNmsgr.exe to your firewall's allow list. See your firewall's documentation or website for more information on how to add MSNmsgr.exe to your allow list.
2. A dial-up connection may be timing out. Wait a few minutes, and then try to sign in again.
3. If your computer is part of a corporate network, contact your network administrator to make sure that the network allows access to the Messenger service.
4. Make sure your antivirus or antispyware programs don't conflict with Messenger.

Ive already tried that. Thanks anyway.

Any more suggestions?

 

[Thereven]

Well, if you're getting problems even after uninstalling and reinstalling, then it sounds like the uninstaller isn't cleaning the settings out of your registry correctly.

Uninstall again, save a backup of your registry file, then clean out all the entries related to windows live messenger. Then try installing a fresh version and see if it's fixed.

 

[Darth]

ITS WORKING! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ITS FINALLY WORKING AGAIN!

YAY! All i did was follow the steps for a complete and ultimate clean installation and it worked! Thanks for your help anyway guys!