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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Silas on Monday 03 March 08 12:25 GMT (UK)
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I have just downloaded the latest version of Windows Live Messenger. Being new to this, don't understand Hotmail. Is it free, also is it necessary and, if so, why. I get my mail via Outlook Express.
Silas
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hotmail is free. a lot of people use hotmail instead of their main email provider as an address to use on the web. it saves a lot of junk mail coming in to your main email address
perth
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Thanks for that explanation Perth - glad it's free at least. Cheers. :)
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If you wanted a Google mail address then that is easy to set up and it can be accessed from OE which is also easy to set up.
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Thanks jksdelver. Think I'll leave things as they are - I get in enough muddles as it is, being a bit of a computer nerd. Thank you anyway.
Silas
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Isn't windows live messenger like a sort of chat room affair?
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No Silvery, it isn't a chatroom as such. It is a way of 'speaking' to your own friends and relatives on a one-to-one basis. You can add people to your list and see when they are on-line and then 'speak' to them. It definitely isn't a chatroom.
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Windows Live Messenger (aka Messenger, MSN) is a FREE way of chatting with others over the internet for free.
Chatting is done via typing and is on a one-to-one basis with only those you invite into your list of contacts. You can see when they're online and when they come online by the way of a little notification window popping up.
You can talk with many at the same time but they have to be invited into the conversation.
It's also got the ability to transfer files. Because of the way the files transfer (directly and not via email) there is no limit to the size of file you can send.
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Isn't windows live messenger like a sort of chat room affair?
No, you choose who you talk to like you do when emailing. A conversation box pops up on their screen and you can have a conversation; much faster than emailing. Chatrooms are rooms on the internet where people can join and talk (often strangers).
Andrew
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I use Windows Live Messenger to talk to my friends in the UK and N.Z.
You build your own contact list and can block all others users from contacting you.
You can hold a conversation by typing back and forth and if you have a high speed connection, you can have live voice conversations by adding a headset or a mic and speakers.
You can add a webcam and have a video conversation in real time and you get hotmail thrown in too.
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When downloading this new Windows Live Messenger does it overwrite the old version of Messenger. Or do you have to get rid of the old version :-[
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It overwrites it.
I Exited my existing Windows Live Messenger then let the update do it's thing automatically.
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Thanks for that info, my oldest son says l must try to do things myself and learn more, hence the question, just wish everything updated automatically.
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It is easy to update to the latest version of Windows Live Messenger - I am a dumbo with computers and managed it. I still have the old version on here, kept it in case I couldn't get on with the new one, but love the new one. Give it a go.
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Hi Silas,
l updated this afternoon all went well and its up and running not a dumb blonde after all ;) but computers give me the jitters just get scared incase l really mess up.
Jean
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Good for you Jean. Know how you feel about being scared of computers 'cos I'm the same. Now I have to pluck up the courage to use a webcam!! Enjoy.
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l did not like the webcam, back in queensland my son put it on, l made him remove it, perhaps its because l hate having photo taken so don't like bing live.
Anyway good luck with yours
Jean
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Futher to my brag yesterday that l had updated my Windows Live Messenger
l cleaned up my computer as normal Disk clean up and l did a Defrag after Defrag had finish l got this message
Some files on this volume could not be defragmented.
Please check the Drefrag report for the list of these files.
The list report ment nothing to me didn't understand.
Up until yesterday l had never this message.
So do l have a problem? or is this normal or help what do l do.
Many thanks
Jean
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Hi Jean,
No you don't have a problem after the defrag....
The reason why files cannot be moved is that they are in an open state. You probably have Windows Live Messenger set so that it starts when you turn on your pc.
Do you have the little green man down in the botton right hand corner all the time? thats the clue to it being on.
You can change this setting by opening the Live Messenger window and left clicking on your user name and selecting Options
Select General in the list on the left hand side and it will give the following window.
Uncheck the top box "Automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log on to Windows"
Click ok and thats it. You can change any of the settings from the Options window
Jenny
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Hi Jenny.
Many thanks for your reply,
Have done what you suggested and just did a defrag same message came up.
Messenger is bottom right side of screen has red circle with X through it.
l had old messenger and after seeing post went back to it though never used it much it told me l have to update which went well. Only problem is this defrag.
Can tell l am really a novice if l phone my son he will give me a blast.
Jean
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if it has a little cross on it, it means it is still running in the background, just your are not signed in!
You don't need to defrag your pc that often though :o I only do it when everything slows down and none of the usual cleanups make much difference
Jenny
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Hi Jenny,
Many thanks for all your help, its very much appreciated.
l clicked on the icon han have exited it so it does not show there anymore, if l need it will go into start. l just was very worried about the defrag side of things just didn't want to mess up my computer.
kindest regards
Jean
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So pleased that I found this discussion as I have a new desktop(and broadband) and coming to terms with it all.
I used to be on AOL so just IM'd family on same!!
Now I am on BTbroadband so will follow up the info. on here .
Thanks all
Spring
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Gets all abit confusing at times, well for me it does :-[
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Hiya all
Tis good to hear honesty when it comes to computers! ;D
I used to be terrified of computers then one day my son told me - what is the worst that can happen? You break it! Tis true and then he said as long as everything that is on the computer that is important to you is backed up (i.e. copied for example onto CD or DVD) then there will be no problem.
Wise words for a young un! ;)
Lesson is 'back up' and then try anything! (But have fun doing it! ;D ;D ;D)
Su
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another wise saying
"its only a machine! you control it - it does NOT control you!"
and its right, so long as you back up and have your antivirus and firewall in place there's nothing to be scared of.
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After downloading this update of Windows Live its thrown my defrag into trouble can l just go to system restore and go back to the day before download? Will this wipe out the problem for me. l really don't use messenger would just like to have computer back to before this happened. Or am l better to go to add/remove and remove completely
many thanks
Jean
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Hi Jean
No problem and no panic! A restore will solve the immediate problem :)
However the thorn is not messenger. You just have to be a little bit careful when doing a dfrag - always do a double check to make sure nothing else is running before you start a dfrag - believe me the computer can get very niffy about such things :D
After restore dont be afraid to update messenger again it is a most useful tool for instant chat to your family and friends.
And after all of this you will be able to offer advice to others who find themselves in the same situation :D :D :D
Su
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Hi Su,
Much appreciate your reply, l only do a defrag and tidy up when needed and always after or before going on internet not while l have things open or at least l am pretty sure. l have now removed said messenger but that has not fix the problem of the message. Not really having much knowledge of the tech side its hard l am ok at the easy stuff. Son put Messenger 2 years ago, l just prefer emailing.
Its nice to get some reassurance from others here that things are ok.
Many thanks
Jean
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First up, it is many years since I worried about 'defrag', with the luxury of GIGA bite hard drives I seem to get by OK. When we only had 100meg hard drives clean ups and defrags were always needed. My belief is that some critical files can not be defragmented and moved to the one location but need to be retained as is. If some files remain as was then don't worry. After all a defrag is only putting files in a more orderley manner for quicker operation, bit like housework.
John
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Hi John,
Thank you for your reply, l had got into the habit with old computer, and so continued to do this on newer one. Your explanation was easy for me to understand. With everybody's help l feel much at ease with things.
Thank you all
Jean