Instead of adding pictures as attachments to your Hotmail messages by clicking Attach and then File and then selecting the pictures you would like to include, Hotmail brings you a tool so you can more efficiently select and add multiple photos to a Hotmail message in Internet Explorer in a couple clicks: select Attach and then Photo.

Try it yourself: just go to http://mail.live.com/, sign in with your Windows Live ID, start composing a new e-mail message, and click Attach, Photo.
Note: this is an Internet Explorer-only feature.

Source: http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41587.entry

1. Open the Windows Live account center at https://account.live.com/ChangePassword.aspx.
2. If prompted, sign in using your Windows Live ID (e-mail address) and your existing password.
3. Make especially sure that you are seeing the Extended Validation certificate information (the name “Microsoft Corporation (US)”) in your browser address bar, as well as that the address starts with “https://login.live.com/”.

   

4. After sign-in, you should see the following page:

   

5. Before typing your new password, again make sure that the connection is encrypted properly. If you are using Internet Explorer, the address bar should look like this:

   

6. Enter your current password once, and your desired new password twice. While you type, watch the password strength indicator. The greener it is, the safer is your password. Wondering how to create a strong password? I will talk about this topic in an upcoming post.
7. To get reminded every 72 days to change your password, check the corresponding check box.
8. Finally, click Save, and don’t forget to sign out properly so nobody can take over your account.

We immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers. As part of that investigation, we determined that this was not a breach of internal Microsoft data and initiated our standard process of working to help customers regain control of their accounts.

On October 1, data sets of customers whose e-mail addresses start with A or B had been published on pastebin.com, a service storing any kind of text snippets. According to Microsoft, the data are like to have been stolen with a widespread phishing attack. In the meantime, the Windows Live team has locked access to all compromised accounts, whose domains ended in hotmail.com, msn.com and live.com.

Make your Windows Live Hotmail account safe

If your account has been locked by Microsoft to prevent abuse, follow these simple steps to unlock it:

1. Open the site https://support.live.com/eform.aspx?productKey=wlidvalidation&ct=eformcs&scrx=1.
2. Fill in the form as accurately as possible, then submit it.

What to think about

• Make sure to renew your Hotmail password every 90 days. I will write a step-by-step guide about this shortly.
• You cannot find out whether a contact of yours has blocked you in Windows Live Messenger. Sites and services claiming to be able to tell you this are fake and were only created to steal your Windows Live password.
• Enter your Windows Live password only on websites when the URL starts with “https://login.live.com/” and is marked by a valid security certificate.
• Install and keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, e.g. by using Microsoft Security Essentials.
• If you use the same password for other services, too (not recommended anyways!), change it there.

InPrivate, Private Browsing, Incognito

Almost all modern browsers help you to protect your identity abroad: They have private modes integrated that are easy to enable and that don’t store any browsing history nor cookies on the computer after you close your session.

1. Open your favorite browser, or the one that you are using on the foreign computer.
2. Enable the private mode, as described below.
3. Surf.
4. Close the browser window when you are done. This is important!
5. Your cookies and session data are then deleted, including your Windows Live ID login information, if you have signed in to Windows Live in your private browsing session.
   No fear anymore!

Here is how to enable the private mode in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari:

Internet Explorer

Click Safety, InPrivate Browsing.

Mozilla Firefox

Click Tools, Start Private Browsing.

Google Chrome

Click Tools, New incognito window.

Apple Safari

Click Tools, Private surfing.

You can connect multiple computers to a personal folder, but each one must have a unique computer name. Only you can synchronize files in your personal synchronized folder.

You can connect to someone else’s shared folder, if the owner gave you permission. Just sign in using your Windows Live ID.

1. If Sync isn’t already running, on the Start menu, click Programs or All Programs, click Windows Live, click Windows Live Sync, and then sign in using your Windows Live ID.
2. In the notification area on the taskbar, click the Sync icon .
3. Click Sync website.
4. Under Personal folders or under Shared folders, click the name of the folder that you want to connect with the computer you’re using.
5. Click Add a computer.
6. In the list of available computers, click the name of the computer.
7. Select the folder on the computer where you want Sync to synchronize the files, and then click Sync folder here.– or –To create a new folder, select a location, click Create new folder, type a name for the folder, and then click Create and sync.
8. Choose the synchronization setting that you want, and then click Finish.

Notes

• Your computer must be online for files to synchronize. You can’t view files or the contents of a folder on the Sync website.
• If you created a folder for synchronizing, and you delete a file with a .p2p extension from the folder, the placeholder, as well as the actual file, is deleted from every computer that shares the folder.
• Synchronizing Microsoft Office Outlook .pst files between computers is not recommended because these files constantly change. This can result in frequent sync errors and files that aren’t updated.
• Keep in mind that Sync can’t merge data between database files. If you use a Microsoft Access, SQL, or ACT! database, you can synchronize database files to another computer so that they can be edited and viewed on multiple computers, but a database itself can’t be opened or modified on two computers at the same time.

Source: http://windowsliveblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!720E46AE746458F7!5810.entry

Ab Anfang September 2009 kannst du keine neuen Ereignisse mit Windows Live Events mehr erstellen. Du kannst deine vorhandenen Events immer noch bis 2010 bearbeiten, und wir ermuntern dich, deine Fotos und Dateien aus deinen existierenden Events vor diesem Zeitpunkt zu sichern.

So geht’s: Deine Fotos und Dateien sichern

Fotos sichern

1. Gehe zu http://events.live.com/ und melde dich mit deiner Windows Live ID an.
2. Klicke oben auf der Seite auf Ihre Ereignisse anzeigen.
3. Klicke auf das Ereignis, von dem du Fotos speichern möchtest, und wähle dann den Link Fotos auf der linken Seite des Ereignisses.
4. Wähle das Fotoalbum aus, das du sichern willst, und klicke dann oben auf der Seite auf den Link Mehr.
5. Im Menü, das sich unter Mehr öffnet, klicke auf Herunterladen, und dann auf Mit Fotogalerie herunterladen.
6. Wähle die Fotos aus, die du sichern willst, und klicke dann auf Herunterladen.

Dateien sichern

1. Klicke auf das Symbol SkyDrive auf der linken Seite eines Ereignisses.
2. Wähle den Ordner Dokumente.
3. Wähle eine Datei aus, die du herunterladen willst.
4. Klicke auf Herunterladen, und dann öffne die Datei oder speichere sie auf deinem Computer.

Riconoscimento posta indesiderata

Una tipica virus mail ha un titolo di soggetto arcano, come “Buono shopping, buon umore” e un messaggio amichevole che ti inviterà a visitare il sito web del mittente. Comunque, cliccando su un qualsiasi link contenuto nel messaggio, verrà scaricato sul tuo pc una copia del worm del dirottatore, il quale riunirà tutta la tua agenda e si diffonderà a tutti i tuoi amici.

Proteggere te stesso e stare sicuro

• Usa un anti-virus e un programma anti-malware. (Non usare due programmi anti-virus concorrenti.)
• Tieni il tuo software aggiornato con le ultime definizioni dei virus.
• Fai attenzione mentre apri messaggi con link di siti web all’interno.
• Verifica sempre i link inseriti: Passa il tuo mouse sopra il link e verifica che nella barra di stato del tuo browser ci sia scritto lo stesso URL che è stato scritto nel messaggio.
• Non inserire il tuo Windows Live ID o qualsiasi altra informazione personale su un sito che hai aperto tramite link. Se vuoi accedere ad un sito, aprilo tramite i tuoi segnalibri (Preferiti) o, ancora meglio, scrivi direttamente l’indirizzo del sito web nella barra indirizzi del tuo browser.
• Non aprire nessun allegato di posta se non hai chiesto di farti inviare qualcosa.
• Una volta identificata una mail spam, eliminala, e cancella il Cestino delle mail.
• Tieni il tuo computer aggiornato con gli ultimi aggiornamenti disponibili di Windows Updates.

Trova altre informazioni sul sito Windows Live Help Safety Solutions.

1. Non cliccare ogni link che si riceve.
   Attenzione ai messaggi strani, anche quando sono inviati da contatti che conosci. Ci sono malintenzionati che tentano di rubare le password dei Windows Live ID inviando messaggi non richiesti, anche conosciuti come SPIM. (Leggi altro a riguardo.)
2. Non accettare tutti i contatti che ti aggiungono.
   Stai attento quando la gente ti aggiunge alla lista contatti. Conosci veramente chi è? Prima di parlare intensamente con nuovi amici, chiediti: “Inviterei mai questa persona a casa mia, nella vita reale?” Se sei in dubbio, allora perché conoscerlo virtualmente.
3. Pensa prima di inviare informazioni personali agli amici.
   Vorresti annotare il tuo numero di cellulare su un pezzo di carta ed attaccarlo nella piazza della tua città? No? Quindi capisci quanto è vitale stare attenti sulle informazioni personali condivise con persone che non conosci realmente, specialmente il vero nome, l’indirizzo, la data di nascita oppure il numero di telefono. Microsoft o Windows Live non ti contatteranno mai per chiederti la password del Windows Live ID, quindi non rivelare mai a nessuno la tua password, a prescindere da chi te la chiede.
4. Non accettare alla cieca tutti i file che ti inviano.
   I file sono la paggiore cosa, quando provengono da virus pericolosi. Accetta solo file di cui conosci il contenuto e accetta solo file inviati da persone che conosci e di cui ti fidi. Usa sempre uno scanner antivirus per evitare varie infezioni del tuo sistema. Assicurati di fare un back-up di tutti i dati importanti sul tuo computer su un’unità esterna che non è sempre connessa al pc.
5. Usa il buon senso.
   Se qualcosa ti suona troppo buono per essere vero, è troppo buono per essere vero.

mynetx: Please tell me a bit about yourself. Is your life directly or indirectly involved with Windows Live?

Lance: I go by the name of Salem. I’m 22 right now, originally from South Africa (the country, not Southern Africa); however I am currently residing in the Cambridgeshire in the UK. My life doesn’t directly involve Windows Live actually—in fact, I consider myself rather new to the whole MSN/Windows Live community.

mynetx: New? Since when are you in the Live business? Tell me a bit about your history with it…

Lance: Okay, maybe not “New”; I just see myself as new to the whole community when I compare how long some people have been involved. I first started using MSN software in 2003 when I first moved to the UK from South Africa. As can be expected, the first MSN software application I used was MSN Messenger, that’s when I first became a regular user at least. I tried a couple of times before that back in South Africa to chat to my relatives in the UK, but due to terrible internet access (high cost and unreliable) I was only ever able to sign-in twice. (OK, maybe it wasn’t a South Africa-wide internet issue, maybe just our budget ISP. [laughes])

But yeah, I really got into it in 2003. Don’t ask me what version I used, I can’t remember if it was MSN Messenger 6.2 or 6.5, but somewhere around there. I applied to take part in MSN Messenger Beta testing (thinking I’d never get in) back in, I think, 2004. To my surprise, I got in…

mynetx: Do you think the Windows Live team cares for their users’ demands? Why?

Lance: I think people (Messenger users) can be very demanding. Well, Windows Live users can, too; but I’m saying Messenger users as it is by far the most used Windows Live product. Users can be very demanding: wanting things, and expecting to get a feature, just because they ask for it. Yet again, it can be kind of frustrating when specific suggestions/demands get made over and over and over again, and they are just dismissed by the developers.

I think it is easy for the casual users to demand things and not fully understanding the behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done to satisfy that demand.

mynetx: What might be the motivation behind dismissing user’s suggestions, especially when they are made really frequently (example: tabs)?

Lance: Haha, yes, tabs was one of the suggestions I was thinking about. I honestly don’t know, but I think the most likely reason would be, as I mentioned before, the scale of the work involved in getting it to work. However, considering that even a third-party developer (like Patchou) can get it working well enough in an add-on, surely Microsoft can get it working in their own software.

mynetx: Well, the Messenger Plus! creator, Patchou, is just one person and is able to implement it…

Lance: Yes, it is certainly possible. I think of the most frequent suggestions, tabs would be one of the easiest to reliably implement (compared to something like polygamy, the ability to sign-in to multiple accounts from one client).

mynetx: Use your fantasy: how do you think Messenger will look like within the next five years? What new features could it present?

Lance: Wow, really difficult question! I would like to see Silverlight/WPF used more. I mean it is Microsoft’s own technology, yet they are not using it.

mynetx: Like in the Twitter desktop client “blu”, you mean?

Lance: I have not heard of blu myself, will need to look it up!

mynetx:

Lance: I just mean, Messenger needs a total visual overhaul. I like the different look they introduced in the first beta of the renamed Messenger (from MSN to Windows Live), the orange one. I think many people complained at first about it because it was so “different” (people don’t like changes) so Microsoft reverted back to a GUI similar to previous versions.

View Full Album

mynetx: Wasn’t Wave 3 (2009) visually overhauled enough?

Lance: Apart from the new colors etc., there is not that much difference in Windows Live Messenger from MSN Messenger 6.x. Maybe I’m wanting to much but: think of the visual overhaul from Windows 9x to Windows XP, XP to Vista, and Vista to Windows 7—big changes, not these minor “tweaks” we are getting.

mynetx: I see… Apart from the user interface, what new features could Messenger present in five years?

Lance: Well… I don’t know what it could have, but I do know some things I’d like to see. Among the top items on my wish list are (in no particular order):

1. Official Polygamy Support — The ability to sign-in to multiple Messenger accounts from one Windows Live Messenger client, and have separate statuses/personal status messages/display names/display pictures for each account.
2. Tabs (although this can be done in add-ons like Messenger Plus! Live, so not that important to me).
3. Multi-party audio (or even better, video) chats.
4. The ability to export your whole WLM Contact List including the structure (groups, categories, favorites etc.). It’s a real pain when you try and migrate to a new account, as you can now only export and import the contacts, you then have to manually re-sort them in the new account.

mynetx: True, I have recently experienced the need for that, when I changed my Live ID.

Lance: It has taken me 2 years to migrate to a new account for this very reason. I just cant resort/rearrange them all; it’s a pain.

Oh, and “Bring back the MSN video carousel in the UK”, lol.

mynetx: I have always wondered that the “Video Carousel” was in 8.5? *-)

Lance: We had it in the UK when it was introduced in Windows Live Messenger, but it did not last long. It is gone now…

In fact I don’t even know if it made it past WLM 8’s beta.

mynetx: Any bugs that need fixing?

Lance: Yes, here is a “bug” I want fixed: Try adding a Yahoo! contact to your contact list (a localized one, not Yahoo.com) as a buddy. Messenger changes it to Yahoo.com even though you enter the localized one (in my case, Yahoo.co.uk). Thus, you cant add Yahoo! Messenger users who have a localized Yahoo address to your contact list. I have requested this a number of times, still not fixed.

Suggestion No. 2: Get rid of the bloody roll-over flash ads in the contact list! (That’s not a “feature” though.)

mynetx: Interoperability with other IM networks is a great field to improve, in my opinion. Yahoo looks like “hacked” into Messenger, instead of implemented correctly…

Lance: Yes, they need to add support for other Chat / instant messaging clients / protocols: Facebook Chat (as they have a stake in Facebook), definitely Jabber support please. Jabber is an open protocol, so an agreement should not be needed. I could then dump Google Talk for chatting to my MXit contacts.

mynetx: A propos Yahoo, what is your opinion on the final deal to use the Bing engine on Yahoo! websites, after all those never-ending ramblings about a cooperation, search deal, whatsoever?

Lance: Well, Microsoft needs to do something especially in search/online advertising, as Google is way ahead in market share.

mynetx: How does Bing relate?

Lance: I have tried Bing a few times. It is definitely much better than MSN Search/Windows Live Search/Live Search (whatever the last time was, lol). It also seems to be improving Microsoft’s market share. Though, I am wondering if this is because people like it, or if people are just “trying it out” as it is new—only time will tell.

mynetx: Mentioning the word “Butterfly”, what comes into your mind?

Lance: A colorful insect that flies!

mynetx: And adding “Windows Live…”?

Lance: Ahh, lol, I knew what you meant.

mynetx: What comes into your mind? What was so special about this group of exclusive people?

Lance: The Windows Live Butterfly program/group goes way back to the MSN days (hence the groups name being “Butterfly”). It was a group of beta testers who have “excelled” in Beta testing Windows Live products. Participants of the group were chosen by Microsoft and in some cases by those who were already butterflies from testers of Windows Live (and previously MSN) products/services. The group had a private discussion “area” on the Microsoft newsgroups. That’s just one of the benefits of being a member of the group. You can think of it as something similar to the MVP program, although only for MSN/Windows Live products, and lower down the hierarchy.

mynetx: Did you like being a butterfly?

Lance: I certainly did enjoy most of my time being a butterfly. It was a really good experience, not only testing, but also socializing and getting to know those with similar interests as yourself. As with any “cyber-community”, the group had its ups and downs but generally it was a good experience. It’s a shame to see the community go!

I think also what made the community so good was the way main person who managed it as he really helped things out.

mynetx: Let’s bring out a toast on Eric Chen!

Lance: Haha indeed.

mynetx: Please provide two positive and negative comments about any outstanding Windows Live product.

Lance: Hm… I choose Windows Live Mail.

Positives: Contact list/Address book synchronized with Live Messenger—that is my main reason for choosing it over other applications.

Negative: Slow (!), especially in IMAP mail downloading; furthermore it can only synchronize/use Contact list of one Windows Live ID even if you add a different Windows Live ID as account to Live Mail.

— Look how easy it was to think of negatives, and how hard it was to think of positives: it makes Live Mail not look good at all…

mynetx: OK, thanks for these.

Let’s talk a bit about your personal customs. Do you run Windows Live Messenger 24/7? Do you have some kind of a routine with Messenger and the other parts of Windows Live?

Lance: Yes, Windows Live Messenger is on 24/7—as long a PC is on it is running and signed in. Routine? Not really. I usually check if any people I chat to often are online (Messenger Plus! Live Desktop Contacts), see if I want to talk to them. I may then open Live Mail, but as it doesn’t auto-run on startup/login nor auto-run in system tray, I have to do this manually, so I often forget. However, as these are the Windows Live applications I use most, that is usually the order I would do things.

mynetx: Comparing your ideas we talked about before (like UI enhancements, tabs, multiple accounts per endpoint, more IM networks, etc), with Messenger’s current features, which of these might be added in the next release, Wave 4?

Lance: I think more IM network interoperability may be the most likely, especially as we heard rumblings about it for this version (although unconfirmed). Like I said also, Jabber could come as it is an open standard and wouldn’t need any agreements (as with other IMs like AIM).

I’d say UI change is next—but not likely. (Again, by UI change I mean a big change, not minor tweaks/changes.) Tabs would be next, and polygamy last, as I foresee this to be more work.

mynetx: Are you satisfied with the Windows Live services that are provided to you? Why?

Lance: Mostly yes. They just satisfy my communications needs, whether it be IM, social networking or e-mail. They are things I think that can be worked on (as mentioned earlier); but yes, overall I am satisfied.

mynetx: Will Windows Live be able to fill the position as overall Windows (and Office) add-on, especially when looking at Windows 7?

Lance: I think so, it is a good suite of applications for the average computer user. I think it would be better to be just integrated with Windows, but the European Union will not be happy.

mynetx: Windows Live and Office Live, along with cloud power in behind—is this the solution? Better than legacy software?

Lance: That depends on the market, in my opinion. In markets where a decent (that is, broadband) Internet connection is easily available/accessible, it is good; but otherwise it isn’t, no. I think people in Europe/the US forget about computer users in places without broadband Internet connections, not to mention those with no Internet at all.

mynetx: So, is the gap between industry lands (high-tech nations) and economically less strong areas increasing?

Lance: I don’t know whether it is increasing, but I don’t think it’s getting smaller. Take my home country for example, South Africa. Broadband Internet (ADSL) access has only become available to the general public (that is, not business) in the last 3-4 years. Here though (in the UK), it was already very common. Now, in South Africa citizens can get a broadband connection, but at a price: for example, they pay the ISP and phone line (as we do), but they also pay a charge for the phone line to be used for broadband/ADSL. So it costs at least three times as much there, plus they still have ridiculous caps/quotas making only basic net usage possible; whereas here, we are using it for much more. Just imagine cloud computing in places like that…

mynetx: To summarize: using cloud web applications is problematic for regions where no broadband web access is available.

Lance: Exactly! I’m all for it, but I wouldn’t want everything to go “to the cloud” soon as it will leave such nations behind.

mynetx: What is your favorite feature in Messenger?

Lance: Video chat is got to be.

mynetx: Why?

Lance: Being someone that lives in a different country than family and friends he grew up with, it’s good to be able to see and hear them.

mynetx: What was your first impression of Live Mesh? Could it be a new diverse method of file sharing among peers, or could it improve the current system at hand?

Lance: I loved it as soon as I tried it, and I am using it all the time now. It is what Windows Live Messenger Sharing Folders should have been. Well, apparently Mesh is intended to be more than just a file sharing service. I’m yet to see the others though, but it makes file sharing/synchronization available to the masses, for free.

mynetx: We can expect some Mesh love in Windows Live Wave 4, as it will play an important role in the upcoming “Windows Live Devices” service. How could it be connected tighter with the other services? What might we see?

Lance: No idea actually; though, I am excited and looking forward to see what they have planned.

mynetx: Me too. I will tell you as soon as I know more details…

Lance: It looks like Wave 4 will be a better release than Wave 3 (I honestly wasn’t happy with Wave 3 at all.)

mynetx: What was wrong or missing in Wave 3, the 2008-2009 release of Windows Live?

Lance: The beta ran extremely long to me—too long for what we saw as changes. Sure, Movie Maker joined Windows Live; but apart from that and minor visual changes, there wasn’t much. I don’t know, maybe I just expected too much.

mynetx: Do you wish Messenger would have a feature that a third-party IM software already has?

Lance: Well, I don’t use any other IM apps (apart from Google Talk, which is crap considering its features; the only reason I use it is for communicating with MXit people), so I don’t really know what other IM applications offer.

mynetx: Ahh, so you are a loyal Windows Live user?

Lance: (laughes) Not loyal; there is just no real need to use anything else. Most of my contacts are on WLM or Skype, but Skype doesn’t offer anything different that I want in Messenger.

mynetx: As Messenger user, I’m sure you’ve got a good tip that not everybody might know about yet—any tweak, counsel, suggestion, whatever comes into your mind.

Lance: One good tip is allowing two WLM instances to run at the same time. It is a registry setting that needs modifying; the only thing is it won’t auto sign-in to a second account (Live ID). [Read more about this tip soon.]

mynetx: How would you summarize your overall experience with Windows Live in a brief sentence?

Lance: Windows Live services help me keep in touch and share my views/stories.

mynetx: Lance, I found it very interesting to talk with you about all of this!

Lance: I enjoyed it too; thanks for thinking of me as some to interview and for taking the time to do so.

Thanks to thirteen23 labs, Alto Voltaje Design, Bram Vandeperre, Messenger Stuff, BuddyFuse and LiveSino for the images.

Windows Live Events

We’ll be retiring Windows Live Events and allow you instead to plan and manage social events all in one place through Windows Live Calendar. […] In 2010, we’ll retire Windows Live Events entirely. At that time, you will no longer be able to get to any of your old events, and you won’t be able to download and save old event photos and videos.

How-to: Back up your existing Events and associated data

Saving photos

1. Go to http://events.live.com/ and sign in with your Windows Live ID.
2. Click View your events at the top of the page.
3. Click the event you want to save photos from. and then click the Photos link on the left side of the event page.
4. Select the photo album that you want to save, and then click More at the top of the page.
5. In the More dropdown menu, click Download, and then click Download with Photo Gallery.
6. Select the photos that you want to save, and then click Download.

Saving files

1. Click the SkyDrive link on the left side of each event page.
2. Select the Documents folder.
3. Click the specific file that you want to download.
4. Click Download, and then open the file or save it to your computer.

Windows Live Messenger could not sign you in because the Windows Live ID does not exist or is incorrect. If you have forgotten your password, click Forgot your password? at the bottom of the main Messenger window.

You cannot sign in to Messenger because all you see when you try to sign in is the error code 80048821? You can resolve this issue by resetting the stored sign-in data. Have a look at the steps.

• Browse to https://account.live.com/.
• Click on the link Sign in with different account.
• Enter your Windows Live ID, that is, the address you are using to sign in to Messenger, and the corresponding password.
• Click Sign in to check if you are able to sign in correctly.
• If it doesn’t work, try to reset your password. That works like this:
  • Browse to https://account.live.com/.
  • Click on Sign in with different account.
  • Enter your Windows Live ID, then click Forgot your password?.
  • A wizard appears. Follow its steps to reset your password.
  • If you need help with resetting your password because you have forgotten the secret question and its answer, or the alternative e-mail address, please contact the Windows Live ID support by browsing to http://support.live.com/ and choosing Windows Live ID.
  • After you have reset your password successfully, go to the next step described here.
• After you have succeeded to sign in to your account, remove the stored sign-in information, and enter them again. Do this:
  • In the Windows Live Messenger sign-in window, open the e-mail dropdown and click your Windows Live ID (Messenger address). When you clicked it, click the small arrow next to the status selector, and choose Forget me.
  • Now enter your e-mail address and its password.
  • Check the two checkboxes Remember me and Remember my password.
  • Click Sign in and check if that works now.
• If you still cannot sign in to Messenger, please contact the Windows Live support at http://support.live.com/ and tell them you have already done the above steps.

Source:
http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!6003.entry
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!13934.entry

Windows Live Messenger’a, böyle bir Windows Live ID yok veya yanlış ID diye giremebilirsiniz. Eğer şifrenizi unuttuysanız, Şifremi unuttum seçeneğine tıklayın? (Messenger penceresinin alt kısmında)

Messenger’a giriş yapmaya çalışırken 80048821 hata kodu ile karşılaşıp giriş yapamıyor musunuz? Saklanan giriş bilgilerini sıfırlayarak bu sorunu çözebilirsiniz. Adımlara göz atın.

• https://account.live.com/ sitesine girin.
• Farklı bir hesapla oturum açmak için için giriş yap seçeneğine tıklayın.
• Windows Live ID’nizi yazın, yani, Messenger’a girmek için kullandığınız adresi, ve ilgili şifrenizi.
• Oturumunuzu kontrol etmek için Giriş yap seçeneğine tıklayn.
• Eğer çalışmazsa, şifrenizi sıfırlayın. Şu şekilde sıfırlayabilirsiniz:
  • https://account.live.com/ sitesine girin.
  • Farklı bir hesapla oturum açmak için için giriş yap seçeneğine tıklayın.
  • Windows Live ID’nizi girin, sonra Şifrenizi mi unuttunuz? ‘a tıklayın.
  • Bir sihirbaz çıkar. Şifrenizi sıfırlamak için sihirbazın gösterdiği adımları izleyin.
  • Eğer şifrenizi sıfırlarken; gizli sorunuzun cevabını, alternatif e-mail adresini unuttuysanız yardım almak için Windows Live ID desteğe şu siteden Windows Live ID’yi seçerek ulaşabilirsiniz: http://support.live.com/
  • Şifrenizi başarıyla sıfırladıktan sonra, burda anlatılan diğer adıma geçin.
• Hesabınıza başarıyla giriş yaptıktan sonra, saklanan giriş bilgilerini silin, ve tekrar yazın. Bunu şöyle yapın:
  • Windows Live Messenger oturum açma penceresinde, Windows Live ID (Messenger mail adresi) yazan yerin yanındaki Beni unut seçeneğini tıklayın.
  • Şimdi e-mail adresinizi ve şifrenizi yazın.
  • Beni hatırla ve Şifremi hatırla seçeneklerini işaretleyin.
  • Giriş yap‘a tıklayın ve şimdi çalışıp çalışmadığını test edin.
• Eğer hala Messenger’a giremiyorsanız, Windows Live’den destek alın http://support.live.com/ ve onlara yukardaki adımları zaten uyguladığınızı söyleyin.

Kaynak:
http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!6003.entry
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!13934.entry

If you are using Windows XP, try the following.

• Are you using the latest version of Messenger? If not, consider updating at http://download.live.com/messenger.
• Exit Messenger.
• Show hidden folders in Windows Explorer.

• Click Start, My Computer.
• Open the Tools menu, and choose Folder options…
• Switch to the View tab.
• Check the option Show all files and folders.
• Uncheck the option Hide file extensions for known file types.
• Click OK to close the dialog.

• Browse to C:\\Documents and Settings\\\\Contacts\\.
• Delete all files in this folder. Do NOT delete the folder itself, only its contents.
• Now browse to C:\\Documents and Settings\\\\Local Settings\\Application Data\\Microsoft\\Windows Live Contacts\\.
• Delete the two subfolders Real and Shadow inside this folder.

In case your operating system is Windows Vista or Windows 7, the following steps should help.

• Are you using the latest version of Messenger? If not, consider updating at http://download.live.com/messenger.
• Exit Messenger.
• Show hidden files in Windows Explorer.

• Click Start, Computer.
• Open the Organize dropdown, and choose Folder and Search options…
• Switch to the View tab.
• Check the option Show all files and folders.
• Uncheck the option Hide file extensions for known file types.
• Click OK to close the dialog.

• Browse to C:\\Users\\\\Contacts\\.
• Delete all files in this folder. Do NOT delete the folder itself, only its contents.
• Now browse to C:\\Users\\\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows Live Contacts\\.
• Delete the two subfolders Real and Shadow inside this folder.

Note: The is your Windows user name; the is the e-mail address you use to sign in to Messenger.

This fixed your issue? Wonderful.
It didn’t? Please contact the Windows Live support at http://support.live.com/ .

Source:
http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!5903.entry
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!13937.entry

Messaging spam, sometimes called SPIM, is a type of spam targeting users of instant messaging (IM) services. SPIM is more than just an annoyance. It’s a serious threat to online privacy and security. SPIM campaigns that employ phishing tactics to get your account information can put all the personal information associated with your account at risk.

Today, Microsoft has filed a civil lawsuit against several people and businesses in which they are alleged to undermine the security and privacy of Windows Live customers. This case alleges that the defendants engaged in instant messaging spam and phishing on Windows Live Messenger.

Funmobile Ltd., a Hong Kong-based company owned by brothers Christian and Henrick Heilesen, has spimmed thousands of Windows Live Messenger customers since March 2009. Customers who clicked on the link in the bogus instant messages sent by Funmobile were then “phished”— that is, asked for their IM username and password to log in, according to the complaint. Those who provided the log-in information were often redirected to an adult Web site or, in some cases, a site that claimed to be a social networking community for Windows Live Messenger users.

Meanwhile, Microsoft alleges, the defendants collected the wrongfully-obtained usernames and passwords and used them to access Microsoft’s proprietary systems and our customers’ accounts. They then “scraped” or “harvested” the contacts within each user’s account, and sent unsolicited bulk IMs to each of his or her contacts.

Protect yourself against SPIM

• Do NOT click any SPIM links you receive, but close the conversation window.
• Tell your friend that you have received SPIM from his account.
• Change your Windows Live ID password. (Change your password here.)
• Do not tell your password anybody.
• Only enter your password on a website where you see the green encryption mark in its title bar. The address should always start with “https://login.live.com”.
• Remember to sign out properly after chatting at public places.
• Check your hard disk for viruses.

Sources:
http://windowslivewire.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2F7EB29B42641D59!41246.entry
http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009/07/16/saying-no-to-spim.aspx

Check if time and date are set correctly

• If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, and type Date and Time into the search box. Then press Enter.
• The Date and Time Properties dialog opens. Check if date and time are set correctly there. If not, change them and click OK afterwards.
• If you are using Windows XP, click Start, Run. In the textbox, type the following command and press Enter:
  control timedate.cpl
• The Date and Time Properties dialog opens. Check if date and time are set correctly there. If not, change them and click OK afterwards.

Empty the Messenger contacts cache

If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, try the following:

• Show hidden folders and files.
  • Click Start, Computer.
  • Open the Organize dropdown and choose Folder and search options.
  • In the appearing dialog Folder options, switch to the View tab.
  • Check the checkbox Show all folders and files, and click OK.
• Empty the Contacts cache.
  • Click Start, Computer.
  • Open the following folder:
    C:\\Users\\\\Contacts\\
  • Delete all files in this folder. Do NOT delete the folder itself, only its contents!
  • Now, open the following folder:
    C:\\Users\\\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows Live Contacts
  • Delete all subfolders and files inside this folder, including the hidden ones. Do NOT delete the folder Windows Live Contacts itself, only its contents!
  • Then close the open windows and retry to sign in to Messenger.

If you are using Windows XP, the following steps might work:

• Show hidden folders and files.
  • Click Start, My Computer.
  • Open the Tools menu, and choose Folder options…
  • In the appearing dialog Folder options, switch to the View tab.
  • Check the checkbox Show all folders and files, and click OK.
• Empty the Contacts cache.
  • Click Start, My Computer.
  • Open the following folder:
    C:\\Documents and Settings\\\\Contacts\\
  • Delete all files in this folder. Do NOT delete the folder itself, only its contents!
  • Now, open the following folder:
    C:\\Documents and Settings\\\\Local Settings\\Application Data \\Microsoft\\Windows Live Contacts
  • Delete all subfolders and files inside this folder, including the hidden ones. Do NOT delete the folder Windows Live Contacts itself, only its contents!
  • Then close the open windows and retry to sign in to Messenger.

If Messenger is not blocked by any firewall, the sign-in should now work. If these steps did not fix your sign-in issue, check your firewall settings or contact the Windows Live team at http://support.live.com/ .

Source: http://messengermaximal.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!40F43EC9BA81D814!5382.entry