1. Remove Windows Live Messenger from the computer.
1. In the notification area (usually at the lower right corner of the computer screen where date and time is located), right-click the Messenger icon, and then click Exit.
2. Click Start, click Run, type control appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
3. Click on Windows Live Essentials, and then click Change/Remove
4. Select Uninstall, click Continue.
5. Under Select the programs you want to uninstall, mark the checkbox on all programs (Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery, Toolbar, Writer), click Continue.
2. Remove the temporary files and folders from the computer.
a. Click Start , click Run, type cleanmgr in the text box, and then press ENTER.
b. In the Disk Cleanup options window, click My Files only.
c. On the Disk Cleanup tab, make sure that only the following options are selected:
. Downloaded Program Files
. Temporary Internet Files
. Temporary files
. Hibernation File Cleaner
. Setup Log Files
. Recycle Bin
. Thumbnails
d. Confirm deletion of the files, and then run the Disk Cleanup utility.
3. Delete Windows Live Messenger related contacts cache files
a. Change the Microsoft Windows Explorer settings.
1. Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open Windows Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. In the Advanced settings list, select Show hidden files and folders under Hidden Files and Folders.
5. Click to clear the Hide extensions for known file type's check box.
6. Click OK to close the Folder Options window.
b. Delete Cache folder.
1. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder.
2. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder.
3. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.
4. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\ and then press Enter. Delete the Contacts folder. Skip this step if you cannot find Contacts folder.
4. Delete the Windows Live Messenger-associated registry keys.
Important The following steps contain information about how to modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up, and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, visit the following Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986
Warning: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
a. Click Start, click Run, type CMD , and then press ENTER to open the command window.
b. Type the following commands exactly as they appear below. Press ENTER after typing each command to execute the command.
Note In some cases, you may encounter the error that the key does not exist. If you have typed the command correctly, this may be because the key has already been removed or does not exist on your machine.
Type the commands exactly as they appear below, including the quotation marks.
REG DELETE "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Messenger' /f
REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MSNMessenger /f
REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Communications Clients\Shared" /f
REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL /f
5. Restart the computer.
6. Before we download Windows Live Messenger, let us run Windows Update to make sure that your operating system is up to date. This is will also help make sure that the program will install properly. Go to http://www.update.microsoft.com/. After the update, please proceed to the next step.
7. Reinstall Windows Live Messenger.
1. Go to http://download.live.com
2. Choose your language from the drop down on the right side of the page
3. Click Download
4. Follow the Messenger installation wizard.