Note This article refers to version 4.0 of Windows Messenger, which ships with Windows XP. You can now download the update to version 4.7 of Windows Messenger for Windows XP–it's free. If you are using version 4.7, learn how to use it here. Not sure which version of Windows Messenger you have? Here's how to find out. Windows Messenger provides real–time voice, video, and text communications, application sharing, whiteboard sharing, and file transfer capability. Windows Messenger is presence–enabled. This means that you can see who is available online before you try to contact them. Using Windows Messenger you can also initiate Remote Assistance, multiplayer games and other applications. This how–to article will help you get started using Windows Messenger. When you are communicating with Windows Messenger, you will use one or both of these networking services: | • | The .NET Messenger Service, formerly known as MSN Messenger Service, allows anyone with Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger to communicate using the public Internet. | | • | The Microsoft Exchange 2000 Instant Messaging capabilities available in Exchange 2000 Server, allow businesses to run their own presence and instant messaging service in a private and secure manner. |
This section discusses how to sign in to the .NET Messenger Service and how to begin working with your contacts. You must be connected to the Internet to perform this procedure. To sign in to the .NET Messenger service Start Windows Messenger. (To start Windows Messenger, double–click the Windows Messenger icon  near the clock in the lower right corner of your screen.) The first time you start Windows Messenger, you will be asked to sign in to the .NET Messenger service. Click on the link that says, Click here to sign in. See figure 1 below.  Figure 1. Windows Messenger window: Click here to sign in The .Net Messenger Service window will ask for an e–mail address and password as shown in Figure 2 below. If you already have an MSN® Hotmail® account or a .NET Passport account, enter the information. If you have more than one account, choose your account from the drop–down list. If you do not have one of these accounts, click Get a .NET Passport in the lower left corner. Follow the instruction in the .NET Passport Wizard.  Figure 2. .NET Messenger Service: Sign in with your Hotmail account, or .NET Passport Note If you are also using a Microsoft Exchange Instant Messaging service, you will be prompted to enter the Exchange account information. After you sign–in, Windows Messenger will open, displaying your list of contacts and online status. Your first time using Windows Messenger, click Add to start building a contact list. See Figure 3 below.  Figure 3. Windows Messenger contacts: Click the Add button to start creating your list. Note This how–to article describes use of the .NET Messenger service. The procedure is identical when using the Microsoft Exchange IM server. You can sign–in to your private Exchange IM account and a public .NET Messenger Service account at the same time. Windows Messenger will display contacts from both accounts in the same window.
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