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. Instant messaging gives you the best advantages of e–mail with more immediacy and the added bonus of knowing when your contacts are available online. In Windows Messenger, you can start with instant messaging, then add voice and video. To send an instant message with Windows Messenger 1. | Start Windows Messenger. (Double–click the Windows Messenger icon located in the status area on the right–hand side of your taskbar.) | 2. | Click on the link to sign–in and then enter your .NET Passport e–mail address and password. Click OK. | 3. | On your contacts list, double–click the name of the person you want to contact. | 4. | Your Conversation window will open as shown in Figure 1 below. 
Figure 1. The Conversation window: Send an instant message
| 5. | Type your message in the lower part of the window. To start a new paragraph in your message, hold down SHIFT and press ENTER. To turn on the ability to type emoticons, click Show Emoticons on the Edit menu. Each message can be up to 400 characters long. | 6. | Click Send or press ENTER to send your message. Your message will appear in the top window. | 7. | Your contact will receive a pop–up box as shown in Figure 2 below in the lower right corner of his screen, and an audible alert indicates a message from you. Clicking on the pop–up box will open his Conversation window. 
Figure 2. A pop–up box indicates a new instant message.
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In the status bar at the bottom of the Conversation window, you can see when your contact is typing, as well as the date and time of the last message you received. You cannot initiate an instant message conversation with more than one person; you can only add people to a conversation once the message window is open. A total of five can take part in a conversation, including you. To add people to a conversation 1. | In the Conversation window, click Invite. | 2. | Click To Join This Conversation, and then click a contact's name. |
To send an instant message to someone not on your contacts list 1. | Click the Send button, and then click Other. | 2. | Type the person's Passport address (for example, an e–mail address ending in @hotmail.com, @passport.com, or @msn.com). |
The person to whom you send the instant message must have Windows Messenger installed. If an instant message cannot be delivered, make sure your contact can accept outside messages. To determine if you accept outside messages | • | On the Tools menu, click Options, click on the Privacy tab, make sure that All other users is in the Allow list. | | • | If you do not want to allow messages from anyone outside your list, make sure that All other users is in the Block list. |
You can do most of your instant messaging tasks from the icon in the taskbar (near the clock). Click the icon to see a menu and then select whether to send an instant message, sign in or sign out, change your status, or exit Windows Messenger. This is the only way to shut down Windows Messenger. Closing the main window does not close the program; it closes the window, but the program keeps on running in the taskbar. If you want to open the main window in Windows Messenger, just double–click the icon in the taskbar.
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