Set up Windows Messenger
It takes just a few minutes to download and set up Windows Messenger. Once you do, you’ll be ready to begin chatting with friends, family, and coworkers in the next room or around the world. The process involves a few simple steps: making sure your computer has what it needs to run Windows Messenger, downloading Windows Messenger, and signing up for a Microsoft Passport Network e-mail account. If you want to see and hear your chat partners, you’ll also want to make sure your system is set up for voice and video conversations.
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Windows Messenger system requirements
There are no special hardware or software requirements for using Windows Messenger. Windows Messenger runs on computers with at least the following:
| • | A 233 MHz Intel Pentium/Celeron, AMD K6, or compatible processor |
| • | Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition |
| • | 17-megabytes (MB) hard disk space (for installation) |
| • | 127 MB of RAM |
| • | SuperVGA (800 x 600) monitor |
The following optional features can enhance your Windows Messenger experience:
| • | A compatible microphone for voice-to-voice conversations |
| • | A webcam for video conversations |
| • | Speakers for audio transmission of voice and video conversations |
Download Windows Messenger and set up a Passport Network account
In order to use Windows Messenger, you first have to download the Windows Messenger software and set up a free Passport Network account (if you don’t have one already) so you can sign in to the program.
To download Windows Messenger:
1. | Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet. |
2. | To download Windows Messenger from the Microsoft Downloads page, type Windows Messenger in the Search box, and then click Go. |
3. | Click the Download Now button to begin the download, and follow the prompts on the screen. |
To get a Passport Network account:
1. | Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Windows Messenger. Note: The first time you run the software, the Passport Network Wizard will walk you through the steps involved in getting a Passport Network account.
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2. | The wizard asks if you want the Passport Network service to use an existing e-mail address or get a new one. If you choose to get a new e-mail address, you will be taken to a Web page where you can set up a free Hotmail account to use for your Passport Network credentials. |
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Type the e-mail address you want to use and click Check Availability to see whether that address is already in use. When you find an available address, type a password, and then complete the rest of the items on the screen. 
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4. | If you want to associate your new Passport Network account with your Windows User Account, click Next when you are prompted. If you’d rather not, clear the check box, and then click Next. Note: If you’d like to learn more about using a Passport Network account with Windows XP, see How to set up a .NET Passport account in Windows XP.
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5. | Click Finish, and you’re automatically signed in to Windows Messenger. 
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Note: To find out how to add friends, family, and coworkers as Windows Messenger contacts, see Set up your contacts.
Before you start using Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger offers an array of exciting communication options, including real-time voice conversations, video and text communications, application sharing, whiteboard sharing, and file transfer capabilities. Before you start trying out these activities, check the following to make sure your system is ready and up-to-speed:
1. | The greater your bandwidth, the better the quality. The Internet has changed a lot in recent years, and many people now have the option of using cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) connections to access the Internet. These options provide greater bandwidth than dial-up (meaning more data can be transferred at once) and give an all-around better online experience. If you are using a dial-up service, you may experience lags in communication that a connection with more bandwidth would correct. |
2. | Make sure your setup supports Windows Messenger requirements. If you have a dial-up connection or a broadband connection, and your computer connects directly to the cable without passing through a router, you're probably using Internet Connection Firewall to protect your network. In that case, you may be using Internet Connection Sharing to share your Internet connection. If so, you should be able to use all of the features of Windows Messenger. See Using Windows XP networking for more information about Internet Connection Sharing. |
3. | Make sure your router supports UPnP. If you plan to use Windows Messenger features beyond text messaging (meaning video and voice communication, as well as application sharing and file transfer), and your computer is protected from the Internet by a router other than the built-in Internet Connection Sharing, the router must support the UPnP certified standard. UPnP is an industry standard that makes it possible for computers to detect devices on a network and work with one another. |
Tip: If your router was purchased before late 2001, it probably does not support UPnP and therefore won't allow you to have voice and video conversations over the Internet. You can contact your router manufacturer or your DSL/cable modem service provider and ask the following questions:
| • | Are firmware upgrades available that enable UPnP for this product? |
| • | If firmware upgrades are available, are you incorporating UPnP support into your new products? If so, when will they be available? |
For a complete list of industry-certified UPnP Internet Gateway devices, see the list at the UPnP Implementers Corporation Web site.
Windows Messenger setup Q&A
Because Windows Messenger includes so many different features, you may have some questions about what you need to do to get your system set up properly. Here is a quick list of questions and answers, as well as additional resources for questions you may have as you begin using Windows Messenger:
Q: If I want to share applications, have a video conversation, or have a voice-to-voice chat with someone using Windows Messenger, does that person need to have his or her system set up in a special way?
A: If you plan to use Windows Messenger features other than instant messaging, you and the people you communicate with must meet all the requirements in the preceding sections of this article.
Q: What special items do I need if I want to have video conversations using Windows Messenger?
A: You and your contact both need Windows XP, a sound card, a microphone, speakers or a headset, a webcam, and preferably a broadband connection to the Internet, such as one through a cable modem, DSL, or local area network connection. Having a video conversation over a standard, dial-up Internet connection is possible, but performance improves greatly with a broadband connection.
Q: Do long-distance telephone charges apply when I make a call using Windows Messenger?
A: No. Because the data is being transmitted as part of the Internet service you already pay for, there is no additional long-distance phone charge. Charges may vary, depending on your specific agreement with your Internet service provider (ISP).
Q: Do the people I’m calling need to have Windows Messenger in order to have a conversation with me using the voice features?
A: Yes. You can use the PC-to-PC communications capabilities of Windows Messenger to talk to your contacts anywhere in the world over the Internet. In addition, when you sign up to a PC-to-phone service provider, you can call any telephone from your computer.
For more information
Check out these resources for more information about Windows Messenger:
