Signing In and Setting Up Contacts Using Windows Messenger
Signing In and Setting Up Contacts
Updated: November 1, 2002
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. (Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Messenger.) |
| • | In subsequent sessions when you log in to Windows XP, you can start Windows Messenger, by double-clicking the Windows Messenger icon  near the clock in the lower right corner of your screen.) |
| • | When 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. |
| • | If you already have a .NET Passport, your user name will appear on the sign-in screen. See figure 1 below. If that is the name you want to use, Windows Messenger can sign in for you automatically.  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. Click Add a Contact to start creating your list.
You can organize contacts into groups to make it easier to find people as shown in Figure 4 below.
Click on the arrow beside a group to expand or contract that list.
Figure 4. Organize contacts into groups.
To create a group of contacts
| • | Click Add a Group under I want to....
-or- |
| • | Click the Tools menu, click Manage Groups, and then choose a task such as Add, Delete, or Rename a Group. |
| • | To sort your contacts, drag them into the groups. |
You can switch between views to see your contacts sorted by online status, or by the groups you created.
| • | Click the Tools menu, click Sort Contact By, and then click Groups or Online/Offline, as shown in Figure 5 below.  Figure 5. Sorting contacts into groups. |
The I want to... area at the bottom of the Windows Messenger screen provides quick access to common tasks, such as Add a Contact, and Send an Instant Message. Click on More to expand the list, as shown in Figure 6 below.
Figure 6. Expand the list for More tasks.
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.
