Vista - Problem with display names on 8.5

Hi,

I would like to report an unusual problem with Live Messenger 8.5. Just to
say I am a very experienced computer user and have been using MSN/Live
Messengeer for the last 5+ years.

A few days ago I noticed that ALL of my 340+ contacts in Messenger suddenly
started showing weird display names. I did a small research and found out it
is:
- Their display name for Messenger users;
- Their email address for those who have NET Passport/Live ID (i.e. hotmail
or yahoo users);
- NameSurname (with no space between) for most other contacts;
- Weird characters - eg. the first part of their work email address, etc. -
for some other contacts;
- Some "nicknames" for a few other contacts - BUT THESE ARE NOT NICKNAMES
SET BY MYSELF.

1. I checked my contact list using web interface to Hotmail, everything
looks fine there.
2. I deleted the Live Contacts cashe folder and signed in again with
Messenger so that the contact list is re-created - but the fault persisted.

Any changes made on www are reflected in Messenger (although not, or at
least not instantly, in WLMail). Changes made in Messenger take time to get
reflected on www. Changes in contact details made in WLMail are not
reflected in Messenger or www.

Moreover, I have a susipicion that some weird nicknames have been CARRIED
OVER FROM MY OLD CONTACT LIST, the one from my original Hotmail account.

Naturally, since I migrated to Live Hotmail they do not show anymore;
nevertheless, it seems they ARE ACCESSIBLE to Messenger as well as to some
third-party "contact list importers" (like on Facebook, etc.).

I wonder if there is any way of getting the contact list ok. Should I
perhaps export the entire list, then delete all contact from www, and then
re-import the list? (I am scared, though, that I would lose contact
permissions/authorisations for Messenger if I do this).

I am using the newest editions of Messenger and WL Mail on the fully up to
date edition of Win XP SP3. I haven't made any configuration changes to the
system for the last six months.

I reckon a few days ago another user has reported a similar behaviour on MAC
system on this group.

Thanks for any help and comments,

kashmiri

Hi,

I just found a partial solution, although not explanation. It is enough to
select "Display contacts by... Name and Surname".

Still, this does NOT explain why contacts have such weird names when
"Display by... nickname" is selected. A non-MSN contact cannot have a
nickname which is not set by myself!

k.



U¿ytkownik "kashmiri" <kashmiri@xxxxxx> napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
news:B5A3D645-61F7-42F3-9273-562C2C92E0C6@xxxxxx

Greetings,

As a first step, either sign into Messenger (same version) on another computer or make
another Windows account, log into Windows with it and then log into your Live ID in Messenger
there. If things are normal there, then we know what's on the server is okay and can proceed
from there.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"kashmiri" <kashmiri@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eTuI7uuBJHA.3348@xxxxxx

Could these names be the Windows Live Hotmail display names that they set for
themselves (the name shown when you receive an email from them)?

"kashmiri" wrote:

Hi,

Well, if the "View contacts by" setting is selected to First and Last name then it will grab
the first and last name from their Live Contact info which usually is the same as Hotmail.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Teoh Han Hui" <teohhanhui@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A878D2C0-6486-4FA4-9B09-236505867DAD@xxxxxx