Vista - Problem with Windows Live Messenger, appearing offline

**flyingkipper** · 04-28-2009

I did get a reply with details on how to fix it and it worked. Sorry for not replying to say that I had fixed it!

Here is the fix I was given.

Quote:

I understand that you're still appearing offline to your contacts even you're online. I know this is quite inconvenient. Allow me to guide you in resolving this.

From our investigation, this issue usually happens when the Messenger cache folder of your account stored in your computer is corrupted. It is also possible your contacts are moved to your allow or block lists.

To resolve your issue, I will be giving to you the steps to delete the corrupted Messenger cache folder of your account stored in your computer. I have also included the steps to verify if those contacts that see you as offline are moved to allow or block lists.

Note: To fix the problem, please make sure that you and your friends follow these steps:

Step 1
- Here are the steps to delete Messenger cache folder:

- Right-click the Start button and then click Explore. In the window that opens, On the Tools menu beside Favorites and Help menu, click Folder Options. Click the View tab, and then make sure that Show Hidden files and folders option is selected.

Note: After you delete Messenger cache folder, it will regenerated a new and fresh copy of Messenger cache folder in your computer.

For Windows XP user, here are the steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder.
2. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder.
3. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.
4. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE% and then press Enter. Delete the Contacts folder.

For Windows Vista users, here are the steps:

1. Click Start, copy and paste this message in the Start Search box %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.
2. Click Start, copy and paste this message in the Start Search box %userprofile% and the press Enter. Delete the Contacts folder.
3. Sign in to Windows Live Messenger.

Step 2
- Try to sign in to Messenger and verify if the issue still persists.

If the issue still persists, it's possible that your contacts are move to your allow or block lists.

Here are the steps on how you'll appear online to you contacts once you performed completely these steps:

Here are the steps to re-add the contact that moved to Allow list:

1.Sign in to Windows Live Messenger.
2.On the Tools menu, click Options and then click Privacy.
3.From the Allow list, right-click the contact that was deleted previously and then click Add to Contacts.
4.Click OK.

Here are the steps to re-add the contact that moved to Block list:

1.Sign in to Windows Live Messenger.
2.On the Tools menu, click Options and then click Privacy.
3.From the Block list, right-click the contact that was previously block and deleted and then click Add to contacts and Move to allow list.
4.Click Apply, and then OK.

If the issue still persists, please provide those e-mail addresses that seeing you as offline in their end even you're online in Messenger.

Chronia · 04-28-2009

Okay most of this makes sense except it doesn't say where to find the cache folder to try deleting it. I think I should try this first before doing the rest. Can anyone tell me where this cache file is supposed to be? I have show hidden files and folders selected, but I don't see a cache folder. I am running Vista Home Premium and have version 8.5 of messenger becasue 2009 is just awful Can you help me and let me know where this cache folder should be please?

04-28-2009	#11 (permalink)
flyingkipper Vista Home Premium 3 posts	Re: Problem with Windows Live Messenger, appearing offline I did get a reply with details on how to fix it and it worked. Sorry for not replying to say that I had fixed it! Here is the fix I was given. Quote: I understand that you're still appearing offline to your contacts even you're online. I know this is quite inconvenient. Allow me to guide you in resolving this. From our investigation, this issue usually happens when the Messenger cache folder of your account stored in your computer is corrupted. It is also possible your contacts are moved to your allow or block lists. To resolve your issue, I will be giving to you the steps to delete the corrupted Messenger cache folder of your account stored in your computer. I have also included the steps to verify if those contacts that see you as offline are moved to allow or block lists. Note: To fix the problem, please make sure that you and your friends follow these steps: Step 1 - Here are the steps to delete Messenger cache folder: - Right-click the Start button and then click Explore. In the window that opens, On the Tools menu beside Favorites and Help menu, click Folder Options. Click the View tab, and then make sure that Show Hidden files and folders option is selected. Note: After you delete Messenger cache folder, it will regenerated a new and fresh copy of Messenger cache folder in your computer. For Windows XP user, here are the steps: 1. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder. 2. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the IdentityCRL folder. 3. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder. 4. Click Start, click Run, copy and paste this message %USERPROFILE% and then press Enter. Delete the Contacts folder. For Windows Vista users, here are the steps: 1. Click Start, copy and paste this message in the Start Search box %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\ and then press Enter. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder. 2. Click Start, copy and paste this message in the Start Search box %userprofile% and the press Enter. Delete the Contacts folder. 3. Sign in to Windows Live Messenger. Step 2 - Try to sign in to Messenger and verify if the issue still persists. If the issue still persists, it's possible that your contacts are move to your allow or block lists. Here are the steps on how you'll appear online to you contacts once you performed completely these steps: Here are the steps to re-add the contact that moved to Allow list: 1.Sign in to Windows Live Messenger. 2.On the Tools menu, click Options and then click Privacy. 3.From the Allow list, right-click the contact that was deleted previously and then click Add to Contacts. 4.Click OK. Here are the steps to re-add the contact that moved to Block list: 1.Sign in to Windows Live Messenger. 2.On the Tools menu, click Options and then click Privacy. 3.From the Block list, right-click the contact that was previously block and deleted and then click Add to contacts and Move to allow list. 4.Click Apply, and then OK. If the issue still persists, please provide those e-mail addresses that seeing you as offline in their end even you're online in Messenger.
My System Specs

04-28-2009	#12 (permalink)
Chronia Vista Home Premium 64-bit 32 posts	Re: Problem with Windows Live Messenger, appearing offline Okay most of this makes sense except it doesn't say where to find the cache folder to try deleting it. I think I should try this first before doing the rest. Can anyone tell me where this cache file is supposed to be? I have show hidden files and folders selected, but I don't see a cache folder. I am running Vista Home Premium and have version 8.5 of messenger becasue 2009 is just awful Can you help me and let me know where this cache folder should be please?
My System Specs

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