Weird connection problem, someone explain whats up?

I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'

I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
have no idea whats up.

WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
had this problem before though.

I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
more Information.

Greetings,

Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger server
(that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a separate
connection so they're unaffected.

Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
notification server, it simply can't do it.

In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with Windows
Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change. I
admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue recently as
well.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--


"artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
> I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
> that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
> stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
> delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
> change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
> like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
> realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
> 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
>
> I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
> have no idea whats up.
>
> WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
> had this problem before though.
>
> I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
> more Information.

Well that is good to know, but what would cause this issue? and how can I go
about making sure it does not happen as much. Is it a server problem? or is
it my own?

My internet connection is not being lost as far as I am aware.

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger server
> (that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a separate
> connection so they're unaffected.
>
> Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
> notification server, it simply can't do it.
>
> In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with Windows
> Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change. I
> admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue recently as
> well.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> --
>
>
> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
> > I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
> > that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
> > stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
> > delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
> > change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
> > like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
> > realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
> > 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
> >
> > I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
> > have no idea whats up.
> >
> > WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
> > had this problem before though.
> >
> > I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
> > more Information.
>
>

Hi,

Server problem. You wouldn't be able to connect to the service if it was your problem.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--


"artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
news:A627E50A-A3BB-4A0E-8791-...
> Well that is good to know, but what would cause this issue? and how can I go
> about making sure it does not happen as much. Is it a server problem? or is
> it my own?
>
> My internet connection is not being lost as far as I am aware.
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger
>> server
>> (that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a separate
>> connection so they're unaffected.
>>
>> Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
>> notification server, it simply can't do it.
>>
>> In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with
>> Windows
>> Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change. I
>> admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue recently
>> as
>> well.
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> Associate Expert
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
>> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
>> --
>>
>>
>> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
>> news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
>> > I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
>> > that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
>> > stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
>> > delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
>> > change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
>> > like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
>> > realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
>> > 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
>> >
>> > I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
>> > have no idea whats up.
>> >
>> > WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
>> > had this problem before though.
>> >
>> > I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
>> > more Information.
>>
>>

Still seem to be having this issue, has anyone confirmed their has been
problems with the Server as of late?

This problem is really frustrating... as I will be talking to someone, and
after awhile of them not replying I have to check to see if its a problem
with Messenger by changing the status etc, of course it won't change and I
realise I see why I haven't gotten any replies, I do get their messages as
Offline Messages after I Sign Out and Sign In though.

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Server problem. You wouldn't be able to connect to the service if it was your problem.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> --
>
>
> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> news:A627E50A-A3BB-4A0E-8791-...
> > Well that is good to know, but what would cause this issue? and how can I go
> > about making sure it does not happen as much. Is it a server problem? or is
> > it my own?
> >
> > My internet connection is not being lost as far as I am aware.
> >
> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> Greetings,
> >>
> >> Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger
> >> server
> >> (that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a separate
> >> connection so they're unaffected.
> >>
> >> Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
> >> notification server, it simply can't do it.
> >>
> >> In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with
> >> Windows
> >> Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change. I
> >> admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue recently
> >> as
> >> well.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Jonathan Kay
> >> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> >> Associate Expert
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> >> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> >> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> >> news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
> >> > I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
> >> > that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
> >> > stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
> >> > delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
> >> > change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
> >> > like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
> >> > realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
> >> > 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
> >> >
> >> > I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
> >> > have no idea whats up.
> >> >
> >> > WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
> >> > had this problem before though.
> >> >
> >> > I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
> >> > more Information.
> >>
> >>
>

Hi,

You're not on a proxy or something are you (usually in a work environment)? There are some
proxies which can be setup to disconnect connections after a certain amount of time.

As I said before, the conversations are on a separate connection so what I described before
won't affect them in the way you're describing.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
--


"artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
news:FFA1D326-6A97-45D7-825D-...
> Still seem to be having this issue, has anyone confirmed their has been
> problems with the Server as of late?
>
> This problem is really frustrating... as I will be talking to someone, and
> after awhile of them not replying I have to check to see if its a problem
> with Messenger by changing the status etc, of course it won't change and I
> realise I see why I haven't gotten any replies, I do get their messages as
> Offline Messages after I Sign Out and Sign In though.
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Server problem. You wouldn't be able to connect to the service if it was your problem.
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> Associate Expert
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
>> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
>> --
>>
>>
>> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
>> news:A627E50A-A3BB-4A0E-8791-...
>> > Well that is good to know, but what would cause this issue? and how can I go
>> > about making sure it does not happen as much. Is it a server problem? or is
>> > it my own?
>> >
>> > My internet connection is not being lost as far as I am aware.
>> >
>> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Greetings,
>> >>
>> >> Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger
>> >> server
>> >> (that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a
>> >> separate
>> >> connection so they're unaffected.
>> >>
>> >> Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
>> >> notification server, it simply can't do it.
>> >>
>> >> In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with
>> >> Windows
>> >> Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change.
>> >> I
>> >> admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue
>> >> recently
>> >> as
>> >> well.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Jonathan Kay
>> >> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> >> Associate Expert
>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> >> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> >> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
>> >> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
>> >> news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
>> >> > I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
>> >> > that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
>> >> > stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
>> >> > delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
>> >> > change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
>> >> > like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
>> >> > realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
>> >> > 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
>> >> >
>> >> > I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
>> >> > have no idea whats up.
>> >> >
>> >> > WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
>> >> > had this problem before though.
>> >> >
>> >> > I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
>> >> > more Information.
>> >>
>> >>
>>

"You are directly connected to .NET Messenger Service
You are connected to the Internet through a wireless network connection.
You are connected to the internet through a UPnP symmetric NAT.
(Administrator)"

Tested TCP, it says I can connect to Windows Live Messenger Service.
Not using Socks.
HTTP test says can connect to Windows Live Messenger Service but there is no
host information filled in.


I haven't been having any trouble with my Internet Connection from what I
can tell.

You said:
"In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but
beginning with Windows
Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a
nice change. I
admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the
issue recently as well."

Why would Microsoft let you get disconnected from this Server, without any
notification that you are? I could send a message and perhaps have to wait an
entire day for a connection to the Notification Server to be made? If
something was wrong...

Are there posts on any other forums where there is talk about this problem
or similar?

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> You're not on a proxy or something are you (usually in a work environment)? There are some
> proxies which can be setup to disconnect connections after a certain amount of time.
>
> As I said before, the conversations are on a separate connection so what I described before
> won't affect them in the way you're describing.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> --
>
>
> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> news:FFA1D326-6A97-45D7-825D-...
> > Still seem to be having this issue, has anyone confirmed their has been
> > problems with the Server as of late?
> >
> > This problem is really frustrating... as I will be talking to someone, and
> > after awhile of them not replying I have to check to see if its a problem
> > with Messenger by changing the status etc, of course it won't change and I
> > realise I see why I haven't gotten any replies, I do get their messages as
> > Offline Messages after I Sign Out and Sign In though.
> >
> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Server problem. You wouldn't be able to connect to the service if it was your problem.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Jonathan Kay
> >> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> >> Associate Expert
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> >> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> >> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> >> news:A627E50A-A3BB-4A0E-8791-...
> >> > Well that is good to know, but what would cause this issue? and how can I go
> >> > about making sure it does not happen as much. Is it a server problem? or is
> >> > it my own?
> >> >
> >> > My internet connection is not being lost as far as I am aware.
> >> >
> >> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Greetings,
> >> >>
> >> >> Well what you're describing occurs when you've lost your connection to the Messenger
> >> >> server
> >> >> (that is, the one that updates your contact list). Conversations are done on a
> >> >> separate
> >> >> connection so they're unaffected.
> >> >>
> >> >> Since changing your status or starting a new conversation requires a connection to the
> >> >> notification server, it simply can't do it.
> >> >>
> >> >> In previous versions you'd just get signed out when this happened, but beginning with
> >> >> Windows
> >> >> Live Messenger, it just tries to reconnect in the background, which is a nice change.
> >> >> I
> >> >> admit it rarely happens to me, but I've known other people who've had the issue
> >> >> recently
> >> >> as
> >> >> well.
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Jonathan Kay
> >> >> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger/MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> >> >> Associate Expert
> >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> >> >> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >> >> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2007 Jonathan Kay.
> >> >> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
> >> >> --
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "artfuldodga" <> wrote in message
> >> >> news:B3019CA0-67CB-447F-9A21-...
> >> >> > I noticed over the last few days while I am signed into the Messenger Service
> >> >> > that for some reason I cannot change my Status (Online to Away) etc. It will
> >> >> > stay Online, I thought nothing of this the first time I figured it was just a
> >> >> > delay and It would change in a few seconds or more. Anyhow, it will not
> >> >> > change... Messenger does not appear to of crashed, or frozen. It even seemed
> >> >> > like I was able to send messages to others (which it was not doing) I soon
> >> >> > realised what was up and Signed Out, I got a few error messages saying
> >> >> > 'Conversation could not be started with this contact and that contact'
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I signed back in, the problem goes away ...for a period of time anyway. I
> >> >> > have no idea whats up.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > WLM 8.5 1288.816, I do realise this is a beta and could be a bug, I haven't
> >> >> > had this problem before though.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I have started the connection logging option just incase I have to provide
> >> >> > more Information.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
>

I am having exactly the same problems as you, since Beta 1 or Beta 2, and it
is driving me crazy.

Friends try to contact me but their messages cannot be delivered, and if I
try to write to them messages look like they are going out but in fact are
not. To me it looks like I am signed in, and other people see me as signed
in, but any attempt to communicate with me fails.

If I restart Messenger then things work for a brief period of time again,
but then it stops working fairly quickly and without any indication of a
problem whatsoever, except the fact I haven't heard from anyone for a while.

Very frustrating!

I'm not using any proxy here, just the Windows Vista firewall and my DSL
Modem's firewall + UPnP. As I say, everything worked fine until Beta 1 or
Beta 2 so something must be screwed up somewhere.

Feel free to contact me if I can help track down the problem. (I'm a
developer myself so I can try out complex stuff if you need me to.)

I got my Messenger to work in the end by running this from an administrator
command prompt:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

It seems the TCP auto-tuning stuff that's enabled by default in Vista causes
all kinds of problems, probably depending on the network hardware you use.
(As far as I can tell it's not strictly a bug in Vista; it's Vista doing
something that confuses some network hardware but is supposed to work.)

I'd read about autotuning causing problems with a number of other things,
which all worked fine for me, but not about it causing problems with
Messenger. I tried it anyway, out of desperation, and my Messenger has been
fine since. If I set it back to autotuninglevel=normal the problems with
Messenger come back within 15 minutes or so, so I am convinced this is the
solution.

Hope this information is helpful to others having this annoying problem!

I have exactly the same problem and it is driving me to despair!
I am not quite sure how to apply the solution in the previous post. I tried entering it in a command prompt, but got an error of which I am not sure what it means as my Vista is in Spanish and it is Home Premium so I can´t change the language!!

Anyway, is it right that I just have to enter that line you put there? Help!!

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