Why won't new Messenger (8.5) retain saved settings?

I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:

1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
every time. Yuck!

2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
for that session.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?

It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...

Frustrated,
Sean McKay
headgamerATgmailDOTcom

Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Options...

In the new Options window select the General options view.

The first three options must be checked to allow the check boxes on the
front of the Live Messenger sign-in screen to work.

I don't use backgrounds, but I set three friends screens to three different
"themes" and the themes were still there after a re-boot, so I can only say
it will work the same as you expect, but I don't know why yours doesn't.
--
Posted from
http://communities2.microsoft.com/co...s/default.aspx
and the matching Microsoft newsgroup.


"Headgamer" wrote:

> I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
> hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:
>
> 1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
> now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
> even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
> every time. Yuck!
>
> 2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
> regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
> version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
> version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
> gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
> for that session.
>
> WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?
>
> It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...
>
> Frustrated,
> Sean McKay
> headgamerATgmailDOTcom

Um, yeah. That was no help.

All three options ALREADY ARE checked. Still no luck.

And I am glad backgrounds worked for you. But they don't for me.

Any other ideas?

Sean



"Miles Archer" wrote:

> Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Options...
>
> In the new Options window select the General options view.
>
> The first three options must be checked to allow the check boxes on the
> front of the Live Messenger sign-in screen to work.
>
> I don't use backgrounds, but I set three friends screens to three different
> "themes" and the themes were still there after a re-boot, so I can only say
> it will work the same as you expect, but I don't know why yours doesn't.
> --
> Posted from
> http://communities2.microsoft.com/co...s/default.aspx
> and the matching Microsoft newsgroup.
>
>
> "Headgamer" wrote:
>
> > I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
> > hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:
> >
> > 1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
> > now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
> > even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
> > every time. Yuck!
> >
> > 2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
> > regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
> > version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
> > version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
> > gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
> > for that session.
> >
> > WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?
> >
> > It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...
> >
> > Frustrated,
> > Sean McKay
> > headgamerATgmailDOTcom

I have been using Messenger Plus! Live... I uninstalled it and that fixed the
login issue.

However, the background setting not saving from session to session issue
remains. Very frustrating.

Sean

"Miles Archer" wrote:

> Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Options...
>
> In the new Options window select the General options view.
>
> The first three options must be checked to allow the check boxes on the
> front of the Live Messenger sign-in screen to work.
>
> I don't use backgrounds, but I set three friends screens to three different
> "themes" and the themes were still there after a re-boot, so I can only say
> it will work the same as you expect, but I don't know why yours doesn't.
> --
> Posted from
> http://communities2.microsoft.com/co...s/default.aspx
> and the matching Microsoft newsgroup.
>
>
> "Headgamer" wrote:
>
> > I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
> > hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:
> >
> > 1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
> > now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
> > even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
> > every time. Yuck!
> >
> > 2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
> > regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
> > version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
> > version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
> > gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
> > for that session.
> >
> > WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?
> >
> > It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...
> >
> > Frustrated,
> > Sean McKay
> > headgamerATgmailDOTcom

To continue troubleshooting, I completely uninstalled Windows Live Messenger,
rebooted, re-downloaded, reinstalled.

Still it will not save my contact background settings!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is this happening and why do I seem to be the only one with the problem?!

Sean


"Headgamer" wrote:

> I have been using Messenger Plus! Live... I uninstalled it and that fixed the
> login issue.
>
> However, the background setting not saving from session to session issue
> remains. Very frustrating.
>
> Sean
>
> "Miles Archer" wrote:
>
> > Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Options...
> >
> > In the new Options window select the General options view.
> >
> > The first three options must be checked to allow the check boxes on the
> > front of the Live Messenger sign-in screen to work.
> >
> > I don't use backgrounds, but I set three friends screens to three different
> > "themes" and the themes were still there after a re-boot, so I can only say
> > it will work the same as you expect, but I don't know why yours doesn't.
> > --
> > Posted from
> > http://communities2.microsoft.com/co...s/default.aspx
> > and the matching Microsoft newsgroup.
> >
> >
> > "Headgamer" wrote:
> >
> > > I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
> > > hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:
> > >
> > > 1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
> > > now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
> > > even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
> > > every time. Yuck!
> > >
> > > 2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
> > > regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
> > > version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
> > > version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
> > > gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
> > > for that session.
> > >
> > > WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?
> > >
> > > It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...
> > >
> > > Frustrated,
> > > Sean McKay
> > > headgamerATgmailDOTcom

Hi!

Under Tools/options/security/ is the "This is a shared computer so don't
store my address book, display picture, or personal message on it"
activated if it is try to uncheck it.

Headgamer wrote:
> To continue troubleshooting, I completely uninstalled Windows Live Messenger,
> rebooted, re-downloaded, reinstalled.
>
> Still it will not save my contact background settings!
>
> ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Why is this happening and why do I seem to be the only one with the problem?!
>
> Sean
>
>
> "Headgamer" wrote:
>
>> I have been using Messenger Plus! Live... I uninstalled it and that fixed the
>> login issue.
>>
>> However, the background setting not saving from session to session issue
>> remains. Very frustrating.
>>
>> Sean
>>
>> "Miles Archer" wrote:
>>
>>> Go to Tools on the menu bar and select Options...
>>>
>>> In the new Options window select the General options view.
>>>
>>> The first three options must be checked to allow the check boxes on the
>>> front of the Live Messenger sign-in screen to work.
>>>
>>> I don't use backgrounds, but I set three friends screens to three different
>>> "themes" and the themes were still there after a re-boot, so I can only say
>>> it will work the same as you expect, but I don't know why yours doesn't.
>>> --
>>> Posted from
>>> http://communities2.microsoft.com/co...s/default.aspx
>>> and the matching Microsoft newsgroup.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Headgamer" wrote:
>>>
>>>> I installed the newest version of Windows Live Messenger (8.5) and wished I
>>>> hadn't. A couple of VERY ANNOYING ISSUES:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Whereas Messenger used to save my login info and log me in automatically,
>>>> now it will not. Not only will it not log me in automatically, it doesn't
>>>> even save my login info - I have to manually enter my user ID and password
>>>> every time. Yuck!
>>>>
>>>> 2) I have always liked to use a separate background for each contact I
>>>> regularly talk to so I can easily tell who I am chatting with. The newest
>>>> version of Messenger will NOT save my contact background settings. The prior
>>>> version did. Now, every single time Messenger starts, all those settings are
>>>> gone. I have to ga back in and manually set each contact's background again
>>>> for that session.
>>>>
>>>> WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!?
>>>>
>>>> It is very frustrating and I so wish I could go back to the old version...
>>>>
>>>> Frustrated,
>>>> Sean McKay
>>>> headgamerATgmailDOTcom

Nope. Was not checked. No settings have changed. The only thing different for
me was installing this newest version of messenger. I hate it when things
don't make sense....

Sean

"Oscar" wrote:

> Hi!
>
> Under Tools/options/security/ is the "This is a shared computer so don't
> store my address book, display picture, or personal message on it"
> activated if it is try to uncheck it.
>
>

Perhaps you don't have write permission to the directory where all this
gets stored?

On XP it seems to be C:\Documents and Settings\<YOUR WINDOWS USER
NAME>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger on Vista I
don't know.

Right click on the folder and check if the Read-only flag is checked.

If it's not and you have write-permission to the folder and it sub
folders, you could rename it to Messenger.old or something and restart
messenger (you probably should stop messenger before doing the rename
part), the folders should be rebuilt and you can see if it works any
better. You will have to add all your display pictures and such again if
doing this. But you can always go back be deleting the new Messenger
folder and rename Messenger.old back to Messenger.

And you should only do this if you feel confident about it


Headgamer wrote:
> Nope. Was not checked. No settings have changed. The only thing different for
> me was installing this newest version of messenger. I hate it when things
> don't make sense....
>
> Sean
>
> "Oscar" wrote:
>
>> Hi!
>>
>> Under Tools/options/security/ is the "This is a shared computer so don't
>> store my address book, display picture, or personal message on it"
>> activated if it is try to uncheck it.
>>
>>

Well, I think we are getting closer... for some odd reason that folder WAS
set as Read Only. I deselected that box and hit OK. Thought that would fix
it. It did not. I go back to that folder and it had reset itself BACK to Read
Only. EVERY TIME I TRIED.

How do I stop that from happening?

Again, stuff that doesn't make sense bothers the you-know-what outta me....

Sean

P.S. Thanks for trying to help me out guys... I do appreciate it.
"Oscar" wrote:

> Perhaps you don't have write permission to the directory where all this
> gets stored?
>
> On XP it seems to be C:\Documents and Settings\<YOUR WINDOWS USER
> NAME>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger on Vista I
> don't know.
>
> Right click on the folder and check if the Read-only flag is checked.
>
> If it's not and you have write-permission to the folder and it sub
> folders, you could rename it to Messenger.old or something and restart
> messenger (you probably should stop messenger before doing the rename
> part), the folders should be rebuilt and you can see if it works any
> better. You will have to add all your display pictures and such again if
> doing this. But you can always go back be deleting the new Messenger
> folder and rename Messenger.old back to Messenger.
>
> And you should only do this if you feel confident about it
>
>

Actually it's the same here, it's gray and checked... And if I uncheck
it next time it's gray and checked again. So that's not the real problem
I guess.

Headgamer wrote:
> Well, I think we are getting closer... for some odd reason that folder WAS
> set as Read Only. I deselected that box and hit OK. Thought that would fix
> it. It did not. I go back to that folder and it had reset itself BACK to Read
> Only. EVERY TIME I TRIED.
>
> How do I stop that from happening?
>
> Again, stuff that doesn't make sense bothers the you-know-what outta me....
>
> Sean
>
> P.S. Thanks for trying to help me out guys... I do appreciate it.
> "Oscar" wrote:
>
>> Perhaps you don't have write permission to the directory where all this
>> gets stored?
>>
>> On XP it seems to be C:\Documents and Settings\<YOUR WINDOWS USER
>> NAME>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger on Vista I
>> don't know.
>>
>> Right click on the folder and check if the Read-only flag is checked.
>>
>> If it's not and you have write-permission to the folder and it sub
>> folders, you could rename it to Messenger.old or something and restart
>> messenger (you probably should stop messenger before doing the rename
>> part), the folders should be rebuilt and you can see if it works any
>> better. You will have to add all your display pictures and such again if
>> doing this. But you can always go back be deleting the new Messenger
>> folder and rename Messenger.old back to Messenger.
>>
>> And you should only do this if you feel confident about it
>>
>>
>