I'm at my wit's end trying to get this infernal program, MSN Messenger 7.0.0816, working on my 98 installation. When I go to sign in, it shows the email address as "?????????Á?V?", minus the quotes (I'm assuming there's some sort of missing language pack here), and the password is seven characters long. When I type in my own email address and password, and confirm the sign-in, I am told to type my Passport account in the form of an email address (which, incidentally, is just on the hotmail.com domain). Can anyone possibly supply me with a cause, and, hopefully, solution? OS: Windows 98 Second Edition IE Version: 6.0.2600.0000 with MSN Toolbar (for some reason the homepage is the IE7 settings wizard o_O) RAM: 1024mb Hard drive: About a 10gb partition with 98 on it, FAT32 Processor: 2.53Ghz Other programs: KernelEx 0.3.4, Revolutions Pack 7, 98MP10, 98SE2ME, Office XP Messing up computers, one dual-boot at a time.

I don't have an answer for you but was wondering how long you've been running this configuration? Why not run XP instead running all these add-ons to make 98 look like XP? I don't know about MSN but most toolbars are spyware. Yahoo & Google monitor every move you make & report back to the host company. They say it's anonymous but they record your IP address which is just as good as having your home address. Check their privacy policies. "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

I run 98 (I think it is worth mentioning that it's in a dual-boot configuration with XP) because I find it better for running some of the old apps I like using, plus the DOS underbelly is another bonus that I generally prefer over using DOSbox. Also, I don't think it would really matter if I have the toolbar installed on Internet Explorer, as I never use it for browsing (except for when MSN decides to open it on my behalf >_<); I'm more of a Firefox user, though I'm thinking of moving to Opera. Regardless, it shouldn't be a hassle to uninstall it if need be. Messing up computers, one dual-boot at a time.

So basically what you have is a 98SE/ME hybrid, modded to look like XP, it runs XP apps & includes WMP 10. Is that about right? Is it possible that any of these mods could be the reason that MSN Messenger doesn't work properly? Also, the odd e-mail address makes me think "infection". That leads me to another question...which anti-virus do you run on this hybrid? I know that most AV programs are droppong support for Win9x, does that mean you're running an AV that's XP compatible? Have you had ANY software or driver compatibility problems with this setup? And which drivers do you use...98 or XP? Sorry for al the questions, just curious. I've seen all these programs around for years but never bothered to experiment with them. "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

I don't know whether this will help or not, but.... From the system requirements for MSN Messenger: "Browser Microsoft© Internet Explorer version 6 SP1 or later must be installed on your computer, though it does not need to be your default browser." Do you have the IE 6 SP1 (Service Pack 1) installed?? I believe I do - My IE is 6.0.2800.1106 in 98SE

Jam; that is right to a certain extent (though I have yet to find a program I use that KernelEx supports, and 98MP10 only imports some parts of WMP10 into WMP9). I've considered the fact that the mods could be the cause of the problem, but given a choice, I'd prefer to have the mods installed. I'm using Avast, which I believe still supports 98, and I'm using 98SE drivers for my software, as despite how many mods I install XP drivers probably wouldn't be compatible. (I have 98 drivers for all of my hardware anyway) Tubesandwires; I could've sworn the CD (from a computing magazine) had IE6 SP1 on it, but I'll try re-downloading it from the Microsoft website just to check. (Don't worry, if that's the case then I'll feel as stupid as I look :P) UPDATE: Just installed IE6 SP1, and, after re-installing MSN Messenger, there was... no change, unless you count the fact that a 'd' appeared after the glitched email address after I tried a repair. Incidentally, I've tried downloading from many sites (Microsoft, MSN, Oldapps, Download.com, Softpedia) and I'm out of ideas. xP Messing up computers, one dual-boot at a time.

You do have a valid Passport Account? Bryan