Microsoft Instant Messenger Clients

If you are just starting out with windows instant messaging it is easy to get confused between the Microsoft Instant messaging clients. Microsoft provide two instant messenger clients for Windows - Windows messenger and MSN Messenger.

Windows Messenger

Windows Messenger is the default Instant messenger client that comes with Windows XP and is designed for corporate/work environments. This is the client you will need if you are using Microsoft Exchange Instant messaging server or the newer  Live Communications server.

Windows messenger allows you to exchange messages with colleagues, share files, have online  meetings, share applications etc.

MSN Messenger

This instant messenger client is targeted at the home use market and has all the functionality as the windows messenger client plus the ability to play online games, create MSN alerts, create new emoticons. It is generally more fun than windows messenger.

MSN instant Messenger is not installed by default but can be downloaded (current version 7.0) from the Microsoft site and installed. It is important to realise that it is a separate product and not an upgrade to windows messenger.

Once installed you will need to choose which instant messaging client to use as the default client.

Instant Messenger Start-Up Options

When you start windows the default configuration is that a messenger program will start automatically. You will need to choose which one by stopping the other program from starting.

 To stop/start  Windows Messenger at Start-Up

1. Open Windows Messenger by clicking the icon in the notification area or from the All Programs menu.

2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

3. On the Preferences tab, clear/select the Run this program when Windows starts check box, and then click OK.

4. In the notification area (bottom right of screen) , right-click the Windows Messenger icon, and then click Exit.
 

To stop/start MSN Messenger at Start-Up

1.Open MSN Messenger from by clicking the icon in the notification area or from the All Programs menu.

2.On the Tools menu, click Options.

3. On the General tab, select or unselect the Automatically run Messenger when I log on to Windows check box. Select or clear any additional items as desired, and then click OK.

Sign Out, Close, Exit

When you want to stop using the instant messenger you can

Sign out- This logs you off your connection so that you will no longer be able to communicate with other users. The instant messenger client is still running.

Close - If you close the application it is still running and appears as an icon in the status  bar (bottom right). If you are still signed in you will continue to receive message notifications as pop ups.

Exit- If you Exit the application you are signed out and the icon disappears form the status bar and you no longer receive an new message notification.