Instant Messenger

[CelticRoz]

Several times I have tried to open up an instant messenger program. Not that I can sit here all day and chat, but it is nice once and a while to chat with someone for a few minutes about something you need to talk to them about.

However, I have this most tempermental computer. Everytime I download IM, my pc crashes and crashes! It just doesn't like me to use this feature. This week I downloaded the new and upgraded yahoo messenger, hoping it would be better. I really loved it. But could I use it without the dang computer crashing? Nooooooooooooooooooo! So I had to end up deleting it and now my pc is fine.

does anyone else have this problem? does anybody know why this becomes a problem for some of us? Thanks!

[mingkee]

I seldom use Yahoo
but it has some issue (Chinese ver shows wierd characters even I configure my XP has full Chinese support)
and end up using trillian, works fine

[cynni]

I have never had any problems with instant messaging. I use Yahoo,Hotmail, and Aim. Never had any problems. The whole family uses it.

[steeleye_susan]

Aye msn messenger is good and easy to download. ive never had any trouble with yahoo or msn. i use the two at the same time and that sometimes causes a problem but not very often...

[Sekhmet]

I use Trillian. No fuss, no muss.

[CelticRoz]

Trillian? never heard of it! Thanks Sekmet. I took off yahoo IM as it was giving me so much trouble. I really don't like to talk on IM, but sometimes it helps when you absolutely need to chat with someone, ya know? Thanks for all your help.

[Monarchs Own]

Trillian can combine your yahoo, aim, msn and icq messengers in one. That means you can chat to all your friends even though they have different IMs and you don't have to have 2 or more open.

I have mainly use yahoo, have no problems with it. I do have msn and aim also, but hardly use it.

[SCShamrock]

I'm no PC wiz, but to me it sounds like one of two possibilities. If you're using Windows XP, and you have Service Pack 2 installed, you might encounter a number of problems depending on your computer manufacturer. In this case I would suggest contacting them directly through customer support, or if you are a little more savvy, you can usually find something through the manufacturer's website in the "knowledge base" section.

Possibility #2: you have a registry problem. Often with XP users, registry issues, usually emanating from the uninstall of programs, will cause programs to either not work, or to cause system instability. Here's what I would try.

1. Scan your hard drive for problems. To do this you would select start/run/chkdsk This will operate in DOS mode, and as such you should do it with no other open programs.

My PC manufacturer supplies what's called the recovery console. Check to see if they offer this or something like it for your machine.

2. If you do have a recovery console, you will use this instead of the disk scan. On my pc, you put the disk in the drive, restart your computer, hit any key upon restart to open using the disk, select repair, and on the DOS screen, type in chkdsk /r This will run a disk scan and repair problems too.

3. Get a system repair tool. This is essential for people who have computers with multiple users (kids especially). I have System Mechanic 6. It will tweak settings, repair the registry, defragment and compact the registry, delete useless temporary files, and optimize pc speed.

That's all I have for now. Good luck.

[CelticRoz]

Hey Shamrock! Thanks so much! I have installed MSN IM and see if that will work better. If not, then back to the drawing board as you suggested!

Many thanks!

[j Padraig moore]

I have an IM that works great. Its called a telephone...







(I know. I am a smartass)

[CelticRoz]

Yes you are, JP!

Shamrock, I went back and re-read your advise and printed it out. I have something going on with my pc whenever I install IM. I am better without it and hardly don't use it anyway, but it is useful when I need to talk to a couple people close to me right away.

I have PC Tools Registry Mechanic. I was using that quite a bit and then one day my pc crashed. People told me it was because I was messing with the registry and should never do so. But I am using Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and I bet everything you mentioned are where my problems are coming from. Anyway, thanks again. I am going to try step #1 now!