Windows Messenger Does Not Start (325717)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Messenger 4.6, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q325717
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

If you try to start Windows Messenger by using an account that does not have administrator permissions on the local computer, any of the following symptoms may occur:
  • Windows Messenger does not start.
  • The following event appears in Event Viewer:
    Event Type: Error
    Event Source: DCOM
    Event Category: None
    Event ID: 10010
    Date: 4/30/2002
    Time: 11:30:57 PM
    User: DOMAIN\Username
    Computer: Computername
    Description:
    The server {FB7199AB-79BF-11D2-8D94-0000F875C541} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.
  • You may experience delays in opening the following Web sites:
    • http://www.msn.com/
    • http://www.hotmail.com/

CAUSE

Windows Messenger cannot identify the primary messaging service for the current user and does not start.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft

  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then add the following registry key:

    Key name: MessengerService

  4. Open the MessengerService key.
  5. On the Edit menu, click New, click String Value, and then add the following registry value:

    Value name: PrimaryService
    Data type: REG_SZ
    Value data: .NET Messenger Service

  6. Quit Registry Editor.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB325717
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.