Workaround MSN Live 2011. Keep 2009.

[Payton Westlake]

I'm just posting this now to get the ideas down.  I'll be back shortly to format the tutorial for easier read, and some pictures.  I know you guys like pretty pictures.



I WANT TO GO BACK TO LIVE 2009, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!

After finally breaking down and installing MSN Messenger on my computer again, I began to start hating the new version.  Windows Live 2011 interface became cluttered quick with "Social" feeds and what not.  Key features were now missing, like the block list.  And adding contacts and reflecting my old contact lists just wasn't happening.  Live 2011 is overbloated software with a huge oversight of its original design. 

I wanted my old messenger back.  I wanted to see all my friends.  I wanted my categories to work correctly.


If you're tired of new Windows Live 2011 and just want the old messenger that was just basically an IMing program, continue reading.

To go back to using Windows Live 2009, do these three things:

• Uninstall all of Windows Live 2011
• Find and install an older version of Live from 2009
• Run 2009 in XP compatibility mode so you can bypass Vista/Win 7's dependencies for 2011 software

First let's uninstall all of Windows Live 2011.  This will allow Windows to install the older version of MSN without running into the prompt that you already have newer components installed.

Got to Start > Run.  Or just press the WINDOWS KEY + R
In the box that follows type "Control Panel" and press Enter or hit OK
Look for "Uninstall Programs/Features", open this and wait for your program list to begin populating
Once loaded head on down to the W's and look for Windows Live Essentials 2011
Click this and the click, "Uninstall/Change Program"
In the next window select, "Remove ........"
Remove everything

Don't worry.  If there are some features you will miss from 2011 and you still want to keep, you can get them back after you install Messenger 2009.  Just run the 2011 setup again, and choose the programs you want back, but leave your Messenger installation alone, unless you really want to go back to 2011 software.

For the next step find and older installer of Windows Live 2009
Softonic still has a copy of the old install
Softonic will download its own download manager to your computer, Save it where you can find it
Launch the download manager and choose "Custom" rather than "Express", this way you can uncheck the extra toolbar that wants to install itself to you favorite browser
Click next and Windows Live 2009 will start to install
Windows will close or ask you to close some programs so it can do its work
This may take a while, so sit tight


Once you have MSN Windows Live 2009 installed, before you launch it you need to set it to work in XP compatibility mode
When you don't set the mode, the next time you try to sign in to Messenger, the program will prompt you to download and install the newer version, then you'll be stuck with 2011 again
Find the shortcut for 2009 and right click its Icon
Click "Properties"
Go to the "Compatibility" tab
Lastly in the Compatibility box, check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:", and in the drop down box choose "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)"
Click "Apply", Click "OK"


Launch Live 2009 and there you have it.  The good and easy to use Windows Messenger before they stuff it full of BS.



-PW

[A maid]

As much as I'd love to go back now, I don't want to experience losing all my emoticons again. No idea why I didn't think of the compatibility thing though, it sounds so obvious now.

[Sheep]

Sounds great! Can't wait till I'm home to try this out.

[Omma!]

Awesome now it works. If someone need it I uploaded an installer of the old version.

http://www.speedyshare.com/EYgAA/wlsetup-custom.exe

[Payton Westlake]

As much as I'd love to go back now, I don't want to experience losing all my emoticons again. No idea why I didn't think of the compatibility thing though, it sounds so obvious now.

I do sometimes feel like that emote that spins upside down, but when I get force fed, so and so changed their picture, over, this guys is on, this guy is not on, and this guy is busy, I'd want to blow my brains out.  I have Facebook for that already.  Speaking of blowing...man....

It doesn't help that over the past week, I added five new contacts, none of which ever showed up on the desktop client list, even after clearing out the contact cache.  They were fine on the online profile, but the damn client never updated.  If Windows 2011 can't act like a simple IMing program that it is, then screw that.

-PW

[value]

e// problem solved

[Daksad]

http://www.amsn-project.net/download.php

I've been using this since 04-05 and always felt satisfied about it, I used WLM for a while but came back to aMSN eventually.

[Sheep]

http://www.amsn-project.net/download.php

I've been using this since 04-05 and always felt satisfied about it, I used WLM for a while but came back to aMSN eventually.

Highfive ! I've been using aMSN since the MSN Live update fucked up everything.