This is old news but I'm posting this anyway for future reference.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heres a tip on how to bypass Microsoft's mandatory update for msn messenger 7.5:
When you go to log onto Msn messenger 7.5, you may encounter the following:
"A newer version is available, you must install the newer version in order to continue. Would you like to do this now?"
You get two options: Yes No and third is a what's new button that takes you to a website. If you choose yes, it download the latest version of msn messenger. If you choose no, you will not be able to sign.
Well, at this point, There are two things you can do:
1) Upgrade msn.
2) Run Msn messenger in compatiability mode for windows 2000. (Note that this only applies to Windows XP users and possibly VISTA users)
Since you can't run msn 8.0 on windows 2000, you'll never get the message about upgrading msn if you use 7.5 in this mode.
Now, in order to set the compatiabilty for msn messenger, We need to locate the executable file, mainly msnmsgr.exe.
If you have a shortcut to msn messenger 7.5 on your desktop, right click it, go to properties and then click the shortcut tab. The Target section should be filled already and it should something similar to "C:\Program Files\Msn Messenger\msnmsgr.exe". If this is the case, click the find target button and windows will automatically open the folder for you where the file is.
Another way to get to the file is to browse to it manually. In other worlds, Open my computer, Double click on your first hard drive (Typically C:, usually says Local Disc C:), then double click on the programs folder, and then double click on the msn messenger folder.
Once you are there, right click on msnmsgr.exe and then goto properties. Click on the compatiability tab, and you'll notice a section here that says Compatiability mode. Click in the option that says "Run the program in compatiably mode for" so that there is a check in the box. Then, in the drop down arrow list, select windows 2000 and then click apply and ok.
At this point, if you have msn messenger open, close it. Right click it in the taskbar and select close. Then, Reopen it. You will notice that it will run through the repair wizard real quick, and then at this point you should be able to sign back onto to msn.
Hope that helps.
If you want to read more about this issue, go here:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/arti....&intsrc=hm_list
