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On the Choose Additional Features and Settings screen , clear the check box for any feature you don’t want to install. Your options include:

• Windows Live Messenger Shortcuts - Having a shortcut on your Desktop and the Quick Launch toolbar can be handy, but you can always launch Messenger from the Start menu, or set it to launch automatically when you log on to Windows.

• Windows Live Sign-in Assistant - The Assistant enables you to use two or more Windows Live IDs from the same Windows user account. You can save the password for each of the Windows Live IDs, so you can sign in easily using any of the IDs.

• MSN Home - Selecting this check box changes Internet Explorer’s home page to MSN Home. If you have a preferred home page, clear this check box.

• Windows Live Toolbar If this check box appears, clear it, because the Windows Live Toolbar requires Windows XP rather than Windows Vista. Windows Vista already includes most of the features available in Windows Live Toolbar.

7. When the setup routine ends, click the Close button. Messenger then starts automatically.

Starting Messenger for the First Time

The first time you start Messenger, you need to provide the details of your Windows Live ID and you will also choose options. Follow these steps:

1. To start Messenger, choose Start All Programs Windows Live Messenger. Alternatively, if a Messenger icon appears in the notification area, double-click it.

2.If you don’t have a Windows Live ID yet, click the Get a New Account link toward the bottom of the window. Messenger causes Windows to open a browser window to the Windows Live web page on which you can sign up for a Windows Live ID. Follow the process, being sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.

3. Type your Windows Live ID in the E-mail Address text box, and then type your password in the Password text box.

4. If you want Messenger to remember your Windows Live ID, select the Remember Me check box. Messenger makes Windows store the details of your Windows Live ID, so that it is associated with your Windows user account. Storing the Windows Live ID lets you log on to Messenger more easily or automatically in future, but it has security implications that you may want to consider first. See the sidebar titled “Decide Whether to Associate Your Windows Live ID with Your Windows User Account.”

5. If you want Messenger to save your password, select the Remember My Password check box. Saving your password enables you to log in effortlessly or log in automatically, but it means that anyone who can access your computer while you’re logged on and active can log on to Messenger as you. Other people can’t learn your password, but they don’t need to: They need only tell Messenger to log on as you.

6. If you want Messenger to sign you in automatically, select the Sign Me in Automatically check box. When you select this check box and log on to Windows, this setting helps ensure that you spend each Windows session signed in to Messenger. Be sure that this is what you want before you select the Sign Me in Automatically check box.

7. Click the Sign In button to sign in to Messenger. The first time you run Messenger you may see a Windows Security Alert dialog box, such as the one shown here, telling you that Windows Firewall has blocked some features of the program on all public networks. To use all of Messenger’s features, click the Unblock button, and then authenticate yourself to User Account Control.

Decide Whether to Associate Your Windows Live ID with Your Windows User Account

When you select the Remember Me check box in Windows Live Messenger and then sign in, Messenger stores your Windows Live ID in your Windows user account. Storing the ID saves you from having to type it in the future, but it does mean that your Windows Live ID is linked to your Windows user account. For some people, this linkage can be a security concern.

To remove your Windows Live ID from your Windows user account, follow the instructions in the section “Removing a Windows Live ID from an Account” in Article 8. Once you’ve started Messenger, it displays an icon in your notification area. Click this icon to display a menu of actions you can take with Messenger, as shown here. When Messenger appears on your screen, it may tell you that you don’t have anyone in your contact list and suggest you click the Add a Contact button to start adding contacts. You’re probably itching to add some contacts and get on with messaging. Before you do that, however, configure Messenger by choosing options as described in the next section.

Configuring Messenger to Suit Your Needs

Messenger has many configuration options that let you change its behavior considerably. You don’t need to set all of them at once, but it’s a good idea to know about them before using Messenger. At the very least, you should edit your public profile so that you know what information other people can access about you. Click the Status drop-down list the drop-down button near the top of the window that shows your name, and then choose Personal Settings to display the Options dialog box. You can then configure your choice of the options described in the following sections.

Personal Page Options

The Personal page of the Options dialog box contains several important settings and some trivial ones.

My Display Name area In the Type Your Name as You Want Others to See It text box, enter the name you want Messenger to display for you. You can display whatever name you like, barring some sensitive words and trademarked terms that Microsoft excludes. Most likely, you’ll want to use your name, nickname, or a combination of the two that makes clear who you are. Don’t use your e-mail address as your name, because making your e-mail address public in this way may bring it to the attention of spammers. In the Type a Personal Message for Your Contacts to See text box, you can type a message that appears next to your name in contact listings when you’re online. You might want to change this text every day to show what you’re up to; if so, you can change it more easily by clicking in the <Typea Personal Message> area in the Messenger window and typing the message there. If you want just your name to appear, leave this text box blank. If you want Messenger to display the artist and song you’re currently listening to in Windows Media Player, select the Show Song Information from Windows Media Player as a Personal Message check box.

My Display Picture area If you want Messenger to display a picture for you, select the Show My Display Picture and Allow Others to See It check box. Your display picture is the one that appears next to your name in the main Messenger window. To change the picture, follow these steps:

1. Click the Change Picture button. Messenger displays the My Display Picture dialog box .

2. If you want to use a canned picture, choose it in the list box. To add a picture of your own, click the Browse button, use the resulting Select a Display Picture dialog box to select the picture, and then click the Open button. Messenger crops the picture automatically and displays it in the Preview box. To use a picture or animated character from a commercial site, click one of the links below the list box. If you prefer not to display a picture, select the Don’t Show a Picture check box.

3. Click the OK button. Messenger closes the My Display Picture dialog box and applies the picture you chose.

My Public Profile area Messenger works with Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces service, which provides structured online space for you to create an online presence, including a personal profile, photo albums, details of music you like, and similar information. If you’re already a Windows Live Spaces user, you can click the Edit Profile button in the My Public Profile area to access your Space on MSN Spaces. If you’re not a Windows Live Spaces user, clicking the Edit Profile button leads you to a signup screen for Windows Live Spaces.

My Status area Select the Show Me as “Away” when I’m Inactive for NN Minutes check box if you want Messenger to change your status to Away after the specified period of inactivity. Adjust the number of minutes in the text box as necessary. The default setting is 5 minutes, which is too short for many busy people. Clear this check box if you don’t want Messenger to monitor you in this way. If you clear this check box, Messenger changes your status to Away when your screen saver kicks in. If you’re not using a screen saver, your status will remain Online until you change it. Select the Show Me as “Busy” and Block My Alerts When I’m Running a Full-Screen Program, Such As a Slide Presentation check box if you want Messenger to block alerts and set your status to Busy when you’re using a program full-screen. This setting is good for making sure that Messenger doesn’t intrude on work such as a presentation you’re running or games.

My Webcam area Select the Allow Others to See that I Have a Webcam check box if you want Messenger to include a webcam symbol next to your listing. This symbol helps your contacts see that you have a webcam connected and functional in case they want to make a video call to you.

General Page Options

The General page of the Options dialog box includes important items for controlling how Messenger runs and the items it shows.

Sign In area Select the Automatically Run Windows Live Messenger When I Log on to Windows check box if you want Messenger to run automatically at the start of each Windows session. If you prefer to run Messenger manually at your convenience, clear this check box. Select the Open Windows Live Messenger Main Window When Windows Live Messenger Starts check box if you want the main Messenger window to appear when Messenger starts. Seeing the main window is usually a good idea, as it reminds you that Messenger is running. If you clear this check box, the Messenger icon appears in the notification area. Select the Allow Automatic Sign in When Connected to the Internet check box if you want Messenger to sign you in automatically when you start Messenger and your computer is connected to the Internet. Select the Show Windows Live Today after Signing in to Messenger check box if you want Messenger to open the Windows Live Today window, which shows you the mail you’ve received on Hotmail or MSN, the MSN Today home page, and the MSNBC home page.

Displaying My Contacts area Select the Show Display Pictures from Others check box if you want to see others’ pictures in Messenger. Seeing the pictures can help you keep participants straight in busy conversations.

Quality Improvement area Select the Allow Microsoft to Collect Anonymous Information about How I Use Windows Live Messenger check box if you want to participate in Microsoft’s Customer Experience Improvement Program.

Video Carousel area Select the Show Video Carousel in the Main Windows Messenger Live Window check box if you want Messenger to display miniature videos at the bottom of the main window. Clear this check box if you don’t want to watch the videos or if bandwidth is limited.

Effects area Select the Show Shadows under Window Frames check box if you want Messenger to display drop shadows under window frames. Clear this check box if you don’t need this extra visual adornment. Your computer’s graphics card probably deserves a break.

Messages Page Options

The Messages page of the Options dialog box lets you control how your instant messages appear and behave.

General Message Settings area To change the font used in your IM windows, click the Change Font button, and then use the resulting Set My Message Font dialog box.

Custom Emoticons check box if you want to let custom user-defined emoticons appear as well. Select the Show Timestamps on Messages check box if you want each message to show the time at which it was received. Timestamps can be helpful when you’re tracking several slow-moving conversations. In faster-paced conversations, you will probably find you don’t need the timestamps. Select the Show “Contact Says:” before Every Message check box if you want the contact’s name and the word “says” to appear before each message. Having your contacts’ names appear is usually helpful in keeping straight who said what. Select the Allow Me to Send and Receive Nudges check box if you want to be able to use Nudges. A nudge vibrates the conversation window to get the contact’s attention. Clear this check box if you find nudges annoying. Select the Play Winks Automatically When They Are Received check box if you want Messenger to play winks automatically. Winks are animations that can add zip to your conversations. They may also drive you crazy. If you clear this check box, you can play a wink manually by clicking its link in the conversation window. Select the Play Voice Clips Automatically When They Are Received check box if you want Messenger to play voice clips when they arrive. Clear this check box if you prefer to play voice clips manually at your convenience.

Offline Instant Message Settings area Select the Show My Offline Messages Automatically When I Sign In option button if you want Messenger to automatically open your offline messages when you sign in. Select the Show a Link to My Offline Messages in the Main Window options button if you prefer to see only a link to your offline messages so that you can open them at a time that suits you.

Message History area Select the Automatically Keep a History of My Conversations check box if you want Messenger to automatically log your conversations. Saving conversations can be handy if you use Messenger for business or technical discussions and need to retain the details. Set the folder for Messenger to use in the Save My Conversations in this Folder text box. Select the Show My Last Conversation in New Conversation Windows check box if you want Messenger to insert your last conversation with a particular contact in a new conversation you start with that contact. This setting helps you to pick up a conversation where you left off.

Handwriting area Select the Show the Handwrite Tab in Conversation Windows check box if you want Messenger to include the Handwrite tab so that you can write using a tablet.