Staying in touch using Windows Live MessengerNeed something faster than e-mail? Want something quieter than
the phone? Windows Live Messenger is the solution you're looking for. See when
your contacts are online and chat for as long as you want or as short as you
need. Download and install | | | | 1.
| Go to the Windows Live Messenger website,
and click Get it free. When the download finishes, the Setup Wizard opens. | | 2.
| In the Setup Wizard, review the agreements and choose
any additional features or services that you want to install with Messenger. When the Setup Wizard finishes, Messenger opens. |
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Sign inTo use Messenger, you need a Windows Live ID. If you have a
Hotmail or MSN e-mail address you already have a Windows Live ID. If you need
to get a Windows Live ID, open Messenger, and then click the Sign up
for a Windows Live ID link at the bottom of the window to create one. | | | | 1.
| In the E-mail address box, type
your Windows Live ID. | | 2.
| In the Password box, type your
password. | | 3.
| Click Sign in. |
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Add a contactTo start a chat, you need to have at least one contact. | | | | 1.
| Click Add a contact.  | | Add a contact icon |
| | 2.
| In the Instant messaging address
box, type your contact's e-mail address. | | 3.
| Fill in any additional information that you want. | | 4.
| Click Add contact.
Your contact receives a notification in Messenger that you've added them as a
contact and a request to add you to their contact list. | | 5.
| After your contact has added you to their contact list,
and they're available to chat, you'll see their status change from "Offline" to
"Online." |
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To chat | | | | 1.
| Double-click a contact's name to open the chat window. | | 2.
| In the chat window, type your message and then click Send.
Your message is displayed for you and your contact, and you see when your
contact is typing a message. After they send their message, you see their
message to you.  | | Chat with a Messenger contact |
| | 3.
| To send an emoticon (those funny little smiley faces and
other symbols) in a message, click Select an emoticon and
then click the emoticon you want. | | 4.
| To send a file, drag the file on to the area where you
type your messages.
Your contact then decides if they want to receive the file that you're sending.  | | Drag a file to send in Messenger |
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Make it your ownUnlike e-mail, you can customize Messenger to show your status,
express your mood, and let your contacts see what you're listening to. To change your: | • | Status. Click your name and then click a status on the menu. | | • | Display name. Click your name, click Options,
and then type the name you want. | | • | Display picture. Click your name, click Change
display picture, and then select a picture from the list or browse to
find the picture you want. |
| | | | • | To add a personal message, click Enter a
personal message and type the personal message you want. |
|
| | | | • | To show the song title and artist's name when you're
listening to music in Windows Media Player, click the down arrow next your
personal message and then click Show what I'm listening to. |
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Close MessengerDepending on how you prefer to use Messenger, you can leave the
Messenger window open, close it but leave Messenger running (so it's out of
your way), or close it and sign out. | | | | • | To close the Messenger window but keep Messenger running,
click the Close (X) button in the upper right corner of
the window. |
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| | | | • | To exit Messenger, in the taskbar, right-click the
Messenger icon, and then click Exit on the shortcut menu. |
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Help and How-to
