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Summary: Windows Live Messenger, Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger Service are four names for three applications that do two different things, only one of which you really want. Confusing? Yes. But easy to clear up. OK, something called "Windows Live Messenger" just released. It seems I'm now floating in "Messengers" ... Windows Live Messenger, Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and this thing called Windows Messenger Service. Do they relate? How do they relate? And which one do I want to use? One of my older and more popular articles here on Ask Leo! is one covering the difference between MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger, and Windows Messenger. Unfortunately with the release of Windows Live Messenger, names have only gotten more confusing. Let's sort this out, one name at a time: • Windows Live Messenger (WLM) is the latest and greatest version of Microsoft's instant messaging client. Very much like Yahoo instant messenger (YIM), or AOL instant messenger (AIM). Anyone running Windows XP can download Windows Live Messenger and begin IMing with other users. WLM has a slew of new features compared to its previous versions - the most interesting to me is the ability to share folders with people you're chatting with. WLM promises to interact directly with Yahoo Messenger in the near future. WLM is actually version 8. Version 8? Yes, because it is really just a new name for, the latest version of and the replacement for MSN Messenger. It's the same program with a new name, and new features. • MSN Messenger is simply the "old" version of Windows Live Messenger - nothing more, nothing less. Versions 6 through 7.5 all seem to be popular and "in the wild". If you have Windows XP, you probably want to upgrade to the latest version: Windows Live Messenger. If you're running any other version of Windows, you may need to stick with these older versions of MSN Messenger. • Windows Messenger is yet another instant messaging client, very much like MSN Messenger and WLM. It comes with Windows XP and runs only on Windows XP. It's typically version 4.7, though the updated Windows Messenger 5.0 also runs on Windows 2000, and can be downloaded here. Important: Windows Messenger is not MSN Messenger, nor is it WLM. That's important because you can run Windows Messenger at the same time as MSN Messenger or WLM. That can get confusing if they are both logged into the same account because a message about being logged into two places may result. Windows Messenger is a different program from the other two. It has a different feature set, and release on a different schedule. In particular, Windows Messenger is more tightly integrated with applications such as Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, or the Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP. The differences, and the confusion, don't end there, though. Microsoft has a Knowledgebase article that touches on more of the technical differences, and provides instructions for installing and running both on the same machine. The good news is that chances are, you'll never need to know how, or why, you would want to. • Windows Messenger Service adds to the confusion. It has a similar name but it is completely unrelated to everything I've talked about so far. On Windows 2000 and Windows XP there is a service, called "Messenger", often unfortunately referred to as the "Windows Messenger", that is used to present what can best be called "network messages" to a machine's user. This is not an instant messaging application, but rather software that runs in the background, listening for incoming messages, and popping up a very simple box containing the message when one arrives. The most common example might be in a corporate environment when you send a document to a network printer. The messenger service handles the pop-up message that the printer sends back when it has finished. • So what, of all of that, do you actually need or want? My recommendation is actually very, very simple:
The bottom line? For Windows XP users, all you need is Windows Live Messenger. Ignore or uninstall everything else. Related Links:
• Recent Comments
is it possible for two msn windows live messenger users be online at the same time from the same computer? Posted by: margaret at December 13, 2007 10:55 AMhi, i want have downloaded WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER, and i want to sign up using my Yahoo email address, is it possible? or should i use a create a hotmail account for it? thanks Posted by: Reshma Kalutay at December 20, 2007 09:47 PMThank you! I just answered a Microsoft survey about how they did NOT answer my questions. Your info is useful and understandable and I will follow your recommendations, but I'm beginning to fear that I won't be able to use my new webcam to video chat using Live Messenger, although that is why I downloaded it, because others haven't been able to get it to work either. Is there a secret? Posted by: Anna W. at December 27, 2007 06:10 PMHi, I googles some more and now have another question. I have Yahoo and my (hopefully) video person has AOL. Can we video chat without signing up for hotmail? Can we instant message (using Live Messenger) without signing up for hotmail? This is one of the questions Microsoft support didn't answer. Thanks. Posted by: Anna W. at December 27, 2007 06:32 PMI'd recommend the opposite to what "Leo" says, if you are using XP AND you dont use a webcam. When you are forced to upgrade from MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger your machine may become a turtle depending on RAM size. This is called "forced obsolecense" designed application (meaning it will eat your HW resources so you think about buying new HW). So why spend valuable RAM and CPU when you can get away with lightewigh Windows Messenger? Posted by: JuanChanKane at January 23, 2008 04:31 AMhow do i check for offline messeges on windows live using dsl highspeed internet ? and is windows live diffrent from msn messenger Posted by: brenda bjorn at January 30, 2008 05:34 PMI understand that this article is probably intended for the average user and is intended to clear up confusion and not cause it, but it should be noted that, arcording to a friendly error message that pops up when the installer is about to initialize, Windows Live applications cannot be installed on Windows XP Proffesional x64. Posted by: JL at March 13, 2008 12:01 PMi just recently bought a new computer and it runs windows vista home basic...should i use windows live messenger or continue to use yahoo messenger? Oh yeah, the names alone initally create confusion for all users but eventually some lucky confused users actually managed to figure it out...and obviously still others are at a loss in understanding the differences between these four entities...3 of which have the words "WINDOWS MESSENGER" included in their names and all 4 use the word "MESSENGER"; talk about chaos and confusion...and that's from "jump street" in NAME ALONE! Speaking of confusion, allow me to mention the UAC on the Vista System...IT IS NOT user friendly; IT IS a pain in the neck! Initially I gave it my all and tried using it but now I have turned it off (and believe it or not...it doesn't disappear; for still I AM REMINDED to turn it on EACH AND EVERY TIME the system boots up. Amazing! This UAC is like a nightmare that won't go away...it actually CREATED problems for me rather than adding to the "security" of the vista system. It is nothing more than an annoyance...when it was turned on and now EVEN WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF...what grand wizard thought up this one, huh? I have my own system of security which I "chose" to suit MY NEEDS...why foist an extremely annoying UAC on me and all other "unsuspecting" vista users...this is not progress Microsoft! The UAC, one of the "main differences" between XP and Vista Operating systems, tauted as an improved security control, is the very thing that I dislike most on this newest operating system! Get out your magic wand Bill and make it GO AWAY!!! No "lol" either! Posted by: Ilove Technology at June 16, 2008 08:31 PMLeo, thank you. I was trying to help my brother 5 States away with a DVD burner problem by using Remote Assistance, I used Remote Assistance before my computer crashed. of course i reloaded everything, but instead it had me setup live messenger. I attempted to use "live messenger" to do the remote and it kept telling me to "get the latest version of messenger" and nowhere i mean nowhere, have i found an answer. windows "help" links to the "windows live" download, and all of the articles i found at microsoft.com relate to Small Business Server. the remote assistance, as you mentioned wont work without "Windows Messenger" but all the links to messenger at microsoft send you to "live Messenger" well you figure they'd know that. Bottom line is.. You have helped me.. Thank you Post a comment on "What's the difference between Windows Live Messenger, Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger Service?":
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