MSN Crash

[fireheart]

OK, since my techie boyfriend can't figure out what the problem is (his specialty is also networks), I'm posting it here.

Basically, on my laptop (which has Vista), whenever I log onto Windows Live Messenger (MSN), it'll stay open for a few minutes, then it freezes and crashes. When I try and do the three-finger salute to shut it off, the screen goes black and says something about a failed security logon.

I have created a new email address just in case that one's been comprimised (not the one I used to sign up on the forums) and it works fine on the only PC in the house with Internet access.

The other PC has Vista on it as well. All the computers in the house sans my dad's laptop use Trend Micro Pro, my dad uses AVG.

Basically, do I need to reformat?

[Der Cute]

OK, since my techie boyfriend can't figure out what the problem is (his specialty is also networks), I'm posting it here.

Basically, on my laptop (which has Vista), whenever I log onto Windows Live Messenger (MSN), it'll stay open for a few minutes, then it freezes and crashes. When I try and do the three-finger salute to shut it off, the screen goes black and says something about a failed security logon.

I have created a new email address just in case that one's been comprimised (not the one I used to sign up on the forums) and it works fine on the only PC in the house with Internet access.

The other PC has Vista on it as well. All the computers in the house sans my dad's laptop use Trend Micro Pro, my dad uses AVG.

Basically, do I need to reformat?

No

Reformat is when you've tried other ways to work around an issue. Reformat is last chance kind of thing.

What I would do:
Uninstall the MSN Live IM Client
Run Crap Cleaner (remove things from registry, use the registry cleaner on CC)
Check for your old conversations..I think it's c:\documents and settings\all users\program data\msn?or such\your login id\folder here for conversations
You get the idea though.

Once that's all done, reboot a couple of times. Reboot, surf, gen use; reboot, surf, gen use, is it ok? If it's ok, then reinstall MSN IM client.

Once you've reinstallled MSN client, try logging in with new credentials.

Tell us if that works.

Cutenoob