MSN messenger problems, mysterious!!!!!!

[perkypat]

Hello,

I recently switched from a PC to OS X (tiger). I cannot log onto my msn messenger account from OS X. I have tried 3 different clients (mercury,admium and msn messenger) nothing works. Msn messenger says I cannot sign in as I may not be connected or the service is not available. I have been trying for the past week (while using it perfectly on my PC). Mercury said a socket exception was fired.

I am connected to a router but my PC on the same router works fine. I can log into hotmail fine from OS X using safari or firefox. I have looked around forums but all people say is switch clients or forward certain ports, neither of which worked for me. My firewall is off, is there some network config I need? Maybe some proxy setting or something??

I really hoope someone can help, I hate having to boot my big ugly PC that is as noisy as a helicopter just so I can chat on msn!!!!!

thanks

[nixgeek]

That's odd. I'm using Adium on my Mac for MSN as well and I haven't had any problems. You might want to check in the preferences for Adium (if you're still using this) and make sure that your account is set up properly. I know that usually for MSN Messenger you have to use your hotmail e-mail as the username and then the password for that e-mail account.

Good luck.

[MisterMe]

"But, it works in Windows!" you say? Well, MacOS X is not Windows. Search for the ports used by MSN Messenger and turn them on in your router. They are widely published. If you find them, come back with the make and model of your router. Some routers ship with these ports open. Others ship with them off. Without the make and model of your router, we have no idea which is the case with yours.

[sinclair_tm]

i don't think its the router, unless its set to do port forwarding. have you gone into the system prefs of the mac and made sure that the mac's internal firewall is off, or if it's on that the ports for msn mess are open? also, make sure that you are using the latest version of mess for mac. i had problems with connections until i downloaded the newest app.

[perkypat]

I have checked the firewall and it is not activated. I have also forwarded the ports used by msn. I tried all the latest verisons of each client. It is a completely fresh install of Tiger, installed about a week ago. I also set my mac to use DMZ on the router but that didn't work either. I am tearing my hair out with this one!

Not sure about the router model (not at home at the moment), it is a Linksys standard router with 4 interfaces.

[nixgeek]

What model Linksys router exactly? Check underneath the router to find out the exact model. It should also say it on the front plate.