Unable to sign in to MSN Messenger

Error 80048820: Unable to sign in to MSN Messenger
This is the most common error faced by most of the msn messenger or windows live messenger users.
I have tried to explain all of the possible reasons and provided step by step solutions to overcome this issue. Check if it is...

Your computer's date and time settings

There are several aspects involved while connecting to secure sites like MSN Hotmail relies on your clock being accurate.

▪ Press WinKey+R. (Click to know more Winkey Shortcuts)
▪ Type timedate.cpl, and press ENTER.
▪ Verify Date and Time settings on your computer are correct, and then click OK.

Your PC's firewall might be blocking MSN Messenger

If you think it's your firewall that could be the reason then check it out as explained below...

▪ Visit the MSN Web Messenger website.
▪ Click on 'Start MSN Web Messenger', to sign in online web messenger.
▪ If you succeed signing in to MSN Web Messenger, but MSN Messenger still can't access the Internet, then possible reason could be that MSN Messenger has been blocked by a firewall. Add MSNmsgr.exe to your allow list in firewall settings. These settings are different in different firewalls. Please refer to respective documentations for more information on how to add MSNmsgr.exe to your firewall allow list. Need more help on this? Feel free to post your questions in comment section. I will do my best to help you out in this regard.

The DLL registration issue

In this case you will need to reregister the SSL security libraries. You can do that by following the steps given below.

▪ Press WinKey+R
▪ Type following commands one at a time and press ENTER. After each successful execution you will see the message: 'DllRegisterServer succeeded'. Type the second command and follow this until you finish all of the commands listed below.
▪ REGSVR32 softpub.dll
▪ REGSVR32 wintrust.dll
▪ REGSVR32 initpki.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Rsaenh.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Mssip32.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Cryptdlg.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Dssenh.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Gpkcsp.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Slbcsp.dll
▪ REGSVR32 Sccbase.dll

Note: Usually these .dll files are stored in the respective folders [system32]. In case, if any of the file is missing, then you will need to download it from internet. Just type the respective 'filename.dll download' in the sidebar search box.

The .Net Messenger service is down

The .NET Messenger Service might be temporarily down. Take a stretch break. relax your mind, and body. After that give a try to sign in again.

Some other possible MSN Errors:

'Error 81000314, error 81000377 or error 81000378: Your contact list is not available'
Your MSN address book or MSN contact list is temporarily not available or is in read only mode. Wait for few minutes, take a stretch break and then try to sign in again.

Windows Key, WinKey Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows key - WinKey Keyboard Shortcuts for all windows platforms

It is always good to have more knowledge about the Operating system that we use on our computer. You might be using Windows Operating System for more than a year now. How much are you familiar with the different keyboard shortcuts that can be used as and when required? These keyboard shortcuts can save your invaluable time. Have you ever thought about this? Let me guide you through a few well known keyboard shortcuts for the same.

The shortcut keys listed below can be used on any computer with Windows OS installed on it. Opps! By the way, where is the winkey located on your keyboard?

Don't worry here is the snapshhot of the Windows Key or WINKEY if you are not familiar with it.

Lets start with the Shortcut Keys:

1. WinKey - This ‘Windows Key’ alone will open Start Menu.
2. WinKey + F1 - Takes you to the Microsoft Windows help and support center directly.
3. WinKey + F3 - It opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook for you.
4. WinKey + D - Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
5. WinKey + M - One key to Minimize all open windows on your desktop.
6. WinKey + Shift + M - To bring back the minimized windows done by WinKey + M and WinKey + D.
7. WinKey + E - This provides you a quick access to Windows Explorer.
8. WinKey + Tab - Allows you to move through the applications in your Taskbar.
9. WinKey + F - Shortcut to the Windows Search/Find feature.
10. WinKey + CTRL + F - Display the search for computers current window.
11. WinKey + R - Shortcut to access the run command.
12. WinKey + Break - Open the system properties dialogue box.
13. WinKey + U - Shortcut to open the Utility Manager.
14. WinKey + L - Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).

These keys are specifically used in Windows XP. However, almost all of the shortcuts work on Windows 2000, Windows 2003 and Windows Vista.

By using these keyboard shortcuts you tend to use the mouse very little and this protects you from being a victim of RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury). RSI is a different topic altogether and will hopefully cover it in deep in forthcoming articles for you. These are a few steps to free yourself from the clutches of the mouse and to make optimum use of your keyboard.

You are welcome to post your comments for you valuable suggestions, feedback or ideas! Thanks.

How to improve hard disk speed or performance?

Improve Hard Disk performance in just 5 easy steps!

Do you feel sometime your PC's hard disk takes too much time to deliver the desired results? If yes then this hard disk speed improvement tweak is just for you. To perform this tweak, make sure your PC has at least 256Mb of Ram.

Don’t Worry! These are very simple steps which won't do any harm to your PC and that’s for sure. If you don't find any improvements in the hard drive performance after performing this tweak, then in that case, you can always go back to original settings.

Now to improve the hard disk speed, configure a special buffer in the computer's memory. With that it will be able to deal with interrupts in a faster and better way to get the results in a timely manner. How to do that?

Here are those 5 easy steps...

1. In the Run command, type SYSEDIT.EXE and hit 'enter key'
2. Open the system.ini file [close other files]
3. Find a section called [386enh], usually at the end of file
4. Type this without quotes 'Irq14=4096' after this line as it is
5. From File menu select 'Save'

You are done with the tweak, now close SYSEDIT and reboot the PC. You will be able to see the improvement in speed as soon as your computer gets restarted.

This tweak works for any kind of IDE SCSI disk.

Master password in firefox - Remember password option?

Master password in FireFox - How secured is the password manager option?

Is it too hectic for you to remember each password for every site you visit?
Firefox's integrated password manager is far more convenient, but is it secured?

Lets have a look - Open up firefox, click on Tools > Options > Security > Passwords
If you click on "Show Passwords > Show Passwords", voilla! it shows all your secrets! Not to worry, now you are going to secure all your passwords in next few simple steps.

A Master Password option in Mozilla firefox browser protects your stored passwords. You can store all webmail, forum account information, various registered networking sites, e-mail server passwords. By using Master Password option, your profile will be asked to enter the Master Password when access is needed to your stored passwords. Now with this option no one can get access to your stored passwords without having Master Password.

Only browing history, email stored in local drive and alredy logged in sites can be accessed without using punching a Master Password. Make sure to remove those passwords, which were stored before turning on the Master Password option.

How to set a master password in Firefox?

Click on the menu - Tools > Options > Security > Passwords

Check both options - 'Remember passwords for site' and 'Use a Master password'

While chosing a Master password use a combination of random numbers, letters and some special characters like @ # $ etc. For example: "Pa$$w0rd" [don't use it, it's just an example] Make sure you remember the Master password. If you lose master password, you will not be able to recover your stored passwords by any means, so be careful while chosing the Master password.

Now you and all your stored passwords are protected and safe. No one can steal them, they belongs to their Master only. And that's you!