Unable to sign into Windows Live Messenger – Error 80004005

The Inside Windows Live Messenger Blog has some tips for people that are getting an error message when they try to sign into Windows Live Messenger.

"If you are encountering error 80004005 when signing in, please try the following:

I. Verify if you have the latest version of Windows Live Messenger by clicking on Help-->About Messenger and reading the Build number. You should see "Build 8.0.0792.00"

II. If you see any other number listed there, install the latest version of Messenger from http://get.live.com/messenger/overview .

III. Attempt to sign into Messenger again.

If you are still unable to sign in:

IV. Change Windows Explorer settings

a. Right click on the "Start" button and choose "Explore" from the short-cut menu to open the "Windows Explorer" window.

b. In the "Windows Explorer" window , click on the "Tools" menu followed by "Folder Options". Click on the "View" tab. In the Advanced settings list, check"Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck the option "Hide extensions for known file types" under Hidden files and folders. Click on "OK" to close the "Folder Options" window.

c. In the "Windows Explorer" window, click on the "View" menu followed by "Explorer bar" and ensure that the "Folders" option is checked. This will ensure that you are able to see the folder list on the left side of the Windows Explorer window.

V. Delete the Contacts Cache folder by following the steps below:

a. Right click on the "Start" button, choose "Explore" from the short-cut menu to open the "Windows Explorer" window.

b. In the "Windows Explorer" window, goto the Folder list on the left pane and navigate to the folder C:\Documents and Settings\\Contacts\ where is the login name you use to sign into windows and is the address that you use to sign into Messenger

c. Delete all the files that are within the folder.

d. Right click on the "Start" button, choose "Explore" from the short-cut menuto open the "Windows Explorer" window.

e. In the "Windows Explorer" window, goto the Folder list on the left pane and navigate to the folder C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\ where is the login name you use to sign into windows and is the address that you use to sign into Messenger.

f. Delete the "real" and the "shadow" folders that are within the folder.

VI. Sign into Messenger again."