How To Fix Windows Live Communication Platform error? (Windows Live Messenger Sign-In Problems)

Are you still having trouble with Windows Live Messenger sign in, even though your WLM version is already the latest version? Whenever you login, you always get a very annoying error pop-up shows saying "Windows Live Communications Platform has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience"...

??? Windows Live Messenger Sign in Problems: THE TRIGGERS?

According to The official Messenger Support blog;

Sign-in issues with Windows Live Messenger can be triggered by a wide array of probable causes. It might be due to as simple as an incorrect date and time settings on your computer, or as complicated as problems with your Internet connection.

Below, there are some Troubleshooting Steps that may help resolve it.

A. WINDOWS XP users

0. Upgrade your Windows Live Messenger to the latest version. Get it from http://download.live.com

1. Check Date and Time Settings
Just double click your clock on Windows desktop (if you set to display it on taskbar),
-OR-
you can go to Start, click Run, type control timedate.cpl , and then click OK.
In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK.

2. Check your Firewall Settings! Enable Windows Live Messenger through your Firewall.
a. Add/modify list of programs that are allowed to access the Internet through your firewall application
b. Remove all entries for MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger
c. Select msnmsgr.exe and add it to the list of applications allowed to access the Internet through your firewall application.

Older version of Windows Live Messenger, the msnmsgr app location is in "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe". WLM 8.5 and later, the msnmsgr app location is in "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe".

3. Check your Internet Explorer settings!
a. Run Internet Explorer.
b. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab.
c. Under Security, uncheck the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box.
d. Click OK. and Exit Internet Explorer.

4. Check your Windows Explorer settings!
Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder and Messenger cache. This will make sure that the locally stored information related to your account is refreshed on Windows Live Messenger.
a. Open Windows Explorer. (Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer window)
b. Go to Tools > Folder Options.
c. On the View tab, in the Advanced settings list, select Show hidden files and folders under Hidden Files and Folders.
d. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.
e. Click OK to close the Folder Options window.

5. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder
Before doing these steps, make sure to exit Windows Live Messenger and that it is not running on the background.
- Open "Task Manager" Start and then Run. Type taskmgr.exe and click OK.
- Check whether the msnmsgr.exe is running on Processes. If it is, select the application and click End Process. If you are prompted, click Yes.
a. Open Windows Explorer. (Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer window)
b. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\ Your Windows logon name \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft
(If you can't see/navigate it in the folder tree, just type it in the address bar!)
(Note: In these examples, Windows Logon name is the logon name that you use to sign in to Windows.)
c. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.

6. Administrator Mode
Try running the application as an administrator.

Clicking on the messenger shortcut, selecting properties and checking the "Run as administrator" box.
-OR-
Go to c:\program files\windows live\msnmsgr
Right click msnmsgr.exe and Run as.. administator

Re-open Windows Live Messenger and try to sign in again, and verify if the issue remains.

B. WINDOWS VISTA users

0. Upgrade your Windows Live Messenger to the latest version. Get it from http://download.live.com

1. Check Date and Time Settings
a. Click Start, type control timedate.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
b. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings on the computer are correct, and then click OK.

2. Check your Firewall Settings! Enable Windows Live Messenger through your Firewall.
a. Add/modify list of programs that are allowed to access the Internet through your firewall application
b. Remove all entries for MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger
c. Select msnmsgr.exe and add it to the list of applications allowed to access the Internet through your firewall application.

Older version of Windows Live Messenger, the msnmsgr app location is in "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe"

WLM 8.5 and later, the msnmsgr app location is in "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe".

3. Check your Internet Explorer settings!
a. Run Internet Explorer.
b. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab.
c. Under Security, uncheck the Check for Server certificate revocation (requires restart) check box.
d. Click OK. and Exit Internet Explorer.

4. Check your Windows Explorer settings!
Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder and Messenger cache. This will make sure that the locally stored information related to your account is refreshed on Windows Live Messenger.
a. Open Windows Explorer. (Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer window)
b. Go to Organize > Folder and Search Options.
c. On the View tab, in the Advanced settings list, select the Show hidden files and folders check box under Hidden Files and Folders.
d. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.
e. Click OK to close the Folder Options window.

5. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder
Before doing these steps, make sure to exit Windows Live Messenger and that it is not running on the background.
- Open "Task Manager" Start and then Run. Type taskmgr.exe and click OK.
- Check whether the msnmsgr.exe is running on Processes. If it is, select the application and click End Process. If you are prompted, click Yes.
a. Open Windows Explorer. (Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open the Windows Explorer window)
b. Go to C:\Users\ Your Windows logon name \AppData\Local\Microsoft
(If you can't see/navigate it in the folder tree, just type it in the address bar!)
(Note: In these examples, Windows Logon name is the logon name that you use to sign in to Windows.)
c. Delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.

6. Administrator Mode
Try running the application as an administrator.

Clicking on the messenger shortcut, selecting properties and checking the "Run as administrator" box.
-OR-
Go to c:\program files\windows live\msnmsgr
Right click msnmsgr.exe and Run as.. administator

7. Data Execution Prevention crashing Messenger in Vista
Vista's DEP Protection may affect your web-based applications. You might need to disable DEP in Vista:

Launch cmd command with administrator rights
a. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories
b. Right Click on Command Prompt > Run as.. Administrator
(Click the Allow button if it asks you for permission)
c. on the command prompt window, type this:

bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOff

d. press ENTER, a message will appear: "Operation Completed Successfully"
e. Restart your computer and DEP should be disabled.

Re-open Windows Live Messenger and try to sign in again, and verify if the issue remains.

C. WindowBlinds users

If you're using WindowBlinds (read my previous post: How to Transform Windows XP Skins-Visual-Styles-Themes to Vista with WindowBlinds), you'll need to exclude the WLCOMM.EXE application from WindowBlinds, because Windows Live Communication Platform (WLCOMM.EXE) works only with the standard Windows screen.

Here is step by step you have to do:
1. Open your Window Blinds
2. Under "Change the look of a particular application", click "add per application setting"
3. Locate: c:\program files\windows live\contacts and Choose wlcomm.exe
4. check mark: "Ignore this application and do not skin it", click OK.
5. Under WindowBlinds Configuration > "Apply my changes"
6. ..and DONE! just restart your Windows Live Messenger 2009 and sign in.

That works for me, If it doesn't work for you, you can follow the steps appropriate for your computer's Windows Operating System above/below (Option A., B., and E.) that may help resolve the problem.

D. nVidia users

a.Most users with some Asus board with an NVIDIA chipset are going to have the option to install the NFWNAM (NVidia ForceWare Network Access Manager). Unfortunately, it has some sort of firewall built into it that could stop you from connection correctly to MSN.

Try to Uninstall NVidia ForceWare Network Access Manager from control panel Add / Remove Programs, then Restart your computer.
-OR-
Apply Option E.2. below (Move/rename wldlog.dll)

b. nVidia MediaShield might also cause this problem in Vista. You can try to uninstall it.

>>>IF ALL THE STEPS above (A.B.C.and D.) STILL DO NOT SOLVE your problem, not being able to log in, DON'T DESPAIR, you may try these:

E. PLUS OTHER SOLUTIONS ++++

1. Select Compatibility Mode + Disable visual themes on wlcomm.exe
a. Find file wlcomm.exe in the directory: c:\program files\windows live\contacts
b. Right click the file and go to Properties
c. Select compatibility
d. Try to select it to run in windows 95/98 compatibility mode and "Disable visual themes"
2. Move/rename wldlog.dll
a. Go to c:\program files\windows live\contacts
b. rename wldlog.dll to wldlog.dll_resp
-OR-
Move it somewhere safe like My Documents.
(If you need it later, you can just rename back to original or restore it back.)
3 Upgrade Your Windows OS with the latest updates
a. Upgrade Your Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3)
b. Upgrade Your Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
4. Delete everything that involves Windows Live:
-Windows Live Essentials
-Windows Live Sync
-Windows Live Upload Tool
-Windows Live Sign-in Assistant
and then Reinstall a FRESH version of Windows Live Messenger!

IF ALL of above doesn't work for you, THEN your computer might been infected by virus/spyware/malware..

I hope the solutions above fixed your problem with Windows Live Messenger sign in. Good Luck!