Sorry, Windows Live programs cannot be installed on Windows Server, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, or Windows operating systems earlier than Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Being a new user of Windows XP x64 that message puts me off quite a bit, apparently Microsoft wants you to install the old and ugly MSN Messenger instead of Live Messenger if you happen to run the state of the art version of Windows XP. However, as you will see, Windows Live Messenger can be used in full, but Microsoft in its infinite wisdom just made the installer incompatible!

Live Messenger 8.0 seems to be the latest version on the Microsoft Download Center where support for Windows XP x64 is specifically mentioned. In version 8.1 only Server 2003 is mentioned. If you download v8.5 you will receive the message above during installation… Notice also that the size of the file is reduced considerably because this is just an installer that then downloads the features you choose to install.

On the official download page for Windows Live Messenger you can read this under requirements:

Windows 2003 Server and Windows XP x64 are not supported.

What is so ironic is that Windows Live Messenger is fully compatible with XP x64, as a matter of fact I’m using it right now. So what you have to do is download the file I mentioned that the unsupported installer downloads. Take note though that you will not get any prompts during the install, it is silent, since you are supposed to make those choices in the unsupported installer… What this means is that you are saved the trouble of unticking the boxes about installing MS toolbars and changing your browsers home page to the dreaded MSN sites.

Also worth mentioning is that Windows XP x64 shares its codebase with Windows Server 2003 x64 and even uses the same service packs!) So this should apply to Server 2003 as well, just like drivers for either OS work fine with each other.

You can download the bare MSI file of Windows Live Messenger v8.5.1302.1018 here. While you are at it check out A-Patch that allows you to disable many annoying features of MSN like advertising - it’s beyond me why MS advertises in their own client. And when you have come to your senses you can may as well download a decent chatting client instead ;).

Oh, and here is the command to uninstall the Windows Messenger (not the same as MSN Messenger OR Live Messenger) that is bundled by default with the OS. Just copy and paste the following into Start > Run and Windows Messenger will be gone: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

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27 Responses to “How to run Windows Live Messenger on Windows XP x64 and Server 2003”

1. on 16 Mar 2008 at 12:14 pm

   1Kerim

   thank you so much for your help, i can finaly run msn live on my windows after tryin to download all sorts for weeks, your trouble is wel appreciate it….. :)

2. on 19 Mar 2008 at 12:14 pm

   2Walter

   Thanks a lot this has been very annoying to say the least that in order to use my 4gig of ram or more i need to stick with old ugly msn well no more! Thanks and also thanks for the how to remove the msn bundled with windows now it wont autostart any more!

3. on 22 Mar 2008 at 4:09 pm

   3Armeros

   Wow Thank you very much for this, I was already trying to get 8.5 installed on Server 2008 but failed, The way you tell here worked without any problems.

4. on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:10 am

   4BanjoHacket

   Tackar tusenfalt!!!

5. on 31 Mar 2008 at 10:27 am

   5Rezen

   You are the man!
   Any chance you can do the same for Windows Live Gallery?
   :) :) :)

6. on 31 Mar 2008 at 3:17 pm

   6Rezen

   Well, looks like I figured out how to get Windows Live running on Server 2003/2008/XP64.
   1) Download your Windows Live software of choice onto a legal computer (XP, etc)
   2) Go into explorer and remove the option to hide protected operating system files
   3) browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources
   4) copy the MSI files to the 2003/2008/xp64 computer and run them.
   5) Presto!

7. on 03 Apr 2008 at 6:15 am

   7Henda

   I unistalled the messenger that is preinstalled on xp 64 using the RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove command and installed 8.5 from the microsoft website site and it worked no probs thanks for the tip.why would microsoft say that it isnt compatible with xp64 when it plainly is ???

8. on 10 Apr 2008 at 4:10 pm

   8mboma

   thanks soo much! kac sifir. :)

9. on 16 Apr 2008 at 1:44 pm

   9Dan

   Hi guys, i am using windows xp x64,

   i reformated hard drive today, now i try to reinstall windows live messenger with no luck at all. i have tried the method “Henda” mentioned and unfortunately did not work.

   to comment 6,
   “1) Download your Windows Live software of choice onto a legal computer (XP, etc)
   2) Go into explorer and remove the option to hide protected operating system files
   3) browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources
   4) copy the MSI files to the 2003/2008/xp64 computer and run them.
   5) Presto! ”
   when i download my desired messenger, it goes to this location C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files and to be honest i am not even sure what msi files are.
   if any1 has any ideas how i can reinstall windows live i would be eternally greatful =)

10. on 17 Apr 2008 at 3:40 pm

    10Chris

    Hey I’m also running windows xp 64-bit! The way I did it was found the 7.5 version. Installed that and then the first time you sign in it says UPDATE REQUIRED or something like that. You can’t sign in unless you update it. So you Click the button to download/install the updated version and BAM it works. 8.1 not compatible with xp 64-bit…riiiiiiight… that’s what I’m running right now.

11. on 28 Apr 2008 at 6:26 am

    11Anonymous

    http://www.petri.co.il/download_windows_live_messenger.htm

    That’s the website from where you can download an installer for Windows Live Messenger that works with Windows XP.
    Hoped it helped.

12. on 06 May 2008 at 4:36 am

    12Efreet

    Thanks a lot! It worked like a charm :)

13. on 08 May 2008 at 10:03 pm

    13me

    Nothing worked for me except for number 11 (Anonymous) Thanks for that link.

14. on 09 May 2008 at 12:37 am

    14Just4Me

    And here I thought I was the only one that had this problem! But anyways thanks for sharing! :D

15. on 18 May 2008 at 12:41 pm

    15LCBrevard SanJose CA

    Works on Windows 2008 Server as well. Cool

16. on 19 May 2008 at 10:15 am

    16The Third

    Hey and thanks alot for writing this howto! Pretty stupid that the WLive installer wont allow it but the .msi will! So dumb! :)

17. on 28 May 2008 at 5:25 pm

    17aehmaad

    very definative solution works great for my XP x64 and Server 2003

18. on 31 May 2008 at 5:03 pm

    18Noggerator

    Try this:
    http://cid-ecd405456bbcc49c.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Windows%20Live%20MSI%20Installers

    Works like a charm!!

19. on 03 Jul 2008 at 3:40 pm

    19Pierre

    Hey there

    I normall , well , never check for and download content I see as “Tips” online, but this one is a true ray of light. Why can’t microsoft not have such straightforward instructions and whalaa - it works AT LAST!!!!

20. on 06 Jul 2008 at 5:15 pm

    20watetime

    I did down load/install as the article suggested. but after reboot the windowXP, I can’t start the live-messenger program. There are two buttons, one is added to “start menu”, another is at “program” menu.
    I clicked 4 times, and the process of msnmsgr.exe starts 4 of them. but I can’t get livemessage window start.
    Then I start the IE to try, still when IE running, live message can’t initialized.
    realy waste of time.!!!!

21. on 06 Jul 2008 at 5:26 pm

    21etooman

    Great Noggerator! It works very well in W2008 Server

22. on 12 Jul 2008 at 12:14 pm

    22Gummy

    Buy this man a beer.
    works perfect on XP 64 bit. many thanks

23. on 12 Jul 2008 at 11:37 pm

    23Angus

    Muchas gracias, por la explicacion yo ya estaba desesperado buscandoo la solucion a la “infinita sabiduria de microsoft”

    Thnx alot man, i was unpacient–>( I even know if this word really exist) looking for a fix for the “microsoft´s infinitive wisdom “

24. on 14 Jul 2008 at 1:29 am

    24KLutCH

    Thanks man works like a charm!

25. on 15 Jul 2008 at 5:36 pm

    25Rishnak

    How about something that works on server 2008 x64?

26. on 16 Jul 2008 at 12:21 am

    26Windows Live Applications with Server 2003 and/or x64 « IT Resources, News, Updates

    [...] programs cannot be installed on Windows Server, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, or Windows operating systems earlier than Windows XP Service Pack [...]

27. on 20 Jul 2008 at 10:13 am

    27Jatti

    THANK YOUUU
    i thought i was the onli one with thiss problem
    itt worked
    i wass worried i couldnt go back on my emaill
    im alwayss on msnn,
    thankk you:)

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