Fix for Error with Windows Live Messenger - "Signing in to Windows Live Messenger failed because the service is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later. Error code: 8e5e0408"

If you get the following error and you've ruled out all connectivity issues (all tests pass in the built-in connectivity checker and all ports are open as neccessary on your firewall):

"Signing in to Windows Live Messenger failed because the service is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.
Error code: 8e5e0408"

You may be suffering from a Corrupt Windows Live Contacts file. To fix it, just delete this folder and restart Messenger again as follows:

Based on the operating system version, browse to the following location

· Windows XP:
Go to Start, click on My Computer
Browse to the location,C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft


· Windows Vista and Windows 7:
Go to Start, click on Computer
Browse to the location, C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft
Note: Windows Logon name is the logon name that you use to sign in to Windows Operating system.
b. Locate and delete the Windows Live Contacts folder.
c. Re-launch Windows Live Messenger and try to sign in again, and verify if the issue remains.

If you're still having problems:

1. If you get error 800702e4, Disable UAC (in Windows 7/Vista). If you can now log in successfully - you have permissions problems accessing the C:\Users\UserName directory. You should add the current user to have full control to their own user's directory to ensure they can write to the neccessary log and data files without requiring any kind of elevated UAC permissions.
2. Try a completely clean install of Windows Live Messenger as per http://windowslivehelp.com/solution.aspx?solutionid=935bb770-b07c-4393-9de9-6bc1192dc8cc

DDK