[gingerwatch]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what I might be doing wrong. They installed a new computer for me at work. Previously I had AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. I put AOL IM onto this new computer and it works fine. I can also surf the web fine.

But when I installed Yahoo Messenger, I can't get connected anymore. I installed Yahoo Messenger version 6.0. I tried all four of the different connection preferences: "no proxies, firewall with no proxies, no network detection, and use proxies." I didn't know what to enter on use proxies so I guessed. I looked at Internet Explorer, in Connections tab - Lan Settings. It had an address and a port number so I tried using that. It didn't work. I don't know if my proxy connection would be HTTP or SOCKS.

Anyway, I never had to enter any proxy information before. I wondered if there is anywhere in Windows that I can see how they've got things configured. Obviously I want to avoid asking the administrator.

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Try using Trillian. It's free and allows you to connect to AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, MSN and IRC all at the same time. You can add all your buddies and see if they are online or not for each.

Ron

[Major Payne]

Try using Trillian. It's free and allows you to connect to AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, MSN and IRC all at the same time. You can add all your buddies and see if they are online or not for each.

Ron

[gingerwatch]

Yes, I thought of Trillian and I thought that would be a good alternative. Trillian brought up my AOL Instant Messenger contacts without any problem. However, it would not log on to the Yahoo servers at first. I tried giving it a different Yahoo server, and it said it was logged in to Yahoo. But it would not bring up any of my contacts. When I added them manually, it showed them as offline, even though they were online, and wouldn't allow me to send them messages. Trillian wouldn't allow my Yahoo buddies to message me, either.

I also tried MyJabber, ChatToGo, QNext, and ICQ - all of which are supposed to be able to encompass multiple chat client servers. All of them brought up my AOL Instant Messenger buddies and allowed me to chat; none of them could access Yahoo servers. Trillian came closest and it did look like the best utility in the bunch. I was really disappointed I couldn't use it.

I decided to go back to regular Yahoo Instant Messenger and try and figure out proxy settings / firewall stuff to make this work. Sometimes when I try to launch messenger, I get a Windows dialog box that asks for a username and password. It's not associated with any program, and it has an emblem of two gold keys in the corner. I think it must be something in Windows that's trying to give me a chance to make a port hole or something; I don't know all this networking stuff. I tried the username and password that I use to log on to my computer but it doesn't do anything.

[Major Payne]

Sorry you had problems with Trillian. Just in case, you might check out why you are having problems with Yahoo! and Trillian at this page ;

Recent Yahoo Problems (can't see buddies, mail alerts, connection problems)

There are patches depending on which version you have. Last versus of Trillian is 3.1.

Let me know if this helps.

Ron

[Lightninghawk]

Try adjusting your proxy settings on yahoo IM.

Open Yahoo IM --> click "Messenger" (top left hand corner) --> Connection Preferences --> select Firewall with no Proxies.

That is normally the setting that needs to be selected. Depending on your connection.
Trillian is an Excellent program to use as well. As Major Payne said. I use it myself for my Tech Assistance IM(ing) communications.

[gingerwatch]

Thanks for the replies as this has been very frustrating. Yahoo Messenger itself has four different ways to connect: "no proxies" "firewall with proxies" "use proxies" "no network detection." I have tried all four separately, on different days - many, many times. None of them work.

I guess what using "use proxies" I really don't know what to enter. I've snooped around and I believe we have HTTP proxy going on here as opposed to SOCKS. I don't know the difference, I'm just guessing from having gone through the Windows XP Control Panels and looking at the firewall settings.

When I enter a proxy setting - I really don't know what I'm supposed to enter. There is a place for server name and server port. I've entered all the different Yahoo Messenger servers & ports, and I tried entering what I believe to be our server information here where I work.

When I had Trillian downloaded, which I downloaded last week, I know I had the most recent version from their website. I opened the console to see what was happening when it tried to connect to Yahoo, and I got:

16:02] *** Error while connecting (Error Code: 0). Disconnecting.
[16:03] *** Connecting to Yahoo! as "gingerwatch", attempt 9.
[16:03] *** Error while connecting (Error Code: 0). Disconnecting.

There was a whole string of attempts, beginning with 1, 2, 3 and so on.

I've also tried monitering the attempts by going to start - run - type in "cmd" and type "netstat." That will tell you a bunch of stuff too, but I don't know what any of it means.

As far as Trillian, LOTS of people cannot connect to Yahoo - there are lots of posts at Trillian, and if you look at the dates they are from the past couple weeks/months:

http://www.ceruleans...highlight=Yahoo

http://www.ceruleans...&threadid=65346

http://www.ceruleans...&threadid=69912

Do either of you know what this Windows box might be, that asks for a username and password and has a logo of two keys on it? This occurs SOME of the times that I attempt to launch Yahoo. It has our company server name on the top of it.

[Lightninghawk]

OK we're going to go at this the way us "teachers pets" do at school... when in doubt as the teacher about crazy little problems you have at home and apply them at school.

Try downloading Java www.java.com we had to download this. Then Reinstall Yahoo IM to get it to work after they upgraded the firewall.

Give this a Try.

[Major Payne]

Do either of you know what this Windows box might be, that asks for a username and password and has a logo of two keys on it?  This occurs SOME of the times that I attempt to launch Yahoo.  It has our company server name on the top of it.

I don't use your OS or login with Yahoo, but meant to check that out. I'm always leary of something popping up and asking for sensitive information.

I never had problems with using Yahoo's IM directly and never tried using a proxy. It even worked first time although I'm behind a firewall and I hadn't gotten to the Settings/Preferences yet.

Lightinghawk uses your OS, so he'll be more help to you than I will. Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Ron

[mysteriousteddy]

i tried all of ya'lls advice and i still can't download trillian or connect to yahoo messenger HELP!!!!!

[Major Payne]

Believe you said this was a new pc installed at work. Possibly they have set the security protocol to prevent people from downloading programs. Need to ask your IT and see if you need admin privileges to download IM's or any other program, but then, you wanted to advoid asking. I think you are just flat blocked.

Ron