Windows Live Messenger 9 beta on Server 2003

2008-10-15 04:02 PM | 16 comments

To install the final version of Windows Live Messenger 9 (14.0.8089.726) on Server 2003 and XP Pro 64-bit, please visit Steven's instructions at pyro.eu.org/how-to/windows-live-messenger-2009-msi/. The instructions below are provided for historical curiosity only - they're now out of date since Microsoft blocks this beta version of WLM from connecting.

There is no good reason this shouldn't work out of the box, but I run 2K3 Server as my primary machine at work and can't try out Microsoft's fruity new Messenger app. The MSI is hardcoded to block server OSes, which is complete and utter shenanigans.

The instructions in this post from Techspot work well for Windows Live Messenger 8.5, but you'll have to dredge through the comments to find a working version of WLM 9. Since it's hosted on one of those free file sharing services, I figured I'd mirror the .msi and try and dredge up some search engine hits. I've scanned it with Symantec Endpoint Protection and it came up clean. Thanks to Quasim for the original file.

The installer should work on any 'unsupported' OS, such as XP x64, Server 2003 and Server 2008.

Download Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta - MSI

Comments

Michael on 2008-10-17 08:19 PM (#)

When I try to install this I get type of bollox: Cannot read (network error) C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\install9.msi
Any Ideas ??

Jake Billo on 2008-10-19 03:13 PM (#)

Not sure what the case is - I just checked the installer in a Windows 2003 R2 virtual machine and it went through fine. What OS were you trying?

Michael on 2008-10-20 06:06 AM (#)

I'm using Windows Server 2008 Enterprise.

Michael on 2008-10-20 06:09 AM (#)

And also I think I got it installed, but when loggin in - it says 'You need to update in order to continue', when I update is downloaded, run and it says 'Server OSes and x64 are not supported'
I'm using Windows 2008 32 bit

Louby on 2008-11-25 03:27 PM (#)

hey i found out how to do it and i'm running xp pro x64 and its all working fine for me, except that it won't sign me into hotmail...
u need to run 5 msi files within the windows live installer, not just the messenger.msi
-first run: crt.msi
-second: contacts.msi
-third: messenger.msi
-fourth: wllogin.msi
-fifth(optional): wlc.msi (if you want windows live call)
once you install those you should be good to go
and if you are having problems trying to get those files, how I did it was -download wlsetup-all.exe, send it to a computer running the 32 bit version of windows.
-install messenger only, then after that,
-go to folder options in control panel and click show all hidden files (incl. deselecting the 2 below it which are 2 hide alls)
-then go to windows live folder and find .cache and open it and the .msi files are in there. If it says you can't gain access to that just copy the .cache folder to a usb stick or ur ipod (which i use as my usb stick)
move it to ur computer (which also has to have all files visible)
-while still in the usb u can just extract the 4 or 5 .msi files you want then copy to a folder on your desktop and install accordingly as i previously mentioned.

eric on 2008-12-26 07:58 PM (#)

windows 2003 server r2 works great thanks

Zia on 2009-08-19 02:34 AM (#)

send me....!

Alex Angas on 2009-08-26 03:23 AM (#)

Hi Jake,

Thanks for providing this service. Is there any chance that you could release an update for the final version of Live Messenger?

Thanks again,

Alex Angas.

Tushar on 2009-08-26 06:04 AM (#)

Hi Jake,

Thanks a lot for providing this Beta version... It helped me lot to get bck to messneger on Win 2k3.

Thanks,
Tushar

Steven Chamberlain on 2009-08-26 09:11 AM (#)

To install the latest release on 2k3 or 64-bit XP, please see instructions below (unfinished, rough draft, but contain all the important details):

http://pyro.eu.org/how-to/windows-live-messenger-2009-msi/

MockY on 2009-08-26 12:23 PM (#)

Thanks for the tip Steven. It appears to be working just fine. It pisses me off to no end when Microsoft forces users to upgrade when there are no real upgrades for your platform available. Pidgin will be used from now on.

Guido on 2009-08-26 09:39 PM (#)

Thanks Steven! You saved me much grief. Makes sense Microsoft would discontinue support for older OS versions on new messenger versions but makes no sense they force an upgrade and then you're out of luck. Quite a few people still use W2K3 server for terminal services.

jolly_idiot on 2009-09-04 10:14 PM (#)

It runs perfectly. I'm using Windows 2003 Server Enterprise

thepox on 2009-09-20 08:40 AM (#)

Works well on Win 2003 SP2. Webcam support is better then AMSN, but Im prob gonna stick with gaim.

Hassan Khan on 2009-12-08 05:51 PM (#)

Thanx buddy it is helpful thanx a lot again you do a great job......

christopher on 2010-02-07 02:44 PM (#)

its only supurted on windows server 2008 not windows server 2003

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