Question: Can I get Windows Live Messenger to run on Windows XP 64-bit?

For some reason, know only to Microsoft, the beta versions of the latest Windows Live Messenger or other Windows Live Software worked on Windows XP 64-bit and Windows Server but the final releases were crippled so they wouldn't install.

However, there is a way ...

1. Download the installer on your 32bit Windows machine from http://get.live.com. Note: I used Windows XP Service pack 3.
2. Run the Installer (WLinstaller.exe). Note: It will download and install the latest version of Windows Live onto your machine.
3. Go to the following folder(C:\Program Files\Common Files\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources or C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources\).
4. Copy or email the executables of the various Windows Live programs installers to your Windows 64bit or Windows Server operating system. Below is a list of applications names that correspond to the filename (diTii.com ).
       Windows Live Writer
       Install_{9176251A-4CC1-4DDB-B343-B487195EB397}.msi
       Windows Live Messenger
       Install_{508CE775-4BA4-4748-82DF-FE28DA9F03B0}.msi
       Windows Live Sign-In Assistant
       Install_{AFA4E5FD-ED70-4D92-99D0-162FD56DC986}.msi
       Windows Live Mail
       Install_{EDB619FD-4E71-403C-8E99-DFC9CF9DD345}.msi
       Windows Live Toolbar
       Install_{C6876FE6-A314-4628-B0D7-F3EE5E35C4B4}.msi
       Windows Live Photo Gallery
       Install_{AA436FBD-2595-479B-8DDE-E9C36F50D99D}.msi
5. Finally install the above msi's onto your machine. You should now be on the latest and greatest version of your favorite software.

Remember, this isn't a Microsoft-supported workaround, so if things go wrong you are on your own. However, I've tried this out and it seems to work just fine.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 19:01 and is filed under PC Doctor's Useful Links, Questions from Visitors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.