Windows Live Messenger 2011 Error 800488eb

[mixz1]

The computer is a Compaq 700, Vista Home Premium, 3GB of RAM, MS Security Essential 2. Attempting to log into Messenger 2011 results in an Error 800488eb. I have tried the following, as per MS and othe web sites:

1. Uninstall, clean registry, reinstall per step-by-step Microsoft Instructions.
2. Reset Computer date and time.
3. Do a repair install of Messenger.
4. Check firewall.
5. Create firewall exemption.

Nothing worked. A Google search shows hundreds of pages citing this problem with the most informative result being a year old post by an MSMVP stating MS is aware of the problem and working on it.

Has anyone managed to fix this?

[MaBelleMichelle]

Here is someone else's remedy which helped several:

"Here's what worked for me:

When changing the time and date didn't work, I figured it might be proxy settings.

Go to internet explorer (even if it's not your default browser--it's not mine, either), go to Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings and uncheck all the boxes.

This worked for me, after Malwarebytes had interfered with my proxy settings, but it may just work for you, too "


Have you tried running the program as an Administrator? You are correct, there are tons of results.

[MaBelleMichelle]

You can post your query here

Windows Live Messenger Forums

[MaBelleMichelle]

Error 800488eb


Here is your error message addressed

[mixz1]

Thank you all for your replies, but as I stated in the original post, I've run the official MS trouble tree and I've researched this to death but haven't found a solution. If you click on the link that was included in "MaBelleMichelle Error 800488eb Here is your error message addressed" you'll see that it's been addressed but not solved.

"Windows Live Corrine V.", a member of the Live Team, posted this response on December 27th, 2010 (partial quote) "The error 800488eb is a known issue on Windows Live Messenger and is being investigated on. For you to be able to communicate with your friends, you can sign in to Web Messenger or downgrade your Messenger version."


Yes, you can use Web Messenger, with no camera or audio support, but downgrading doesn't work. It is obvious from just doing a Google on the error that thousands are having the same problem. As I use this to communicate with my son who is on duty in Afghanistan, I've switched to Skype, which works just fine. But I don't consider that a solution as Messenger is still broken. Two months after a quasi-official recognition that there is a problem it still is not fixed.