http://mymce.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/windows-messenger-error-in-windows-media-center/

Messenger is not a media center program. It's part of Windows Live that is used for Instant Messages. Perhaps you installed the Vista and Win 7 version that doesn't work on XP.

The message I get is Message Failure - Media Center was unable to open Messenger.  Plese make sure that Windows Messenger is installed on your system. 

It is installed. 

 Note Security Update kb946648 for Windows XP cannot be removed.

Any other suggestions.  I do not wasnt to fool around with the registry..

Those are really your two choices. The registry edit is really very simple and doesn't require that you actually open the registry.

Simply copy and paste the following into notepad;

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

I want to be perfectly clear.  I open notepad and paste the line beginning { and ending exe.}.  I do not copy "AllowMessenger ... Then I click save as and a menu opens asking for

 Save In

File name

Save As type

Encoding

Please tell me exactly what to do for each of these. I assume Icould sate to desktop and save as anyname.reg and all files ? and leave encoding as is?.  After I finish operation, can I delete the file I saved on the desktop?  Thank you for your help.

You need to copy and paste both lines just as I put them into Notepad.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

Click Save. (Desktop is a convenient place)  Any file name you want as long as it ends in .reg

Pick "All Files"  from the file type dropdown.

Encoding should be left as ANSI.

Double click the saved file. If it's named correctly with the .reg extension you will be asked to "OK" the merge to the registry. Do so.

Reboot.

D

Still will not work.  I did as you said and got the following.

Are you sure you want to add the information in C:\Documents and Settings\Phyllis\Desktop\Fix For Messenger In Media Center.reg to registery?

I clicked on yes and got this message.

Registry Editor

Cannot import C:\Documents and Settings\Phyllis\Desktop\For Media.reg.  The specified file is not a registry script.

You can only import binary registry files from within the register editor.

Please accept my apology, Long week :)

The .reg file should read;

_______________________________________________________________________________

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ehshell.exe]

“AllowMessengerExecHandleFailure”=dword:00000001

_______________________________________________________________________________

It will work like that

This time it worked and I rebooted, but I am still getting message Messenger failure.

Note in Add Remove Components Windows Messenger is checked.

I also have Windows Live Messenger.  I recently added it back because I thought it might have something to do with the problem but now I understand they are 2 different things.

How can I tell what version of Windows Messenger is on my computer or is there only one version.  Which one should I have?

Sorry I don't know what else to suggest. I know this method worked when I had the same problem. Perhaps you have something else going on.

You might want to try the Green Button Web site. It's entirely devoted to Windows Media Center. http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx

They have some very knowledgeable "regulars" in the forums there.

Best of luck

D