Windows Live Messenger

[Patience of Pendle]

Last week I had a problem with my web browser - just wouldn't connect. I could get onto the internet using Outlook - although it took ages to open emails and did keep freezing - and messenger still worked.

So I switched users on the PC and have no problems with the web browser at all now. But messenger won't sign in - it either says that my firewall is blocking it or that I need to allow popups. I've tried disabling the popup stopper altogether and that made no difference. Would the firewall settings be different on each user?

Would it help loading the new version of messenger - I have been avoiding that as the main thing I use messenger for is the sharing folders.