Leopard: Problems connecting to Windows Live Messenger using Adium
2 11 2007It appears that some users, like myself, have been having problems connecting to the Windows Live Messenger service using Adium. Apparently the problem is with Adium 1.1.3 itself, and there is a fix in the works.
However, you can perform a temporary fix in the meantime, which has worked for me, as long as you’re comfortable working in the terminal. Basically, you need to add the following lines to your /etc/hosts file:
65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com
65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com
65.54.183.203 login.live.com
To do this, run up Terminal and follow the quick step by step below:
sudo su (enter your password)
cp /etc/hosts /etc/hosts.bak
echo 65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com >> /etc/hosts
echo 65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com >> /etc/hosts
echo 65.54.183.203 login.live.com >> /etc/hosts
exit
Just remember, this is a temporary fix until Adium is updated. I suspect you’ll have to remove these changes once you update, in which case simply enter the following:
sudo su (enter password)
cp /etc/hosts.bak /etc/hosts
exit
Thanks to the peeps at CocoaForge for the tips. :)
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Brilliant. Thanks for the tip. Works great!
Thank you for you post.
BTW, you should type
echo 65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com >>/etc/hosts
instead of
echo 65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com >> /etc/hosts
^_^
Oops. Looks like the html in the blog posting converted the ‘>>’ into ‘>>’. Correcting now. :)
Thanks for the heads up!
will this solve msn connecting problem on version 1.1.4 too?
Yes it will. I’ve updated mine to 1.1.4 since and the above changes work fine with that.
Having said that, in my case at least, I’ve removed the above changes, and it still connects fine. So looks like they’ve solved the problem.
However, if it’s not working for you, try the above and see if that helps. I know even in the last release it was only some people that were having problems. I’m wondering if the same is true for 1.1.4. Not sure why mine’s behaving now! Sounds like it’s fairly temperamental :)
awesome! it actually works! Thanks a lot. I’ve finally able to use my msn on adium. I’ll try removing the terminal code and see what’s gonna happen. Take care.
hello guys, i just would like to mention that is not Adium’s problem… also MSN Messenger Mac Version not working … but when you use another network it will connect perfectly …
thanks
This fix worked for me.
I am using Adium 1.1.4 behind a billion router.
Thanks heaps
WORKS ! Thanks a lot !
Hi,
I’m new to Terminal and Mac and I”m not sure how to get to these files through terminal.
Would you be able to help me via email or otherwise?
Thanks!
Marie.
Hi Marie,
If you can execute the Terminal, all you have to do is to type the commands in the ’step by step’ above.
The first line in the ’step by step’ gives you Administrator access. The second just makes a backup of the original file, and the next three append the necessary changes to the file.
Hope this helps!
Easy fix, thanks for the info :) I’ve posted a link to this on a support thread related to this. I’m sure they’ll be very happy with your fix as well.
sorry… but i dont follow :( I’m havent got a clue about programming but still would like to solve the issue on my macbook. i’m running leopard and adium x 1.2, have 2 msn accounts [.co & .co.uk] and can connect with neither!
where do i need to enter these step by step instructions?
thanks a lot and sorry for not knowing
No problems. :)
You need to run up the Terminal program first. To do this, hit cmd+space to bring up Spotlight, and then type Terminal. Hit enter. The terminal window should now come up.
Now follow the step by step above, or just cut and paste each line in turn, hitting enter in between.
If you still have problems contact me via ichat and I’ll remote into your machine to do it for you (ichat id: tnaseem@mac.com).
Hope this helps!
thanks tax
i ran the instructions i believe correctly but still no luck
:s
in my desperation i even installed microsoft messenger :s
If you go back into Terminal, and type:-
cat /etc/hosts
It should list the contents of the hosts file. So, if you’ve followed the step by step above correctly, the following lines should be present in the file:-
65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com
65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com
65.54.183.203 login.live.com
Just worth checking!
uhm… this is what it says:
sh-3.2# cat /etc/hosts
##
# Host Database
#
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.
##
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1 localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost
65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com
65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com
65.54.183.203 login.live.com
207.46.96.153 messenger.hotmail.com
65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com
65.54.179.203 login.live.com
sh-3.2#
i surely must have done something wrong!
:s
me again…
adium is back to normal I think after the update of january 18th
Hello Tarique.
I am unable to sign into my msn, hotmail accounts. I have windows xp!! can u help plz.
thanks
Rashiy
Dear Tarique,
I’m as lost as one can possibly get; bought this mac the other day (never used one before), have the same problem with messenger although it worked fine for days, read and tried your advice, but don’t even know how to work with the terminal. When I open it, I get “terminal-bash-80.24″ but which password do I have to insert? What’s Adium? I am ever so sorry to be such a novice and ask stupid questions, but could you help?
Wow, you do sound lost! :)
I presume, if you’re not using Adium, you’re using MSN Messenger. Adium will allow you to not only connect to MSN, but other networks, such as AIm, Google Talk, etc. You can download it from here http://www.adiumx.com/
The password you need to type is your user password. The one you use to log into your system.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Mac Terminal, then you might want to check out this link: http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2001/12/14/terminal_one.html
Hope this helps!
It works! I tried everything suggested on the Adium Trac but nothing worked, this finally did the trick and I’m so happy to be able to login again :D Thank you very much!
I have Leopard and Adium 1.2.4.
Not only can I not log into my msn account on Adium, but Adium also randomly closes on me now and then. Do you know if anyone else had this problem? How do I fix it?
PS I tried the lines which you suggested in the original post, but I still couldn’t log into my msn account. I also did the check for it by typing “cat /etc/hosts” and I had put in the lines correctly. *despair*
I have Leopard and Adium 1.2.4.
Not only can I not log into my msn account on Adium, but Adium also randomly closes on me now and then. Do you know if anyone else had this problem? How do I fix it?
PS I tried the lines which you suggested in the original post, but I still couldn’t log into my msn account. I also did the check for it by typing “cat /etc/hosts” and I had put in the lines correctly. *despair*
Hi Nashat,
I presume you’re the person that just contacted me via ichat. If so, sounds like you’ve got it sorted :)
Set your own DNS-Servers, under Network “Advanced…” –> DNS e.g.
208.67.222.222
&
208.67.220.220
Normally only your Router will be listed.
then:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
After this, start Adium and enjoy
Thanks for providing the snippet of code to remove the workaround! Am on OS X 10.5.3 and no problems whatsoever with Adium connecting to MSN.
Cheers!
Ciao,
I’m using Leopard 10.5.4 and I’m still experiencing the problem even though I managed to succesfully add the lines to /etc/hosts. According to Craig Hunter at http://hunter.pairsite.com/blogs/blog20080603.html, the problem was with Leopard first asking a server for a SRV instead of the A that’s been widely used for ages even though it’s been a recommended standard for eight years. The problem was fixed by reverting back to the original way of handling things in 10.5.3, but one would think that the setup wouldn’t have been changed when moving to 5.4. I still have the problem, so this might’ve been the case. I tried another fix too with no results. Maybe you, dear Tarique, could try this same fix again remotely, in case I did something wrong?
Cheers,
Julius
Okay, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d just like to get the stuff I’ve added out from the hosts-file. I reverted to the backup but I still get this:
##
# Host Database
#
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.
##
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1 localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost
65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com
65.54.179.216 nexus.passport.com
65.54.183.203 login.live.com
65.54.239.20 messenger.hotmail.com