How do I change the email address that I sign in with on MSN IM?  I
don't want to change my screen name, it's my actual email. Want real
user to check and give 'useable' answer rather than instructions from
Microsoft site.  tx.

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Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 14 Jan 2003 19:08 PST

Hi Mike,

Are you trying to set it up with a non-hotmail/msn/passport e-mail
address?  Or with a new address from one of those sites?

I doublechecked select-ga's instructions below, and they are correct -
but only if you're using a hotmail/msn/passport address.  Anything
else, and it won't sign you in.

--Missy

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Request for Question Clarification by sycophant-ga on 20 Jan 2003 23:43 PST

As I understand it from my usage of MSN Messenger, there are two
elements to your identification online..

The first is your Passport sign-in (an email address) and a display
name, which is arbitary, and can be changed at anytime.

You can sign into MSN Messenger with any Passport registered email
address. By default, all Hotmail addresses are Passport registered,
however if you wish to use a non-Hotmail address, you must first
register it in the Passport service.

I am not entirely sure what you are trying to do, however. You
currently use MSN, and sign in using one email address, but want to
use another address instead? This is effectively the same as being a
seperate person. Is that what you are trying to do?

Regards,
sycophant

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Clarification of Question by headsetsdotcom-ga on 24 Jan 2003 15:11 PST

I currently use a regular domain address i.e.  mike@myowndomain.com. 
What I want to do is use a new address  mike@mydifferentdomain.com.  I
don't want to change my screen name, but the underlying email sign in
address.  I understand I could just set up another account, but then
everyone has to be notified, so i just want to change the email
address and have the same account.

The answer is, it's not quite as simple as it could be, but it can be
done...

-  Visit the Passport site, www.passport.com
-  Click the "View or edit your profile"
-  Login to Passport with @mydomain.com
-  Under your email address in the profile edit page is a link "I need
to change this"
-  When you click on this link it will say: "Warning to MSN Messenger
or Windows Messenger users: Please save your Messenger contact list
before continuing. You will need it to recreate your contact list
after you change your .NET Passport e-mail address."

So, that's where the problem lies, the MSN system is email-centric, it
seems you can't change your email without having to change your MSN
signin. However, there is a link to help which details how to save and
reimport your contact list. Doing it this way should mean, at worst,
that all your existing contacts get a note that you have added them to
your list.

I hope this is a suitable approach for you, as it seems to be the only
option that MSN allows.

Regards,
sycophant-ga

Sycophant, yep it works. Great. Thanks!  Headsets.com

sign in to msn IM
click on tools
then click on accounts 
enter a new valid email account - (if you dont all ready have a new
one go to hotmail.com and you can get one there)

sign out .
sign in with the new email account