How do I appear offline right on startup when signing on to Windows
Messenger?  I have version 4.7 and can't upgrade nor make any
substantial changes since I don't have admin privileges (work
computer).  I've looked in Options and couldn't find it there.  Am I
missing a tab or am I just not seeing it?  Thanks for your help!

Hi actsai,

Indeed, MSN Messenger has a WEB BASED messenger service you can log
into. i tried it, and it is very cool. Your contact list is there
because you have "signed in," and you may send and receive instant
messages.

Requirements to run are Internet Explorer 5.0 or later
Turn off your popup blocker for this link.

Web Messenger
http://webmessenger.msn.com/
...Use it on any shared computer - at school, at work, at a friend's
house or anywhere you can't install the MSN Messenger software..."

To sign in appearing offline, just click the dropdown menu next to
"Sign in as:" --APPEAR OFFLINE is the bottom choice.  After you select
that, click the ebright blue button that says "Start MSN Web
Messenger"

This service was offered by a commenter below, but the link is
non-functional.  I have corrected it for you, tried it out, found my
contact list there, and confirmed you may sign in invisibly.

Thanks, and happy Instant Messaging!

~~Cynthia

Search terms used at Google to locate this link:
"Web Messenger" MSN

version 4.7 haven't this option for set

4.7 definitly does not include a feature to allow you to sign in
offline. I believe MSN 7 BETA is the first official msn client to
allow this (i.e. third party software such as AMSN has allowed this
for a while).

While I'm not alltogether sure, www.webmessenger.msn.com might have
the sing in offline feature. If not, I'm not sure if there's anything
you can do.

Plus, you shouldn't be on msn at work anyways :P

All the people on your msn messager list just right click on names and
select 'block'.   To them you look offline

Web messenger its a very good choice to use messenger at work.  its
web based and it works just like the messenger.

Check out MSN Messenger 7 It allows you to sign in OFFLINE

http://messenger.msn.com/Beta/Default.aspx


Joe Urena
www.mosaiclegs.com

http://mess.be has a program called 'MSN Proxy' that will do this job,
you can set it to signon with any status you choose..very handy until
you get MSN Messenger 7