Will we be now forced to upgrade, or is this scam?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009 19:51:53

I received an email see it below. The issues with this is that I find the new windows live messenger not compatible with screen readers. It does work sort of, but not as well as version 8, so I am wondering if anyone else received this. For my part I am checking with Microsoft to see if this is actual.


Dear Messenger User,
We have just released a new version of Messenger which includes important security updates to help keep you and your friends safe while you chat online. All Messenger users will be required to have the latest version to continue using the service.

More information is available here
Thanks,
The Messenger Team

The system requirements for the new version of Messenger can be found at http://download.live.com/SystemRequirements.aspx
To run the new Messenger your computer will need Service Pack 2 or higher. Click here if you're not sure what service pack you have and the link will launch Windows Update where you can install all necessary updates.


Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read our online Microsoft Privacy Statement.

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052








.
Message-Id: <20090909072545.12FE.10662053-36893@microsoft.windowslive.com>

Post 2 by SingerOfSongs (Heresy and apostasy is how progress is made.) on Wednesday, 09-Sep-2009 20:02:54

That's a ligit email. An article to that affect came out from ms last week.

Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 2:16:12

Ah. I missed the article, so guess adapting will be how it is providing the latest doesn't work for me. I've not tried it, so not sure.

Post 4 by robbiec12345 (Good night and Farewell ) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 10:44:01

I've seen emails on various mailing lists similar to this. So it looks like this is not a scam!

Post 5 by rat (star trek rules!) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 13:11:32

microsoft is really stupid in that, forcing upgrades like they do

Post 6 by theJournalist (move over school!) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 15:39:56

I haven't received the e-mail, but I'd check the headers of the message to see the path it came from - it should have @microsoft.com or @live.com in the from: field (support@microsoft.com is a good one). The headers should also show the hostname of where the mail came from and that also should have microsoft in it somewhere or live.

Post 7 by battle star queen (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 16:17:37

Does the latest version of messenger work with window-eyes 7.1?

Post 8 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 21:12:57

Yeah microsoft is really stupid in forcing us to upgrade like they do, or they could just try not to do anything about your safety and the safety and privacy of others using the internet and messengers and leave a vonerable application flowing free out there even though there is a more secure version available. Yeah how rude of them for being concerned lol . nd k

Post 9 by Heavy Metal Girl 85 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 10-Sep-2009 23:24:17

I got that very same email, and installed it, and I didnt' like how it was, so I went with version eight. I didn't like how it had the person's email at the end of the contact and the status layout was weird too.

Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 1:47:56

Okay after researching this matter here is what I learned. 1. Due to some security issues at some point we'll have to upgrade to the latest messenger client. 2. Now you must have service pack 2 at least to do so. 3. I can not say for sure if this application will work with Window Eyes, but I have tested and it will work fine with Jaws 11 and that's the beta version. I've not tested it with 10 yet, but will. When 2009 was released I had issues with it using Jaws 10, so down graded back to 8.5 whatever but this is a later version, so maybe it's okay. I did check the headers and such, but it seems with all the people out of work and all scams have risen to a feaver pitch, so I wanted to learn if anyone here had gotten the same. I've not been keeping up as usual due to being busy with other things, so was behind on this one. So I suppose we'll all have to upgrade.

Peace.

Post 11 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 1:52:56

I failed to note I am using XP not Vista or Windows 7, so Vista and Windows 7 users might have a different situation then I do. I have not tested this on these operating systems.

Post 12 by Q (Take my advice, I'm not using it anyhow.) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 6:21:21

So, does this mean that, when using the latest messenger with an older version of Jaws, e.g. Jaws 9, you're screwed, seeing as it's not working so well with older versions of Jaws?

Post 13 by RVAMaverick (Newborn Zoner) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 8:36:07

Forced progress is what we must deal with. The upgrade is mandatory & we'll have to either find an alternative or screen readers that will play nice with the program. I'm not lookign forward to finding an alternative

Post 14 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 12:23:46

I think I got that very same email from them, however i didn't even look at it becuase i don't use wlm anymore, useing miranda all the way now.

Post 15 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 12:24:28

miranda is a great one if you need one

Post 16 by icequeen (move over school!) on Friday, 11-Sep-2009 16:28:58

Well considering I am still running jfw 8 on xp, I am going to have to switch to miranda it sounds like.

Post 17 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 0:22:46

I can't say if your screwed if you won't change and using an alternate might work. As of today we are only asked to upgrade, but after some time like other programs it will stop working. I don't know if it will also stop working with other clients, but changing to one of these will help, but features will be lacking as they are now.

Post 18 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 12:42:33

from what i've seen in one of my friends personal tags on messenger, you have until the fifteenth of this month to upgrade it otherwise you will loose the service, however once you have installed the latest messenger clyant you will be able to chat again on messenger.

Post 19 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 16:46:05

i went to www.msn.co.uk. probably.com in the rest of the world, clicked on messenger, and downloaded the lot. seems to work ok with hjaws ten.

Post 20 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 16:49:39

well miranda is updated very frequently and nothing seem to to break for me as of yet. If you use it with alot of plug ins though you may have to keep the plug ins updated with the new version.

Post 21 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 17:29:44

Miranda and other services like it I find I can use say my webcam, voice chat, and some expressions accross messenger clients. Do you find this possible in Miranda?

Post 22 by rat (star trek rules!) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 17:47:04

hmmm, i'm using the new windows live, it certainly looks different, but think i like it

Post 23 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 18:07:50

I went back to the older messenger because I didn't like the new one. Looks like i don't have much of a choice.

Post 24 by purple penguin (Don't you hate it when someone answers their own questions? I do.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 18:09:06

Oopes. sorry. Firefox has a way of posting twice.

Post 25 by The Straight Edge Superstar (Please, allow me to once again explain why you are wrong.) on Saturday, 12-Sep-2009 20:15:31

That's rather unfortunate.
I like version 8 solely because it is compatible with System access, and to my knowledge version 9 is not compatible. I am planning on keeping version 8 until the bitter end. lol

Post 26 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Sunday, 13-Sep-2009 12:13:32

if you go to http://www.miranda-im.org/you should find all the info you want to know about miranda. the version of it that I am useing is not the latest version, it's 0.8 or 0.81 I can't remember. but it's the version that a friend of mine cat gave me that aundray louis had up on his webpage, which i'm not sure is there anymore. this is the portible version also. i've already had to send it off to a few people and help them set up everything so if i have to i'll keep doing it for those that need my help

Post 27 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Sunday, 13-Sep-2009 12:17:16

forgot to mention that after i've been useing this version for a few months now due to messenger takeing my contact list away from me all the time, i've not went back to messenger since then.

Post 28 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 15-Sep-2009 12:21:08

i've never had any problems with messenger, it's always been very stable on the machines i've run it off of, and my contacts have been good too, even after switching accounts and stuff

Post 29 by icequeen (move over school!) on Tuesday, 15-Sep-2009 14:05:54

everyone sorted since today is hte day...

Post 30 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 15-Sep-2009 19:02:32

To zack mack 2000 I have a similiar version of miranda and its pretty easy to update by just running the installer f for the latest version of miranda and pointing it to the folder that the portable version is in. You also have to update one of the plug ins to get anything new er to work pcorrectly.. It will tell you that it had an error and can't load a certain plug in and you should be able to find the latest version of that plug in and copy it to the plug in folder to get it working again.

Post 31 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 15-Sep-2009 22:16:47

Yes, though the upgrade will be a problem for some Windows live has been stable always, and I have no complaints.

Post 32 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Wednesday, 16-Sep-2009 13:21:35

yeah, someone told me that you could do that. I just haven't gotten around to doing it, pluss I like the version I have anyway

Post 33 by Brooke (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 16-Sep-2009 13:31:34

So far, the old version is still working.

Post 34 by forereel (Just posting.) on Wednesday, 16-Sep-2009 18:05:25

I read last night that is should continue to work tell late October, so us that want to wait tell the last can rest a bit until it stops working. I have tried Jaws 10 with it now, and it works, however it is lacking some key stroke advantages that Jaws 11 has. I also have spoken to a user of the latest Window Eyes and she says it is usable. So we can search up and try some alternatives, or upgrade our screen reader software, but as this board was started we are forced to change. Maybe we should all write Microsoft and ask for an upgrade stimulous check for us that require it? Smile.

Post 35 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 16-Sep-2009 18:54:25

What kindof version of Miranda do you have Steve? I'm using the one by Andre Louis, but don't think that's the same one you're using.

Post 36 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 16-Sep-2009 18:55:29

And as for voice chatting and stuff, just use Miranda COM with Miranda.

Post 37 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Thursday, 17-Sep-2009 15:15:31

you are useing the same version i'm useing dom. i've gotten several people hooked on it, one of them being chelsea. one of my local friends around here told me that she was forced to upgrade to the latest version of messenger because she said that it wouldn't let her sign on unless she upgraded. so yeah. and yeah, the miranda.com is awsome.

Post 38 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Thursday, 17-Sep-2009 15:23:24

correction. the person who gave me this version of miranda was chad.

Post 39 by The Elemental Dragon (queen of dragons) on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 15:16:57

ok, I am using windows messenger 8, vista and jfw 10.1 something... what will work with it in 2009? what keystrokes will work in messenger 2009 i mean...

Post 40 by Striker (Consider your self warned, i'm creative and offensive like handicap porn.) on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 15:57:20

not much, you need jfw 11 to doo moste of the keystrokes

Post 41 by The Elemental Dragon (queen of dragons) on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 16:40:32

anyone know if there's a crack of jfw 11 yet?

Post 42 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 17:45:16

Um, I don't think you're supposed to be asking for that on here, just sayin'. JAWS 11 can't be out of beta that quickly.

Post 43 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 17:46:15

It just came into its beta stage hmm, since like 2 or 3 weeks ago?

Post 44 by rat (star trek rules!) on Friday, 25-Sep-2009 18:07:16

jaws 11 is currently in public beta, if you have a valid jaws 10 key you can run the beta for now. it will expire though, i think i heard at the end of the year.

Post 45 by zackmack2000 ( extreme killer of the keys) on Sunday, 27-Sep-2009 16:18:51

yeah, it's only been in that process for i think almost a month now. although i'm not sure, but i do blieve that it is.

Post 46 by the illusive man (my ISP would be out of business if it wasn't for this haven I live at) on Sunday, 27-Sep-2009 22:23:18

for some reason, when i try to install wlm 2009, it says that side by side configuration is not correct. Why is this?

Post 47 by forereel (Just posting.) on Sunday, 27-Sep-2009 23:08:12

Some facts. Smile. The Beta of Jaws was released in August, and currently is in the second run. All most all key strokes will work for the latest version of WLM with Jaws 10, but you must have the most current version of it. Jaws 11 Beta does all the key strokes, and in the what's new section you can find these changes. They are made with Win 7 in mind. You can find the Beta of Jaws 11 on the freedom scientific website under Beta testing, instruction for using it, and any other information you might like.

Post 48 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 28-Sep-2009 0:27:34

Here is the direct link for the Jaws Beta. It is a Beta, so use at your one risk. I find it simple to switch back and forth, but with all Beta software you may have issues. http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWS-public-beta.asp

Post 49 by The Elemental Dragon (queen of dragons) on Monday, 28-Sep-2009 12:14:09

won't you have to use it as a demo for one then buy it later?

Post 50 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 28-Sep-2009 17:19:43

Depending on your situation it will run just like the Jaws you now use until the release, then it depends. As I've stated go to that link and you'll find all the info you need.

Post 51 by cumbiambera2005 (i just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 29-Sep-2009 6:31:04

Ug! I don't like the latest version of messenger. Tried it once and it was a nightmare. i haven't ever gotten this email that was mentioned, so what I think I may do is try to look up that info that tells you how to modify the files so it will think you have the latest version. This is tricky, but it seems to be the only valid sollution I can think of. I'm not touching the latest version, it's a nightmare! Also i'm using jaws 9. Is web messenger an option? Also, what is Miranda?

Post 52 by Little one (Newborn Zoner) on Thursday, 15-Oct-2009 1:46:11

actually, it's j. Long story, won't go into it here, but Miranda is a multi chat client that alows for MSN, AIM, and I think google stuff to, all in one program. Sorry, but no alt 1 stuff like that, and as far as I know, jaws won't read who signs on, but if nothing eles, it's a deasent alturnitive way to keep your messenger. O yeah, speaking of windows 7, I have a laptop here that ahs a 2.16 GHZ dule cor intell processor, with 2 gigs of ram with vista basic. If I set it to hi performance, it boots vista ultimate and basic up in about 25 seconds. When I installed 7, it took about a minute. Anyone know why?