MSN will sooner or later change how their Windows Live Messenger operates, but right now, these directions are tried and true.
These directions are for backing up and replacing your backgrounds, dynamic backgrounds, display pictures, winks, and emotions.
For this operation you will need your windows explorer, so we can find where the windows live messenger emoticons are stored on the hard drive. You can find this by going to your start button, then programs then accessories and scroll down to the bottom. It will be a little yellow folder icon.
You will need to click the + by the My computer icon, then the + by your hard drive letter, then the + by Documents and Settings, then the + by your profile name that you log on your computer with, then the + by Local Settings, then the + by Application Data, then the + by Microsoft, then the + by Messenger, then the + by the account name you sign on with, then the + by ObjectStore. Now you will see the following folders. Backgrounds, CustomEmotions, DeluxeDisplayPictures, DynamicBackgrounds, UserTile, Winks3. You will need to back ALL those folders and the data in them onto Disk, CD, DVD, or some place else you can access like a web page.
Once you have formatted or upgraded and lost everything, simply go back to where you saved the above mentioned folders for Windows Live Messenger.
You must have the Live Windows Messenger installed before you decide to replace everything as you have it saved. Be sure to not having Windows Live Messenger running, this means you will have to sign up and click the exit button on the toolbar by the clock.
And once again you will need your windows explorer.
You can find this by going to your start button, then programs then accessories and scroll down to the bottom. It will be a little yellow folder icon.
You will need to go back where you were when you backed everything up. Follow the above directions but come back here after you have reached the “Messenger” folder. At this point I find it best to log into Windows Live Messenger. Then sign back out and close it. You have now added your email and or username under the “Messenger” folder. That newly created folder is where you should replace everything you backed up. Put everything back, all the folders. You can drag, and drop the folders, or copy and paste. You can copy and paste by pressing control C and Control V to paste.
Now when you reboot your Windows Live Messenger, it will have all your Winks, Backgrounds, Emoticons and more.