For me, Windows Live Messenger 2011 has been a complete pain from the word go. When I was first invited to "upgrade" (more like downgrade!) for months and months it just would not install under any circumstances. No big problem; it just rolled back to the previous version. At least that worked. However, a couple of months ago, Windows Live Messenger 2011 finally installed!!! I wish it hadn't ! As with all Microsoft "ugrades," Windows Live Messenger 2011 has never, ever worked properly. You can ask it to start on Log On until you are blue in the face; it never does ! Well, not quite true: perhaps one time in a hundred, if it has had a good night's sleep or a nice lunch! And, as for the Messenger Main Window opening when (and if) Messenger signs in, forget it ! 

Needless to say, the previous version worked (although probably didn't to start with). For a company that pretends to be the world's top software producer, this is a truly pathetic performance but not at all unusual. It is the Microsoft "norm;" nothing ever works to start with and I have had the misfortune to be with Microsoft since the very start. When will Microsoft get its act together ?