Windows Live Messenger crash after installing SP1 on Vista.

Welcome to BBB dragman! I’d like to point out a few things in response to your answer, which I feel are extremely important:

Since SP1 incorporates previous Windows updates for Vista, there should not be other major updates to be done to the system, other than those released since SP1. I would never recommend downloading Vista updates from Google search results. All Vista updates should be handled through Windows Update on the machine, or directly from the Microsoft Update site if required. Certainly there are valuable downloads to be had on the internet, but ones relating to patches and updates for the Vista OS should come from Microsoft

Windows Live Messenger is fully compatible with Vista. There is not a specific build for Vists. Once again, downloading directly from the Windows Live site is the best option, although there are several reputable sites for alternate downloads.

Yahoo Messenger definitely had some quirks with Vista. The Vista version is still beta and is expected not to function fully yet. For Yahoo your friend should be running the latest stable release version, and may need to install the Truspeech codec but other than that there should be no big problems.

Reformatting is a last resort as far as I’m concerned. This represents a lot of work, and depending on the nature of the problem, may not solve anything. Especially since MS is offering free support for Vista SP1 installations, I can’t see why anyone would resort to this unless directed to do so by MS. If SP1 is the issue, then simply removing it from the machine wil take care of the Messenger problem, and if SP1 is the problem, then letting MS know there are compatibility issues is the only way they can know what may need to be fixed. I personally have never had to reformat my hard drive due to any program malfunctions, nor as a result of any spyware or virus problems. A little determination and patience will solve most problems.

Learning the differences in Vista vs. XP can take care of a lot of issues. There are things such as the Truspeech Codec not built into Vista that were in XP. Vista and User Account Control (UAC) is a big pain, and understanding that some programs may require Run as Administrator can also alleviate what some people think are “problems”. It’s important not to jump to conclusions when an issue occurs. And just uninstalling and reinstalling (be it the OS or the misbehaving program) is not always the answer. And indeed, what works for one person may not for another. Other installed programs etc. can cause confllicts that are unique to a given machine.

I’m glad you found BBB and hope you’ll take time to browse around the forums. I don’t mean to discount anything you’ve suggested, but I think it’s important for people to be aware of the dangers of downloading from alternate sites, and the fact that a reformat is an extreme step, and one that is not to be taken lightly. Troubleshooting can solve most issues as long as one has the patience to work through it.