MSN messenger shows the user as not connected

Source
★remember you have to include MSN into the exceptions of your firewall and antivirus ..if you don't it cannot connect!!
=►TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS:
►►Date and Time
-Make sure that you have the correct date and time settings in your computer. To verify and check this, try the following:
►For Windows Vista:
a. Click Start, type Date and Time in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
b. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings are correct. Change them if this is necessary, and then click OK.
►For Windows XP:
a. Click Start, click Run, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
control timedate.cpl
b. In the Date and Time Properties dialog box, confirm that the date and time settings are correct. Change them if this is necessary, and then click OK.
►►Delete the Messenger Contacts Cache folder
►For Windows Vista
→1. Show (unhide) hidden files and folders:
a. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
b. In the new window, click the Organize drop-down list, and then select the Folder and Search options check box.
c. In the Folder options window, click the View tab.
d. Make sure that the Show hidden files and folders check box is selected.
e. Click Ok, and then close the window.
→2. Delete the contact store:
a. Click Start, and then click Computer.
b. Locate the following folder:
C:\Users\Windows_log-on_name\Contacts\…
c. Delete all the files that are in this folder.
d. Locate and open the following folder:
C:\Users\Windows_log-on_name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts
[ In windows 7:
C:\Users\$loggedUser$\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts]e. Delete all the folders that are in this folder, including the hidden folders.
f. Close the window, and then try signing in to Windows Live Messenger.
►For Windows XP:
→1. Show (unhide) hidden files and folders:
a. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
b. In the My Computer window, click Folder Options on the Tools menu.
c. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
d. Make sure that the Show hidden files and folders check box is selected.
e. Click Ok, and then close the window.
→2. Delete the contact store:
a. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
b. Locate the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\Windows_log-on_name\Contacts\Me…
c. Delete all the files that are in this folder.
d. Locate the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\Windows_log-on_name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts
e. Delete all the folders, including the hidden folders, that are in this folder.
f.Close the window, and then try signing in to Windows Live Messenger