Problem: You can login to Microsoft Live Messenger, but you have a message that says "Address Not Verified" that everyone you can connect to can see. This makes you look like a spammer or some other time of ne'er do well. So, how can you resolve it? There are many things that you can try and do to get rid of this message.

First of all....you must have a .net passport.   There are some people that have an issue with this, because they don't understand why they have to get a passport just to use Microsoft Live.  It's an easy answer, as long as you have an IQ higher than a turnip.  It's because you are using somebody else's stuff.  Microsoft Live IM doesn't belong to you.  It belongs to Microsoft. If you want to use their stuff, you have to tell them who you are.  Think of it this way.... you wouldn't let somebody use your car without first finding out who they were would you?

There is a benefit to all of this though.  By using the Passport Network, you can use the same infomation  to sign in to MSN Messenger, MSN Hotmail, MSN Music, and other sites and services! The Passport Network works with Windows Live ID.

NOTE: You don't HAVE to create a new email address to use Windows Live.  You can use an e-mail address you already have.  You can use any  existing e-mail address from any e-mail provider when you create your credentials for the Passport Network. Then you can use those credentials to sign in to any site on the Passport Network.  Live Spaces and OfficeLive are two that I think give the best reasons to use it.

But you still haven't answered my question about the Unverified Address!

That's because it's so simple, I thought you would have figured it out by now.  All you have to do is login... click on the 'change address' button... and change the address that is 'unverified' to a new one.  Make sure that you have access to the new email address, because you will receive an email with a link in it to verify your address.

But I want to use the address that I have now!

Ok... as soon as you verify the first email address.. then change it back to the one you want it to be.  THEN you will have an opportunity to re-verify that email address.  So... make sure you have access to that account too...