I have been having a heck of a time trying to get back into the MSN chatroom. I know this isn't an Armorama issue, but thought that someone here might be able to help me out.

I have used this room in the past (as recently as today), and now I can't get back into the room. Every time I click on the link to chat - I get re-directed to the MSN groups home site (not the Armorama site over there). No matter what I do - I always get re-directed. I tried the following:
1. logged out and back in .... re-direct
2. signed up for a new account - re-direct
3. deleted my internet temp files (including all cookies) - re-direct
4. typed the address into my browser - re-direct
5. re-started my computer - re-direct
6. drank a bottle of moonshine - re-direct

good grief - I even tried to find the room through the MSN chat directory - but could not locate it, and was told that I had to pay 19.95 to enter ANY chatroom.... However - others were using the room at the same time I was trying to get in, and they said they didn't have to pay. What could my problem be - evidently it is at my end of the line - as others didn't have any problems....

Any help on this would be appreciated-
Jeff

Jeff,
I am not sure exactly what is going on but I do KNOW that MSN is going to start charging a fee (the MSN additional services offer) to use the chat-rooms. The date is published somewhere on their site.

Jim

it's weird ..... when I tried to go to the Chatroom using a bookmark, I was asked to sign in... multiple times and when I tried to walk in there through the Armorama group pages at MSN, I could walk rignt in......

weird...... but it works fine right now....

Are you guys paying MSN customers? I don't mean the additional chat charge - just the basic monthly internet fee... Maybe that is the problem for me - I don't use MSN as my ISP - (I use AOL....... LOL....I know, I know :-) ) Perhaps paying MSN customers are permitted to chat for a little while longer, until they will have to pay as well?

Anyway, today I even tried to shell out the 20 bucks to get into the chat, and I couldn't even do that without switching to MSN entirely... they wouldn't take my money without the sign-up for MSN 8.

Oh well, thank for your help guys - I appreciate it........ It is probably better that I stay away from those guys in the chat anyway.. LOL

Later-
Jeff

Jeff, it sounds like you have cookies blocked for MSN so it won't let you in to the chat room.

In IE click Tools->Internet Options. Then select the Privacy tab. Down at the bottom you see a 'Website' section, click the Edit button. Find MSN.com in the list at the bottom and Remove it. Now go back to the Armorama MSN site and you should be able to get in.

As for finding it in the directory. It is a Group not a Chat room which is why you couldn't find it in the Chat Directory. (see Rant below)

============================================================
[rant on]
Now, everybody, look at the 2 URLS below, and pay close attention to the difference.

http://CHAT.msn.com

http://GROUPS.msn.com

We've discussed this to death and it's been answered by at least 2 people.

CHAT, by itself, the stand alone, chat specific, not attached to a group chat room is a subscription service as of October 14. Go ahead and click the top link and read the first sentence on the page. Go ahead, I'll wait for you right here. Now click the second one and scour the entire page trying to find a similar sentence. I'll wait for you again.

GROUPS and the chats attached to them ARE NOT a subscription service. Go the Armorama chat room and look at the URL. Here, I'll save you the trouble: http://groups.msn.com/armorama. Now look closely at the word after 'http://' It is not CHAT and therefore is not subject to the subscription fee.

Any problems somebody is having with the Armorama chat room HAS NOTHING to do with any impending subscription requirement, as there is no subscription requirement for Groups. I am in the Armorama chat room, right now, and I can guarantee you I did not pay anything to get there.

Once again:
http://CHAT.msn.com = Subscription service as of October 14.
http://GROUPS.msn.com = FREE for all users regardless of country.

The Armorama chat room is part of a group. Despite the fact that it is primarily used as a chat room, it falls under the Group umbrella and is therefore still a free service.
[rant off]