This is probably a stupid question (aren't all my questions stupid? Don't answer that..), but do you have to have a hotmail email addy to create an MSN/Windows Live Messenger a/c?

A friend of mine was trying to create one, and couldn't see a way around having a Hotmail addy. He has a Yapoo addy atm.

I'm not getting on too well with Windows Live Messenger, so I thought I might go back to MSN Messenger.

But, it doesn't seem to be on my puter anymore! I looked via Start>Programs, and then looked via Start>Add/Remove Programs, and it's not there either.

Maybe it's time I just went to bed..

What's the deal with the various IMs?

I've got MSN Messenger which I use with a hotmail addy.

I thought AIM covered everything, so I'd be able to add anyone with AIM and they could add me (with a hotmail add) but some people don't seem able to.

What am I missing?

Has somebody broken MSN Messenger? If I click on my shortcut it doesn't do anything. In fact the short cut isn't even display properly.

If I was to uninstall and reinstall it, would I lose all my contacts etc.?