Messenger will never start first time

[soldave]

Got a problem which I've had for quite some time now. Whenever I start up MSN Messenger on my desktop PC, it will try to connect and then tell me it is unable to do so. I click on sign in again and the same thing will happen. This will occur about 9 or 10 times usually (sometimes more) before it eventually signs in. However, on my laptop and using the same internet connection and MSN account, it will connect me first time, every time.

I use Zonealarm Pro on both computers and, although I have a list of blocked IP address, the list is the same for both laptop and desktop. So I really can't see why MSN Messenger won't connect me first time on my desktop PC.

I'm running XP on both systems and have no other windows/internet related problems other than this. Any help would be appreciated:)

EDIT: Messenger is giving me error code 0x81000370, if that means anything to anyone

[MarcusUK]

I sometimes have probs when I install a new version, have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling messenger?

[soldave]

Tried that. I remember that when I was messing before, only the version that came with Windows (the original Windows Messenger) would work first time.