Well, it was really quite awhile ago.   I can't find that old post.  I'm not sure it was the same problem anyway.  What happened was the registry settings got messed up because of a windows update.  I downloaded a utility that cleared the windows messenger registry.  I needed the utility because uninstalling that particular messenger didn't delete the registry settings so reinstalling the messenger didn't change those settings.  An older version might help, but I think if I were you I would use the web messenger or something for a few days to see if your own messenger doesn't come back. 

 

You might try doing  a routine cleanup and defrag routine.  System restore would be a last resort kind of choice.  It tends to bother too many other things.