Location of Microsoft Live Sign-in Helper credentials on Windows 7

When I go to live.com using Internet Explorer 9, with the Microsoft Live Sign-in Helper, it used to show all my Live IDs. I could then click on any one of them, and it would sign in. A tab crashed yesterday, and since then, I cannot repair it.

Here is what I have done:

A system restore.
I removed the Browser Helper Objects (BHO) using Hijack This.
I uninstalled Microsoft Live Essentials.
Re-installed them to find the BHOs are back as expected.

I suspect that what is happening is that the mini-database, where the multiple credentials are stored, is corrupt.

Does anyone know where that location is, or do you have any other ideas that I might try?

I am specifically look for a file location on a Windows 7 computer. The problem is not related to the web site, but is clearly local.

KCotreau

Posted 2011-07-02T14:41:24.120

Reputation: 24 985

Answers

OK, 6 months later, but the answer is that Microsoft simply dropped support without notification. So what was working one day, was no longer working the next. I only realize this when I used an old image, where it worked, but do not when I restored it. That lead me to these links:

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/07/06/where-did-my-saved-email-address-and-password-go.aspx

http://windowslivehelp.com/thread.aspx?threadid=514780f4-dbdc-4633-adc7-d0e368e8cff6

KCotreau

Posted 2011-07-02T14:41:24.120

Reputation: 24 985

My guess is that it'll be under this place: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live\Contacts

(Replace username with your user account).

Perhaps check that these folders are removed when you remove Windows Live, if they aren't, move them to the Recycle Bin manually and try a re-install.

Ruairi Fullam

Posted 2011-07-02T14:41:24.120

Reputation: 2 284

I emptied that folder and opened the Live mail page, and nothing re-appeared. I would also say that while two of my ID's were there, the other two were not. Still looking. – KCotreau – 2011-07-06T11:19:52.053

I have Microsoft Live ID Sign-in Assistant as a separately installed product.

I wonder if it also gets uninstalled when you uninstall Live Essentials, or whether both have to be uninstalled separately in order to really restart from zero.

harrymc

Posted 2011-07-02T14:41:24.120

Reputation: 306 093

I originally did too, but I did uninstall it, and then installed it again as part of Live Essentials. Again, the BHO's are back, but I really think that whereever it stores the credentials is goofed up. – KCotreau – 2011-07-06T11:18:42.943

Are you sure this isn't a problem with IE, for example with cookies storage ? – harrymc – 2011-07-06T11:54:09.510

Funny, I never thought about it being a cookie...I will delete them and post back. – KCotreau – 2011-07-06T12:00:20.117

Reset IE9 totally. No help...back to theory one...stored somewhere, but no idea where. – KCotreau – 2011-07-06T17:39:05.643

1Another idea is the registry. Try maybe searching for your latest login name. – harrymc – 2011-07-06T17:47:19.537

+50 I have only had limited time to look for the solution, but your comments were more on point. – KCotreau – 2011-07-12T04:58:23.310

You are right they are local. I ran into this problem as well, and I found a few helpful posts.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2007/12/07/the-basics-of-browser-helper-objects.aspx

http://thljcl.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/hotmail-windows-live-id-sign-in-helper-and-trusted-pc/

Basically, you have to remove every live essential program to clean this bad boy out. That took a while to google actually. I'm a bit surprised.

But if I under the article correctly, if people stop using XP, we would have no need for the Live ID assistant. . .

surfasb

Posted 2011-07-02T14:41:24.120

Reputation: 21 453

"if people stop using XP" - That's just as likely to happen as when people stop using IE6. – SgtOJ – 2011-07-28T01:14:37.297

Strangely, this scares me more than the deficit. . . – surfasb – 2011-07-29T05:36:13.360