One little known feature of MSN Messenger (or Windows Live Messenger) is the handwriting features. I believe this feature was first introduced to Tablet PC users with MSN Messenger 6 requiring a patch to enable it for normal desktop PC users. In MSN Messenger 7, all users with Windows XP and the required libraries for Ink should be able to use it.
Below the message box in MSN Messenger, you’ll probably have two tabs – the first one allows you to create handwritten messages.
You may find it actually quite hard (and slow) to write legibly using your mouse. Consider getting an optical mouse or if you’ve got tons of cash, using a tablet can really make it a lot easier. However, you should be able to get a pretty decent drawing using a normal optical mouse.
You’ll probably want to drag the drawing area so it’s a little bigger – use the grippy above the drawing box.
Editing and Adding to Drawings
Another great thing about handwriting is that it is sent as a vector of strokes. This is dead cool as you could drag someone’s drawing from the conversation into your drawing box and then remove certain parts of it. You could deface other people’s drawings and messages by drawing crosses and sqibbles all over it which is good fun.
Another nice thing you could do with this is to draw together. If you want a quick and simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe, the first person draws a 3×3 grid and makes their first turn. The other person then drags that drawing and drops it onto their handwriting box, adding their own move and so on.
You could also collaborate with someone to draw a piece of art over MSN Messenger, each taking it in turns to add something to the drawing. This can create some really interesting pieces of art especially as you don’t know what the other person will draw.
As an added bonus, you can scroll up the window and see how the piece of art progressed from the start to the finish. And if someone defaces the drawing, you can always return to an older version.
When your drawing is finished, copy it and paste it into an image editor and save it as a GIF/JPEG image for publication.
If you use Messenger Plus! Live and chat logging, it’ll automatically save a JPEG of every single ink message you send or recieve. You could load this into a GIF animator and create a nice slideshow showing the progression of your art piece.
:O You stole my crap writing.
You might as well just use Yahoo Messenger to draw things instead of messing around with this.
hey – i have windows live messenger – but cannot use the handwriting tool – is there anything i can download to be able to use this?
Hi,
If your using 2000/XP/Server, to the best of my knowledge it should work. If it doesn’t, try downloading and installing the Windows Journal Viewer.
hi buddy thanks
It won’t work with me
Cos I don’t have a legal version of XP! BOO!
Hey the above link did nothin
an i still cant use the handwriting tab for wlm 8.0…any ideas???
hey i know wat u guys meen holy crap wat a waste of time lol
i have msn but i dont know why, i cant use the handwriting feature. it made me so angry after having to install service pack 3 and some other kind of stuff you recommended. please help me
hi peepz wots yo prob tlk to me wots ur addi n wot ur asl plz tlk to mi am 13 f n frm england see yo l8az mwahhhhh
hi to mi boi ky xxxx n hi to mi cuz sandwish
iiiiiii mi names sharni n az cums frm da uk tlk to me a want ya addies ppl tra cyaz mwahxxxxxxxxxxxx
hi mi sxcs plz add mi molz13@hotmail.co.uk ta bi tlk to mi but am not tlkin if yaz a perve bixxx
i down loaded everything possible to get the handwritting to work including the journal thingys. but i still can get it to work i have xp and i went to the thing it said i had the lastest hardware and i down loaded all the extras…seeems like its just something to take up space but if anyone can tell me how to work it i would be very muh obliged.
thanx!
for all of you who want to enable the handwriting feature, just download and install Windows Journal Viewer. But if you can’t download it because of Validation thing, just email me and i’ll send you the file.
Plz plz can you send it to me.
k thanx.
Hi can u plz e-mail it to me too? Cheers
yes can u send me the thing so i can use handwriting tool in msn messenger live plz m8 thx jordan scott
hey! sorry but ive got msn 8.0 and i cant get the handwritting tool to work. I really want the H.T, cuz its cool, but i seriously dont no how!!
i cant use the handwrite thing.
am i the only person with genuine windows XP?
send it to me please! Thanks!!!
hiiiiiiii so good
i love the handwriting idea its coool…
how do i download the handwriting tab for msn messenger live plus? becouse ive downloaded it many of times but it just has now worked for me so could you do the great pleasure in telling me how i can download it start to use it?
ii dont know how too down load hand writing can u help mi
can you send me the handwriting tool too my handwriting does work thanks man…
i really need help downloading the handwritting feature but i dunno how
plz help me 
plz tell moi how ya get handwrite feature pleeeeeeeeeeez
THIS IS FUNN!!!!
hi cow blog~ this is a really cool experience for messenger!! thanks for inventing it!~!
erm.. cann yoo send me the little dot so i can change the coluar of my rittin plzz..x…x..x
i love bayram 4 ever and always XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I want a handwriting at msn messenger! How do ii download ?
i downloaded d live messenger but still could not acess the handwriting tab and i want to download it .so please help!
were can i download this tool from because i have windows messanger and i cant seem to find it anywere on the net! plz sum 1 help me i realy want to use it!
were can i download this tool from because i have windows messanger and i cant seem to find it anywere on the net! plz sum 1 help me i realy want to use it!
i ave windows live messenger but i cant handrite messages. i tried 2 download it but the website just had advertisements, can u plz send me the feature?
thanx
i dont have the feature how do i get it????
plz help me,
josh
I have windows live messenger and i have windows xp, but mi handwriting tool does not work ( I WANT DA HANDWRITING TOOOLLLLLLLLLL)
i am rele confused all my mates have handwriting n i dont and i dont know how to get it it says i need to update or install sumthing:/ can u help me please i have windows live messenger
fankkyuuhh
hello i know how you have window plus msn download it then it work
Once you have installed Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 (several posted links above) you need to go onto the settings on Messenger and enable the handwritting icon thing…does that help?
why wont it work? i downloaded all the neccesary things but it STILL WONT WORK :@
I DONT KNOW HOW TO GET THE HAND WRITING SO CAN YOU PLZ PLZ HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ PLZ :S
I installed Microsoft Journal Veiwer but it still doesnt work. It worked on my old computer and i didnt have to install anything. Its soooo unfair
I also downloaded the Journal Viewer on a legit version of XP pro and still no luck. I Think msn8 might be a bit buggy!
i relly want 1 hand riting n i cant do it dont no haw so well some 1 tell me i relly need 2 no cuz all ma frinds has got it bu me not dey all say y u not got hand witing n i say”duno how 2 install it” n dey say back”aw 2 bad me not helpin u soz waaa.so plz will some 1 plzzzzz tell me. p.s. i am a good dwarer so i relly need it well bye bye bye from mollie xxx
hay relly need handwritin fingo coz all ma frends hav it so i hav got to hav it sum1 teach me how 2 hav it i dunt no how to get it p.s. i am a gud msn’er so i relly gots to hav it bye from barry
i have the tab for handwriting but it wont let me use it can some 1 send me a link to download it thanks!
I really want handwriting but i dont know how to and i have scearched every website but i cant download it !!!!!!
everytime i press the handwriting icon thing it says i need to install ” journal viewer”
an all this stuff.
i installed it and it still can’t press it.
omg someone help please.
DESPERATE HERE.
i have mesnger live and i cant use it and cant find the dowlaod in this page can u tell me were is it
I just have hotmail…not messenger. I just need to know if it is as good as it sounds. That drawing thing sounds fun but I can do that on Yahoo. Should I download this or just stick to the basics?
Make sure “Tablet PC Input Service” is running. (run services.msc)
All people who can’t get handwriting on MSN 8.0:
I had the same problem. Go here: http://help.live.com/help.aspx?mkt=en-us&project=WL_Messengerv9&querytype=keyword&query=egassem
Download what it tells you to
Then restart your computer. It wouldn’t work until I restarted my computer, so I’m assuming that’s all you need to do.
I’ve downloaded everything possible to make it work,I have windows XP,and windows live messenger 8.0, and it still doesn’t work. I need help :/
It says something like To use the handwriting tool you may need to download or update software.
I did all that TT^TT
hello everyone, could someone please tell me how to get the handwriting tool for windows live messanger i have download the journal viewer and everything now it says i need to update or some shit when i click on the little pen thingy!!!
some please help me
how do u download hand writing windows live messenger!