1. Windows - 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP
2. an Internet connection
3. an active E-mail address
4. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
5. the downloadable Flash IM program

1. Create a folder on your hard drive where you want to save the software. Make a note of the folder's name so you can find the software after it has been downloaded.

2. Go to the Web site and select Save rather than Run to download the installation file to your download folder.

3. Double-click on the setup.exe file from your download folder to install the software.

If you get a "Page not found error" when trying to download, either refresh the page or use the Contact us link to send us e-mail.

Have their own E-mail addresses registered with Flash IM.

Use their E-mail address and Flash IM password to sign in to Flash IM.

With a registered Flash IM account, a person can sign in at any computer and access their personal contact list.

1. First, exit Flash IM completely. If you don't, the un-installation process will fail.

2. Click the Windows Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

4. Select Flash IM from the list and click the Add/Remove button.

1. In the Flash IM window, click the Login to Flash IM menu.

2. In the appropriate spaces, enter your Flash IM account information.

Note: If more than one person is going to be using Messenger on the same system, uncheck the Remember my ID & Password option.

3. Click the OK button.

4. The Friend List will appear in the black window once the connection has been established.

To add a friend to the Friend List under Options, click Add Contact and follow the instructions contained in the Add a Contact wizard.

There are three ways to change your current status. On the online form with all your contacts, there is a Status button on the toolbar. Click the Status button, and a menu listing all the status states available will appear. Your status will be updated on all your friend's contact list. Your status informs your friends whether you're available or busy.

Flash IM Messenger is intended to allow users to engage in private conversations. However, this does not guarantee that your conversation will never be available to others. As with any conversation, the person you correspond with may share the content of your conversation with others, or an outside party may intercept the conversation as it crosses the Internet. If your organization uses a firewall, your administrator may have the ability to review any of your network traffic and content, including any instant messages you send. If you are concerned about this, you should discuss this with the organization giving you Internet access.

If you share a computer and don't want anybody else to access or use your account, please make sure you have not checked the box labeled "Remember my ID and password." Otherwise, others may use your account.

In addition, it is possible, although rare, for someone to capture your Messenger login name and password information as it passes through your organization's network or as it crosses the Internet.

Please remember to "Sign Out" at the end of your session.  You should also check your Yahoo! account information, to make sure it is accurate, and that no one has altered your account.

Please read our Privacy Policy to learn more about how  Flash IM treats your personally identifiable information.

1. Create a strong password:

Use a combination of numbers, letters and standard symbols (~, #, %), such as qwert%319.

Use at least 6 characters, but no more than 16 characters.

Use something you can remember.

Don't use personal information that someone could easily figure out, such as your birthday, your child's name, or your phone number.

Don't use common dictionary words from any language.

Passwords are case-sensitive, so note which letters you capitalize.

2. Change your password every few months.

3. Never share your password with anyone.

4. Don't respond to any message that asks for your password.

5. Never store your account information and password on your computer. That will make it easier someone to get access to the information. If you do need to write down your account information, make sure you store it in a safe place.

A virus is any computer program that can make copies of itself and spread from one machine to another without the help of a user. Besides duplicating themselves, viruses are often programmed to carry out other actions. These actions are called payloads and vary from annoying (for example, altering someone’s homepage) to damaging (deleting system files). Because viruses are computer programs, they can do anything a normal program can do, including deleting files and formatting hard drives.

There are a number of ways you can protect your computer against these viruses:

1. Many viruses are designed to be sent via your Friend List without their knowledge. Before accepting or clicking an attachment, always check with the contact first to see if they intended to send the attachment to you.

2. If you are ever unsure about an attachment or link, do not double-click it. Delete the file immediately.

3. Be cautious about opening messages from people you do not know. Remember that in Flash IM you decide who is on your Friend List and from whom you want to receive messages.

4. Make sure your computer's anti-virus software is up-to-date (go to your anti-virus company’s Web site or call them to get more information).