How do I search for contacts

I am brand new to Live Messenger 8.5.
How can I search for contacts? I can add anything I want (i.e dog.TakeThisOut@cat.com)
and it will go onto the contact list, I seriously doubt that contact is
real. I want to search for a friend and be given the option to add them
only if they have an account. For example if I want to add a contact in
Skype or ICQ I have to find them, if they exist I can request to add them to
my List, if they do not exist I can not add them.
TIA
Wayne

Greetings Wayne,

Due to privacy concerns, I don't believe it tells you anymore in Messenger itself. If you
use older versions of Messenger (7.0 for instance), it still will though.

There used to be a trick to bring up MSN Profiles based on e-mail address so you could do it
that way, however that no longer exists either.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"Wayne Dolby" wrote in message
> I am brand new to Live Messenger 8.5.
> How can I search for contacts? I can add anything I want (i.e dog.TakeThisOut@cat.com) and it will go
> onto the contact list, I seriously doubt that contact is real. I want to search for a
> friend and be given the option to add them only if they have an account. For example if I
> want to add a contact in Skype or ICQ I have to find them, if they exist I can request to
> add them to my List, if they do not exist I can not add them.
> TIA
> Wayne