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View Full Version : MSN Messenger Idle status


zimagirl79
30-04-2006, 04:24 AM
This is not really a problem, but I'm curious and wonder if anyone knows.

Suppose I have checked the box to "show me as away when I'm inactive for XX number of minutes" I walk away after switching users (windows key + L) and the monitor shows the login screen. My husband comes along and wants to play poker, so he signs in under his name and starts having a good time.

Normally, when I am logged in, any movement of the mouse re-activates my status and I'm no longer idle so I show as online. But my question is, will my husband's movements trigger my idle status to show me as online?

I generally change my status to away when we are taking turns anyway, but on occasion I forget to do so and it never fails that someone sends me a message. I wonder if they see me as online and assume I'm there or if my status stayed as away and they were just taking the chance.

xpgeek
30-04-2006, 07:08 PM
I'm not sure, thats a good question. I'm guessing tho that yes any mouse movement or keyboard strokes count as activity in all of Windows, as I think messenger uses Windows screensaver timer to determine inactivity.

zimagirl79
30-04-2006, 07:19 PM
That's what I thought. Makes sense then that people think I'm there when I'm not.