The 80048820 error occurs when there is a problem with the MSN Messenger server, which is manifested by its inability to sign you in to the service. One will be confronted with the following message:
“We were unable to sign you into Windows Live Messenger at this time. Please try again later.
Error code: 80048820
Extended error code: 80048412”
There are several possible causes of the error, which might include inaccurate proxy settings for the Internet Explorer, or that your system could be reflecting the wrong date or time, or both. The problem can also be attributed to firewall problems, or to softpub.dll (a library of encryption support functions) having become unregistered. The problem can from a few minutes to a few hours to resolve by itself and the service status may not necessarily be accurate. Hence the first option should be to simply wait. If the first option doesn’t work out, one can resolve the problem by trying out the steps outlined below. Note that the solutions are premised on the causes of the error identified earlier.
Set the Correct Date and/or Time
Log on as an administrator and double click on the clock on the toolbar. Adjust the clock and date to reflect the correct entries.
Firewall
The messenger may be denied access to the internet by the firewall that you are using, e.g. Norton Internet Security or ZoneAlarm. You can resolve this by adding the messenger to the list of programs in the firewall once you’ve established that this is the problem. The firewall could also be blocking access if you had disabled it in the past and if this is the case, you can try re-starting it and check whether this helps. You might also uninstall the firewall to be sure that this is not the cause of the problem.
Register softpub.dll
Go to the “Start” button and click on “Run”. Type regsvr32 softpub.dll and then click “OK”. When this is done, you can restart the messenger and try to sign in. Repeat the procedure for the following:
* regsvr32 wintrust.dll
* regsvr32 initpki.dll
* regsvr32 MSXML3.dll
Check the IE Security Settings
To do this, open Internet Explorer, click on the “Tools Menu”, and then go to “Internet options”, then on to “Advanced tab”. Go to the security section and uncheck the box for “Check for server certification revocation” if it is already checked. At the same time, make sure that the boxes for “Use SSL 2.0” and “Use SSL 3.0” are checked and then click “OK”.
Other troubleshooting methods include changing the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) for the router to 1,400 bytes. Reinstalling Internet Explorer also can work to cure the problem. Try using a password that comprises fewer characters. If you had installed antivirus software which was also updated, it could be the cause of the problem. Try disabling it to see whether the problem will go away. And lastly, you can simply unplug or restart your modem if you use cable. It usually works.
For more information on error 80048820, read What is 80048820?
