Windows Live Messenger locks up after signing in

Task Manager does 'not' say 'not responding' but the UI will only get to listing my contacts. Then it freezes.

Yesterday, I was setting myself as appear offline to 2 contacts, when I decided to appear offline to a whole group. After I set the group to 'appear offline' I left Windows Live Messenger alone.

Then this morning, I got a IM from someone (not in the group that was blocked). When I tried to open the window it was frozen, w/o me being able to read the IM.

I decided to 'end task' on Windows Live Messenger and re-open it.

It is always frozen after it lists my contacts.

I then tried messenger on a different computer. It behaves the same. I feel it has to do with the setting I made, 'appear offline' (to a whole group).

I am able to sign in to the web version, but I really would rather not.

The web version doesn't have the ability to set who you 'appear offline' to.

I was able to go into an old windows XP computer (With an older version of Windows Live Messenfer) and sign in,,,,, but that version doesn't have the appear offline option.

Please help.

Thanks