When you sign in with Windows Live Messenger, the program notifies contacts currently online from your Contacts list that you are available to chat. While you’re signed in, you might need to leave your computer for a meeting or lunch. Instead of signing out, you can change your online status to let your contacts know that you’ll be right back, or that you’re not available at the moment for other reasons.
Change My Status
Select Tools, and then click a status type:
Online
Busy
Be right back
Away
In a call
Out to lunch
Appear offline
Sign out
Change Status Preferences
Select Tools, and then click Options.
In the left pane, click Personal.
Select or clear the Show me as “Away” when I’m inactive for X minutes check box, and then enter the number of inactive minutes you want, if necessary.
Select or clear the Show me as “Busy” and block my alerts when I’m running a full-screen program or presentation settings are turned on check box.