To say Windows Vista has lots of program compatibility issues currently is understatement, as even many other own products from Microsoft itself won’t works properly in Windows Vista without workaround trick. One of them Microsoft Money 2007 (also incompatible with Money 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006) affecting all Premium, Deluxe, Home and Business edition. When user try to sign in to Microsoft Money by using Windows Live ID Network credentials, the following error symptom and message may appear:

  • Your sign-in information could not be verified. Go online or select the Work offline check box, and then reenter your sign-in information.
  • Money is unable to verify your online sign in. Money will now try to log you in using Work Offline sign in. Some online features such as background banking will be unavailable, possibly because of network problems. To use these features, please close Money and try to sign in again later.
  • Money is unable to verify your online sign in. Money will try to log you in using work offline.
  • The sign in attempt for [email protected] was unsuccessful. Please try your sign in name and password again. (ISP is name of Internet Service Provider, and can be different from “.com”, such as “.net”.)

The problem may happens even though you have previously configured Money to sign in to the Windows Live ID Network. However, this is the better case, as user can still choose to use Work Offline option to login to Money program. However, when you create a new Microsoft Money file or restore a Money backup file using Windows Live ID password, the error will cause the user unable to use Microsoft Money, especially on first usage.

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article ID 891338 lists out a whole list of 12 steps that can be used to troubleshoot and resolve above mentioned error. However, most likely only method 9 that is useful as a resolution for Money 2007 or older version in Windows Vista problem.

Method 9: Turn off Extended Protect Mode and the Phishing filter in Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista

Warning: This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Step 1: Change Internet Explorer 7 security settings

  1. Start Internet Explorer 7.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  3. Click the Security tab, and then click to clear the Enable Protected Mode check box.
  4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Disable Phishing Filter under Phishing Filter.
  5. On the Advance tab, click to select the Use SSL 2.0 check box.
  6. Click to select the Use SSL 3.0 check box, and then click to select the Use TLS 1.0 check box.
  7. Exit Internet Explorer 7.

Step 2: Add Money to local firewall settings

If you are using a third-party firewall program, see the documentation that is provided for this firewall program to add Money to the exception list.

For Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, type Windows Firewall in the Start Search box, and then click Windows Firewall in the Programs list.
  2. In the navigation pane in Windows Firewall, click Allow a program through Windows Firewall. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
  3. In the Windows Firewall Settings dialog box, in the Exception list, in the Program or port column, select Microsoft Money.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Close Windows Firewall.
  6. Restart the computer.

Step 3: Verify that you can log on by using Windows Live ID credentials in Money

If you can log on in to Windows Live ID by using your credentials in Money, you can add msn.com, live.com, passport.net, passport.com and money:// to the Trusted Sites list in Internet Explorer 7, and then follow the steps in the “Step 4: Restore Internet Explorer 7 security settings” section to restore Internet security settings.

To start Internet Explorer 7 and open Internet Options, follow these steps:

  1. Start Internet Explorer 7.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
  3. In the Select a zone or change security settings box, click Trusted sites.
  4. Under Trusted sites, click Sites.

To add sites to the Trusted Sites list, follow these steps:

  1. Click to clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box.
  2. In the Add this website to the zone box, type live.com, and then click Add.
  3. In the Add this website to the zone box, type msn.com, and then click Add.
  4. In the Add this website to the zone box, type passport.com, and then click Add.
  5. In the Add this website to the zone box, type passport.net, and then click Add.
  6. In the Add this website to the zone box, type money://, and then click Add.
  7. Click Close, and then click OK.

If you cannot resolve the issue, follow Step 4 to restore Internet security settings, and then try other method suggested by Microsoft.

Step 4: Restore Internet Explorer 7 security settings

  1. Start Internet Explorer 7.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  3. Click the Security tab, and then click to select the Enable Protected Mode check box.
  4. Click the Advanced tab, and then Turn on automatic website checking under Phishing Filter.
  5. Exit Internet Explorer 7.

Update: Disable UAC will solve most problem. It seems like the error is related to protected mode.