If you want snazz up your messenger, you can download a collection of bitmaps that are collectively called a skin. There are several places on the Web to find these skins, the best of which is SkinStop.

Skin Stop places skins into many different categories such as boxing, TV/film, and marine life. You just download it into a folder you've created in the Yahoo! Messenger section of Windows Explorer.

To find where to download the new skin, open Windows Explorer and choose C:/Program Files/Yahoo!/Messenger/Skins. When you get there, choose File, New, Folder, and name the folder whatever you'd like, probably something reflective of the theme. Then, when you download the file from the Internet, choose that folder as the place to put the file and unzip it when it makes its way there.

To make your new collection of bitmaps your messenger skin, in Messenger choose Edit, Preferences, and click on the Appearance tab. Click on the drop-down list under Current Theme. Select the name of the folder you created. Click the Apply button and your messenger will have a new look.