There don't seem to be a lot of them.

• The last AIM version for Win95 works fine. I have problems with sending/receiving files and the IM images function, though, but it may be because of my router.
• aMSN works fine, except for the feature that allows you to check your e-mail in your web browser in one click. However, it's really slow to start up. Once it's started, it's not so bad, but still not fluid.
• GAIM is in bed with the GTK+ package. Using the last GTK+ package that you can install on Win95, you can run GAIM 0.73 (or maybe up to 0.78, I forget), but it has a serious memory leak problem of sorts, rendering your system unstable. I wonder if the last Win98-compatible GTK+ package would work if I circumvented the OS check.
• Miranda IM depends on IE, sort of. Specifically, the SSL library settings. I wonder if I could hack them in. Also depends on RICHED20.DLL, for some reason.

I haven't tried Trillian, because it's commercial with a free version, and because I fear it will install cruft in my registry and the Windows directory.

Any AIM/MSN messengers I forgot? Suggestions?

I hope no one minds me bumping this up, but I have a few additional comments and suggestions:

AIM 4.8 works fine, and it's what I use myself. Given how AIM Triton has performance and functionality flaws and bundles known spyware programs by default, I'd personally prefer this version even if I used Windows XP.

TerraIM is small, works well on Windows 95 without IE, and even works on NT 3.51 for that matter. I'm not that fond of its hard-coded black interface, though, and AIM 4.8 seems more functional.

Trillian worked as of the last time I tried using it three or so years ago. I don't know if the newer versions work, however, and I wasn't all that fond of the older ones, either: It insisted on re-inventing all its UI controls, and there were a few minor visual bugs.

Gilly Messenger @ http://www.cracksoft.net/

Dunno about others, but regarding Miranda IM you could try installing the OpenSSL libraries from here. The Rich Edit may be needed by the message window; more information could be found by profiling miranda32.exe in Dependency Walker. You could search MDGx' site for a Win95-compatible version of riched20.dll and toss it to the %system% folder.

I don't mind anyone bumping this topic.

Thanks, I'll give it a whirl.

That's what I thought, and I indeed found a compatible DLL at MDGx' site.

For my MSN needs, I've revived the msnmsgr project at MozDev a couple months ago. Shameless plug, heh, but it's an alternative if you use SeaMonkey (and soon also for Firefox).

I would use Trillian it dont add nothing to registry.

sorry edited it dont work in windows 95

OK, regarding the registry thing: Miranda IM only adds a key to the registry, and this behavior can be disabled by following the procedure described here.