this suggests to me you typed your username/password in incorrectly... check caps lock and try again

No,it's because the version of gaim is old and the authentication method it uses is no longer supported.

my mistake. should have read Mega Man X's post...

really thanx For all members XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXxxxxxxxxxXXX

I tried a few distros before I settled down and I suggest you do the same. If you've got broadband and CD-RW's, you're out nothing, not even the cost of cds. If you don't even want to burn cds then at least get vwmware and install from ISOs. It is the only way to know which one you will like the best.
One thing that is important (to me) is the package format. Sure .deb may be easy, but does the program you want to use package it in .deb? Or does any third party do that? rpm, deb, or source, just try it all and see what meets your needs and wants.

My order of experience was RH9, slackware, SuSE 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10. Guess which one I stayed with.

A bit self-promoting, but for a pure-msn alternative you may also take a look at KMess.