Yes. Yahoo! Messenger can save a copy of all your IM conversations on your computer so that you can look at them later. This is called archiving, and it helps you easily find your previous messages.

By default, archiving is turned on when you install Yahoo! Messenger. The default setting causes all messages to be saved as long as you are signed in, but they are deleted when you sign out (for instance, when you shut down your computer). You can change this setting in the Preferences dialogue box:

1. Click "Preferences" on the "Messenger" menu.
2. Click "Archive." The dialogue box now displays a description of each archiving option, with radio buttons for selecting one of them. There are also buttons in this dialogue box for viewing your archived messages and for instantly clearing the archive.
3. Click the radio button for the archiving option of your choice, and click "OK" or "Apply."

If you have not disabled archiving, you can click "Show recent messages" or press F3 in any open IM window to see the last messages you exchanged with the other person in the conversation. Up to 50 messages will be displayed.

Note to users of more than one computer: Archived messages are stored locally on your computer's hard drive, so each computer you use will display only the messages you sent and received on that computer.

During an instant messaging conversation, if archiving is active, and you have chosen to "Show recent messages," the IM window will contain two display sections, a history portion above (displaying your previous conversations with the other person) and a messaging portion below (displaying your current conversation). At the top of the history is a link to View Full Archive that opens your Message Archive window.

Conversations with the person you are currently IMing with will be displayed initially in the Message Archive window, but you can click any person's name in the "Messages" section of the left pane to view archived conversations with other people. The Message Archive window can also be opened at any time from the main Yahoo! Messenger window by opening the "Contacts" menu and clicking "Message Archive."