Download winks package from this link:
The winks installer apps in the folder “not working” are actually working on Windows XP.
Therefore, go to your Windows XP on VMware (install Messenger if you haven’t already done so).
Run the app “local mco installer” or “mcoinstall” and point to the folder with the winks.
It’s possible to install hundreds of winks in just seconds with this app.
Then copy the ObjectStore from Windows XP at…
C:\Documents and Settings\ user name \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft \Messenger\ user@escargot.chat
to your Messenger installation on your Windows 10 / 11 at…
C:\Users\ user name \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\user@escargot.chat
Just make sure that the user name is the same.
The procedure is quite tedious since the winks installation apps don’t work on Windows 11, but only on Windows XP.
But it does work. I have tried it myself using Messenger 2009.
There is a thread discussing winks here, and how hard it is to install them in bulk:
But the solution was there all along; just use Windows XP.
(edited typo)