MSN and Hotmail have been going through some rather major redefining of Servers and facilities recently. It would not be too unlikely that the server you're used to using has been removed, and the "redirect" that's supposed to switch you to another one isn't exactly right.

There's also the possibility - which we think we've seen - that they've disabled your old server before anyone checked to make sure the new one was working... . In most cases this is a "24-hour" thing. In most cases also, they won't admit that's what's happened.

A change quite a few people didn't notice until everything failed for them is that unless you have a "legacy" account Hotmail has been terminating POP3 mail completely. That means that you can't access your Hotmail stuff using Outlook or Outlook Express. You have to go in using your web browser and use "html" mail. (It sounds like browser access is what you're trying to do, so that's probably not your problem.)

Another recent change you may want to make a mental note of is that unless you have a "legacy" account you're only allowed to send a message to a limited number of addressees during any 24 hour period, or they'll freeze your account for "suspected spamming." When you find a service that works consistently, you'll want to send your new address from your old one to get past addressees' spam blockers that have to enable receiving your mail, so that they can enter your new addy to be able to get stuff from your new addy past their spam blockers. You'll want to allow several days to get them all sent.

Unfortunately, the only support available for Hotmail is via email. "So if your email doesn't work, send us an email about it...."

Your MSN home page should have a "contact us" link, which will run you through a rat's maze of "help aricles" and "FAQ" links; but you should - with persistence - be able to find a place where you can send them an actual email. Email sent from there usually goes through even if your account isn't working. Sometimes they can reply even if your account doesn't work for anybody else. If you give them a 'phone number, sometimes they'll call if their email reply doesn't get through.

It's possible they'll be able to give you some help - or that they'll just send you a few innocuous messages to tell you to read the FAQs to keep you busy until they fix whatever's the real problem.

Most of the problems like what you're reporting seem to clear "spontaneously" after about 24 hours - but there's always the chance it's not just "Hotmail business as usual." Some of the "migrations" may require you to change some settings on your own machine before they work "properly" (a euphemism with Hotmail); but only "they" can tell you what to change.

Sorry not to be more helpful.

John