I am PC challenged. Have had a hotmail acc't for over 5 yrs. Used to go to the library to do stuff on these machines. Got one of our own about a yearannahaff ago. About a weekannahaff ago my hotmail acc't got supersecure--began demanding other input to access and made a "loop". When I clicked on My Hotmail, I got a screen to type characters in a stripwindow (with messy marks around them) to protect against an automated spam system. When I typed them and clicked the "continue" button, I got the hotmail sign-in box. I typed my email acc't and my password and was taken back to the "type characters in stripwindow" box. Ad inf., as the saying goes. Tried to get the lowdown on what's going on. The added box is called a Human Interactive doohickey (HIP), and should only happen occasionally. At first I could read my emails and print them, but not "reply", "forward", or write "new" messages. Now I can't even access the inbox. I have Windows XP, which was one of the features of the system when we bought it, so the Windows XP folks say Dell is responsible for maintaining the program and troubleshooting for me. I can't send anything thru the Dell support chat system, the submit button gives me "page expired". I've tried calling the number, but the hold is so long my cell phone disconnects. I can't find any literature from the cellphone people that gives me a customer service or info #. This is doubly irritating because, at the time it raised its ugly head, I was trying to cooperate in a family emergency regarding the health of a "child". (My cousin's son, a tank sargeant in Iraq< has been wounded.) How can I get this straightened out I can get online, but you notice I'm down as "Guest". Somebody who knows more about this stuff than I do (not hard to do) PLEASE HELP!!?? Tw