Tech: My e-mail won't work

Subject: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: Hollowfox
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:26 PM

...but only on my home computer. I have a Hotmail e-mail account (spare me the disparaging remarks about Hotmail until this is fixed). I can access it at work, but not on my home computer. This has to be something simple and stupid. I can get to the rest of the Internet. I share the terminal with three teenagers, but they're too smart to "mess" with the computer (I'd kill 'em). I can access MSN (parent company), and got a nice note back pointing out that I'd accessed the account since my trouble began. I e-mailed back, told them about how I could get it at work, and they requested that I write back in detail just which refusal messages I'd received. I did that nearly a week ago, and they haven't answered yet. Besides swearing, what do I do now? @#$%^

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:36 PM

you haven't set some firewall to refuse contacts with certain domains, have you?....these things are 'usually' a matter of repercussions of some change you make to your computer.,....but..*shrug*...we know computers seem to just decide to be onery sometimes..

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:40 PM

dumped all of your cookies and temp files and then tried it?

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: Hollowfox
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 07:52 PM

No firewall changes that I know of, Bill.
Katdarling, how do I do that? PM me here at the 'Cat, if you like.
(I told you I live up the road from the Amish, didn't I?)

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 08:24 PM

go to tools internet options and clear historyand delete files....when you click on delete files check remove all offline content...and then click ok....

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: Hollowfox
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 08:52 PM

Will this delete all my computer's file folders? I have mine saved to disk, but I'll have to make sure the Urchins have as well if this is needed.

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: MMario
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 08:54 PM

only the temporary internet files. that is *IN INTERNET EXPLORER* go to tool - internet options...

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 10:15 PM

A simpler, and usually more effective, cleanup of trash on your disk comes from "Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup." It gets all of the same stuff that dumping temps from inside IE does, and does additional cleanup items like your "trash bin" and some "temporary archive" stuff that Windows keeps "to help you out." It generally won't erase anything you need, but if you're nervous you can "view files" to see what it intends to get rid of for you.

Hotmail is an MSN "product." I don't know if the MSN support people will give you any help if you only have hotmail, but if you are really having trouble with logon I've found that a phone call (for MSN help) is usually more productive than trying to "web" of email in for help.

I haven't had to contact them for many months, but the last numbers I used were:
Member Support 1-800-386-5550
Tech Support 425-635-7019
MSN Online Interactive Technical Support 1-877-635-7019 (12/2000)

IF they'll help you with hotmail(?), the "Online Interactive" folk can usually walk you through - instructions by phone while you punch the keyboard - a re-setup of you connection. If you can replace it with one that works, you don't really need to worry too much about what was wrong with the old one.

You do log on to hotmail on a "secure" connection, although your "use" of the site is not secure. If you've clicked off the "notice," you may be used to zipping in and out of the "secure login" without noticing. If you haven't updated security settings on your home machine to 128-bit encrypt, you may be bouncing off of the login there.

One of the most common reasons for login failures is typing the wrong password - and here "ABC" typed with the caps lock on may not be the same thing as Shift-a Shift-b Shift-c. It matters to some systems, and not to others. Passwords are case sensitive!

Your two best options are to 1.) try to figure out what's wrong, and fix it; or 2.) just carefully re-setup your account and connection. #2 is usually easier.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: Hollowfox
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 03:49 PM

JohnInKansas, you are a lifesaver! I got a human being on the phone and I don't know what he did (incantations? gruffy dust?) but it works now. I'm off to do some serious mouscleaning now. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Tech: My e-mail won't work
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 06:45 PM

Glad the phone nos. still worked. It's been a while since I've had to use them.

John