This is long winded but PLEASE bare with me as I haven't got a clue!

I've been trying to get into Hotmail and MSN Messenger for the last couple of days.

Firstly, When I try getting in Hotmail it comes back that the page is not currently available. I have followed the instructions, i.e Tools/Internet Option/Connections and Settings and cannot see anything wrong, but then again I don't know what I'm looking for . In 'Dial-up settings" I have my user name and password but there is nothing in 'domain', is this correct?

Secondly, when I try Messenger it keeps on coming back that my password is not valid (although I know it is) then it states that the error is 'OX81000303'.

Can anyone enlighten me what the hell is going on?? If so can you take me through it one step at a time.

Here's hoping

 

I had similar a few weeks ago - I couldn't get the Google home page, just 'page not found'

Turned out that some nasty spyware had editted my 'hosts' file (somewhere in the C:\windows directory structure) and was redirecting all Google traffic somewhere else

I just cleaned up the hosts file with notepad and normal service was resumed

'step by spep' instructions available if required

HTH

 

Martin,

If you could using words with one syllable or less I would be obliged.

Cheers

 

'Could' 'be' 'hard' 'but' 'I'll' 'give' 'it' 'a' 'go' !

'To' 'start' 'with', 'what' operating system? - 'damn'. 'I' 'knew' 'it' 'would' 'be' 'too' 'hard' !

 

I know that!!! Windows 98

 

OK, will reply tonight - getting a bit of interference from the day job at the mo

...unless someone else can explain...

 

Have a look here - but it's not in one syllable words

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...7/wrkappf.mspx

What you are looking for is entries in your HOSTS file with something like
aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd www.hotmail.com
etc

...no # at the start of the line, by the way
...there might be one with "127.0.0.1 localhost", but that's OK - in fact you must leave it

Open the HOSTS file with an editor (eg notepad) and delete these extraneous lines. Save the file and close the editor.

Should be problem solved - unless it's something completely different

PS no responsibility taken, or implied, for anything you may do in error

 

Thanks mate,

I'll give it a go!