Hotmail and Outlook Express

[AZRedhawk44]

No, I'm not going to Linux and gmail and thunderbird and pine and Evolution and <<insert pet GNU-project here>>.

I've had a Hotmail account back from the medieval days when HoTMaiL stood for HTML-mail, was run on a Unix server platform and not owned my Microsoft.  I understand that it is designed as a web-delivered system.

I still prefer using a true piece of client software instead, when available.

Outlook broke for me around 11:00 or so.

I get the following errors:

Unable to poll for new messages on your HTTP server.  Account: 'Hotmail', Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: 'Forbidden', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 998, Error Number: 0x800CCC33

Header download for the 'Inbox' folder did not complete.  Account: 'Hotmail', Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: 'Forbidden', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 998, Error Number: 0x800CCC33

I can sign in on the Hotmail/Live web interface and still check my email.

Anyone else getting this?  Is this a MS/Hotmail decision suddenly made today?

I see evidence they did this back in 2005 for awhile also, due to spammer abuse of Outlook and Outlook Express clients for bulk spamming from the PC.

[lee n. field]

No, it's been that way for a while.  Use to be you could set up Outhouse Express to access hotmail, per instructions in the MSKB.  At some point MS broke that.

[Tim L]

I received an email a few weeks back from the hotmail team stating that they had fixed it so it wouldn't work with outlook or outlook express.  The email contained a solution, something about an unholy dance with Darth Vader or some such.  I'll see if I can find it.

Ok, Found it.  try checking here.  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102225181033.aspx

Tim

[kanamaster]

Hello!
I'm also having the same problem, not being able to send or retrieve messages from my Hotmail account using Outlook Express. That happens to me since yesterday, I think. I also manage with Outlook Express other acoounts from Yahoo, and with these there is no problem.
About the answer with the Microsoft solution, posted before my entry here, I see that's for users having Microsoft Outlook. They don't mention Outlook Express.
Well, you know, another one seeking for the solution of this problem.
Greetings.

[AZRedhawk44]

OK, installed Outlook Connector.

I gotta say:  What's the point?  Why disable OE, then give out a free download that works with Outlook so I can still bypass the advertising on MSN and (if I were inclined) send out bulk junk mail?

Stoopid.