Email frustration

[kimbo]

Please can someone help, i'm rubbish at computers, fixing stuff that is. When I start outlook express, before it will authorise messages a box comes up that wants my username and password. it only started doing it today, so i put them in but it keeps coming back up, they are correct. no matter what i click it comes up 3 or 4 times and then error saying can't retrieve and then computer kind of freezes for a while. Any body have any clues? Please. |Thx

[snitter]

Unfortunately this is one of those problems for which there are multiple answers. Probably the best and easiest way to fix it is to stop using Outlook Express altogether; if you download Mozilla from www.mozilla.org it will give you a fully featured mailer that rivals Outlook but is less susceptible for viruses, but more importantly to you, it has a different authentication method which should be friendlier.

Try it and if you have any queries, contact me at [Email address removed as per site policy. - AB Editor] if you need further help.

[j2buttonsw]

If you have an NTL account it is because their email servers are down. Go to their home page for a server status report. And snitter: that is funny telling kimbo to email you when he/she can't use email... besides what kind of crappy question and answer site would this be if all the answers were provided via personal emails?

[PaulB]

j2 is right the NTL servers were down yesterday as mine was doing the same thing.

[AllYourBase]

If you are on broadband, but used to be on dialup, it is probably a frozen account, becuase your provider thinks you have not 'phoned in' for a set period. Since moving to braodband myself, I have to retrieve my account with freeserve every 90 days, which is fairly easy to do from their website. Your case sounds similar to mine, as I got that box and warning too, and it wouldn't download any messages. If you go to your ISP's site (probably your homepage) you should find a re-activation section. Don't go for a full re-install, as this will wipe your broadband settings, just do a 'reactivate' then off you go!

[kimbo]

Thankyou all for taking time to answer, I have visited the ntl website and it is indeed one of their problems. I have been in touch and they will sort it for me. I will definitely come back here for help u've all been great. Thanks again

[PaulB]

You're welcome Kimbo although, for future reference, SimonC is correct also in that freeserve accounts DO dissapear when you don't dial in for ages - just to help others!