Before? Only over and over and over again. Sadly there's no single solution or magic bullet, and it's very frustrating for many people. I'd recommend reading throught the comments that have already been posted on this article (there's 129 of them right now) in amongst the frustrations there have been some good ideas to try.
sborra
January 25, 2005 4:44 PM
I am unable to log into my hotmail account ("Account Temporarily Unavailable") for over a day now. I am a paying customer too ! The tech support numbers (I have called atleast 10 different numbers) absolutely dont help. Infact the auto-machine is arrogant to even shut down the phone if I press 0 couple of times to reach a human being. Finally I am connected to a support number (reached via 650-964-7200) for 2 hours and there is no one or sound on that !! I am wondering if someone/thing will eventually come to that line!!
david
February 9, 2005 2:06 PM
Hotmail is REALLY PISSING ME OFF! It is a an EXTREMELY important component of my business and if i can't access it i am switching to another email account! REDICULOUS!!!!!!!
Leo
February 9, 2005 2:08 PM
Free email services should NEVER be a critical component of any business.
I can not get into my Hotmail. Which is the only e-mail I have.
I keep getting a " MATCH THE PICTURE " sign... I do, and it keeps coming back and I just don't get into my Hotmail.
It's a vicious cycle. They want to make sure I'm not an automated machine of some sort. Well, I'm not. And my husband's schedule is IN Hotmail. NOw how do we get to it ?
Feel free to call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX
Susan Sedgebeer
[Editted to remove phone number - NEVER EVER post your phone number in a public forum.]
gary
February 9, 2005 7:41 PM
I, too, am finding it impossible to access a Hotmail account. When I access it through Outlook Express (it always worked before last week), I get a single email from Hotmail Admin telling me to go to the website. Once I do that, I start looping through the sequence they implemented to insure I am not an automated spammer. However, maybe this article can explain some of what is going on...maybe?
I don't know if it is relevant to this situation or not, but I do know that MSN has royally screwed users before without telling them beforehand. Yeah, yeah...I know...they promised to "communicate" and give the users advance warning. I (for one) don't believe it.
pauly
February 10, 2005 1:38 AM
I HAVE THE ANSWER!!!
I just tried access through netscape and it works! So download netscape if you don't have it, and it should work OK. Its some kind of Explorer problem by the looks of it.
Pauly
Paul
February 14, 2005 10:27 AM
Why have the fascists at microsoft done this I wonder, to line Bill Gates pockets even further, will we have to pay to access hotmail accounts through progs like outlook express, probably?
I have 3 addresses with them and cant access any :(
All I get is a single email saying click this link, but all I get is Page Not Found, Arrrgh!!
Luke
February 15, 2005 2:01 AM
I got 3 emails from what seemed to be Hotmail support emails, but they were from 3 different email addresses! The email said that they encountered a problem in verifying my information or something and that my account will be deactivated until I send them the information. It then said to click the link provided to fill in the information that was needed. The emails that the message came from was websupport@msn-network.com, gstaff@msn-network.com, accountant@msn-network.com
All of the email messages were exactly the same, but from the different email adresses.
The URLs that they linked to go to to send the info was
www.msn-wizard.com, www.online-msnupdate.com, www.msn-site.com
But neither of the sites exist (try it yourself, It doesnt work)
What should I do?
james
February 15, 2005 5:23 AM
I found this site by googling 'hotmail hipservice problems'- I too wasted a whole day yesterday trying to get out of the 'match the pictures/hipservice' loop! well, either Microsoft finally pulled their finger out (there is a first time for everything) and fixed the problem or i've found a solution, albeit not a perfect one security wise...
1. Delete your cookies and cache (in Firefox, this is "Tools->Options->Privacy")
2. Restart your PC
3. Disable any antivirus/security software running (i.e. McAffee, Norton Antivirus etc)
4. Download Messenger 6.2 if you haven't already
5. Login from there
This worked for me, I only hope it works for you if you're still having problems. The complete lack of technical support from Microsoft could be the final nail in the coffin with them, as far as I'm concerned and I'll be spending most of today backing up all my e-mails/contacts etc until I finally switch to another e-mail account (g-mail, when it's finally up and running should be good).
Comments Page 7
Read the article that everyone's commenting on.
January 22, 2005 2:20 PM
Before? Only over and over and over again. Sadly there's no single solution or magic bullet, and it's very frustrating for many people. I'd recommend reading throught the comments that have already been posted on this article (there's 129 of them right now) in amongst the frustrations there have been some good ideas to try.
January 25, 2005 4:44 PM
I am unable to log into my hotmail account ("Account Temporarily Unavailable") for over a day now. I am a paying customer too ! The tech support numbers (I have called atleast 10 different numbers) absolutely dont help. Infact the auto-machine is arrogant to even shut down the phone if I press 0 couple of times to reach a human being. Finally I am connected to a support number (reached via 650-964-7200) for 2 hours and there is no one or sound on that !! I am wondering if someone/thing will eventually come to that line!!
February 9, 2005 2:06 PM
Hotmail is REALLY PISSING ME OFF! It is a an EXTREMELY important component of my business and if i can't access it i am switching to another email account! REDICULOUS!!!!!!!
February 9, 2005 2:08 PM
Free email services should NEVER be a critical component of any business.
More here: http://ask-leo.com/are_free_email_services_worth_it.html
February 9, 2005 3:43 PM
Hi,
I can not get into my Hotmail. Which is the only e-mail I have.
I keep getting a " MATCH THE PICTURE " sign... I do, and it keeps coming back and I just don't get into my Hotmail.
It's a vicious cycle. They want to make sure I'm not an automated machine of some sort. Well, I'm not. And my husband's schedule is IN Hotmail. NOw how do we get to it ?
Feel free to call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX
Susan Sedgebeer
[Editted to remove phone number - NEVER EVER post your phone number in a public forum.]
February 9, 2005 7:41 PM
I, too, am finding it impossible to access a Hotmail account. When I access it through Outlook Express (it always worked before last week), I get a single email from Hotmail Admin telling me to go to the website. Once I do that, I start looping through the sequence they implemented to insure I am not an automated spammer. However, maybe this article can explain some of what is going on...maybe?
http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/44029/44029.html
I don't know if it is relevant to this situation or not, but I do know that MSN has royally screwed users before without telling them beforehand. Yeah, yeah...I know...they promised to "communicate" and give the users advance warning. I (for one) don't believe it.
February 10, 2005 1:38 AM
I HAVE THE ANSWER!!!
I just tried access through netscape and it works! So download netscape if you don't have it, and it should work OK. Its some kind of Explorer problem by the looks of it.
Pauly
February 14, 2005 10:27 AM
Why have the fascists at microsoft done this I wonder, to line Bill Gates pockets even further, will we have to pay to access hotmail accounts through progs like outlook express, probably?
I have 3 addresses with them and cant access any :(
All I get is a single email saying click this link, but all I get is Page Not Found, Arrrgh!!
February 15, 2005 2:01 AM
I got 3 emails from what seemed to be Hotmail support emails, but they were from 3 different email addresses! The email said that they encountered a problem in verifying my information or something and that my account will be deactivated until I send them the information. It then said to click the link provided to fill in the information that was needed. The emails that the message came from was websupport@msn-network.com, gstaff@msn-network.com, accountant@msn-network.com
All of the email messages were exactly the same, but from the different email adresses.
The URLs that they linked to go to to send the info was
www.msn-wizard.com, www.online-msnupdate.com, www.msn-site.com
But neither of the sites exist (try it yourself, It doesnt work)
What should I do?
February 15, 2005 5:23 AM
I found this site by googling 'hotmail hipservice problems'- I too wasted a whole day yesterday trying to get out of the 'match the pictures/hipservice' loop! well, either Microsoft finally pulled their finger out (there is a first time for everything) and fixed the problem or i've found a solution, albeit not a perfect one security wise...
1. Delete your cookies and cache (in Firefox, this is "Tools->Options->Privacy")
2. Restart your PC
3. Disable any antivirus/security software running (i.e. McAffee, Norton Antivirus etc)
4. Download Messenger 6.2 if you haven't already
5. Login from there
This worked for me, I only hope it works for you if you're still having problems. The complete lack of technical support from Microsoft could be the final nail in the coffin with them, as far as I'm concerned and I'll be spending most of today backing up all my e-mails/contacts etc until I finally switch to another e-mail account (g-mail, when it's finally up and running should be good).
Best, James.
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