Configuring Outlook 2003 for Windows Live Hotmail

[MaryAnn]

I have Outlook 2003 and Vista Home Basic. I just set up a Windows Live
Hotmail account. I am trying to configure Outlook to receive and handle the
Live mail. I tried setting it up as a POP3 using the settings described for
Outlook Express. This did not work. I then tried downloading the Microsoft
Outlook Converter 12.1. Once downloaded, I could not send/receive. The error
reads: The network connection has been interrupted. Please try again later. I
am using Hughes Net Satellite for ISP and it was not interrupted. I tried
clicking the repair button in Programs and features for the Convertor, but
this did not change anything. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling. This
changed nothing either. Finally I left it uninstalled, and now my Outlook is
not working at all. It takes a long time to load and then will not
send/receive, nor will it allow me access to the email accounts feature to
add or edit the email accounts. This is when I again receive the error
message about interruption. Now I just want to get my Outlook back to normal
without loosing my saved message or my contacts! If I can set Live Hotmail up
as a POP3 in Outlook, I would like to do that if you can tell me how.
Otherwise, please just tell me how to get Outlook back in working order
without losing anything. Then I will just cancel my Live Hotmail; I only want
it if I can use it with Outlook. Thank You!

 

[Anne]

You must set it up using HTTP. After you do that setup correctly, it will
prompt you to install the connector.

 

[MaryAnn]

So how do I do that? What are the settings I need, step by step? Also, How
can I do that if I can't even access the email accounts. IWhen I click on
Tools-->Email Accounts, I get the message: The messaging interface has
returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook. Also, if
I click on New (to compose a new message) I get the message: The operation
failed due to a registry or installation problem. Restart Outlook and try
again. If the problem persists, please reinstall.

 

[Anne]

You can try and delete the profile. Go to control panel, mail, and delete the
outlook profile.

When you re-open outlook it will prompt you to create a new email address.
Select HTTP. This mail setup is not like POP3, it is easier. Once you put in
your email address and password, it fill all other requirements without you
having to do anything.

If you still have problems with Outlook, I would uninstall and reinstall
Outlook.

 

[MaryAnn]

OK, I set up a new profile. That worked great. I was able to set up a gmail
email account in this new profile and it is working. Now I need to know how
to get my old contacts and emails from the old profile into the new profile.
Can you help w/this?

I still cannot set up the Windows Live Hotmail. I did the steps to set it up
using a HTTP, but the test failed. Also, I really do not want the converter.
I don't want to crash again. Is there any other way? By the way setting up
the HTTP did not give me a prompt to download the connector. I think I'll
just cancel the Windows Live email if there is no method to make it work with
Outlook without the connecter.

 

[Anne]

Hotmail will not work without the connector. You must reinstall if you want
to receive hotmail through outlook.

For your data, go to File, datafile management. The new mail delivery
location should be listed there. Click on it and click open folder. That
should take you to where the new pst file is location. Your old pst file
should also be there. Make note of the location and file name. Close the
folder.
Now use "add" to go to that location and open the other pst file.

Go to folder view and you will then see both files. I usually copy and paste
the folders from one file to the other. Then I go back to the datafile
management and remove the older folder.