Outlook 2003 suddenly stopped "downloading" from msn.com

[BudV]

I'm running Outlook 2003 under WinXP Home SP3.

It's been running fine since I switched to msn a few years ago. A couple of
days ago, it stopped doing its thing for Inbox and Junk Mail in my PC. (I
say that because I know that the primary folders are kept at msn and not in
my pc.) I can see items when I go to the website. Send/receive appears to
do its thing, but nothing shows up at the PC.

Any help?

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Do you have latest version of the connector installed?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...B1-DF0A-46E1-AA93-7D4870871ECF&displaylang=en

 

[BudV]

I didn't. I downloaded and installed the latest version and after they
apologetically downloaded everything and synchronized my folders, I'm back
to normal operations. Thank you for your help.

I could stop here, but I have three questions. If you can take the time to
answer them, great! If you can direct me to some documentation that will
answer them, that's fine, too.

1) I switched to Outlook last summer when Outlook Express could no longer
handle the msn environment (MAPI?). Apparently I needed the connector to
handle it for Outlook. It worked fine until just recently. I don't
understand what could have caused the connector to suddenly stop behaving.

2) I'm under the impression that with msn, my basic folders are maintained
on the msn server, instead of on my PC, as they were under Outlook Express.
If that's true, is my system merely pointing to my files there and, if so,
what is being downloaded during send/receive?

3) What is "synchronization of folders" all about (in 50 words or fewer).

Again, thanks for your help.

Bud

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

1) Microsoft is constantly making improvements to their "Live" branded
offerings. Therefore never be surprised and always check for updates to
ensure hassle free connectivity.

2) I don't use their "Live" branded offerings, but I am under the impression
that your items are maintained on the server. (Note: In Outlook I think you
end up with 2 data stores and it never hurts to backup your .PST file(s).)

3) Synchronization is ensuring that you have a copy of what is on the server
and/or all changes that you made locally are pushed back to the server.

 

[BudV]

I didn't. I downloaded and installed the latest version and after they
apologetically downloaded everything and synchronized my folders, I'm back
to normal operations. Thank you for your help.

I could stop here, but I have three questions. If you can take the time to
answer them, great! If you can direct me to some documentation that will
answer them, that's fine, too.

1) I switched to Outlook last summer when Outlook Express could no longer
handle the msn environment (MAPI?). Apparently I needed the connector to
handle it for Outlook. It worked fine until just recently. I don't
understand what could have caused the connector to suddenly stop behaving.

2) I'm under the impression that with msn, my basic folders are maintained
on the msn server, instead of on my PC, as they were under Outlook Express.
If that's true, is my system merely pointing to my files there and, if so,
what is being downloaded during send/receive?

3) What is "synchronization of folders" all about (in 50 words or fewer).

Again, thanks for your help.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

1) I switched to Outlook last summer when Outlook Express could no longer
handle the msn environment (MAPI?). Apparently I needed the connector to
handle it for Outlook. It worked fine until just recently. I don't
understand what could have caused the connector to suddenly stop behaving.

They introduced Windows Live Mail to fill the gap for those who were using
Outlook Express.
I've seen the MSN servers lose their minds on occasion. I've had some luck
restoring operations on those occasions by deleting and recreating the mail
account in Outlook Connector. Not always, though.

2) I'm under the impression that with msn, my basic folders are maintained
on the msn server, instead of on my PC, as they were under Outlook Express.
If that's true, is my system merely pointing to my files there and, if so,
what is being downloaded during send/receive?

They're maintained on the server and locallly as well. Outlook create an OST
which is a cache that is intended to mirror the contents of the mailbox.
What's being downloaded are the messages in those folders that you've checked
in the Send/Receive group.

3) What is "synchronization of folders" all about (in 50 words or fewer).

It's about making sure the local cache and the mailbox both contain the same
data. (Is fifteen words OK?)

 

[BudV]

15 is just fine. Thanks for the help.

They introduced Windows Live Mail to fill the gap for those who were using
Outlook Express.
I've seen the MSN servers lose their minds on occasion. I've had some
luck restoring operations on those occasions by deleting and recreating
the mail account in Outlook Connector. Not always, though.


They're maintained on the server and locallly as well. Outlook create an
OST which is a cache that is intended to mirror the contents of the
mailbox. What's being downloaded are the messages in those folders that
you've checked in the Send/Receive group.


It's about making sure the local cache and the mailbox both contain the
same data. (Is fifteen words OK?)