Outlook Express stuck in the station

I am way over my head.

I'm running Windows 98SE 4.10.2222A with 512Ram, 40G hard disk, Pentium3 with 7or800Mhz (I think).

I've been using Outlook Express 6 for over a year to collect my email from hotmail (my inbox limit is still 2M). But now when OE tries to connect with hotmail, it stops dead in its tracks with an error message:

Unable to poll for new messages on your HTTP server.
Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp',
Protocol: HTTPMail, Server Response: '', Port: 0, Secure(SSL):
No, Socket Error: 12007, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

Is there somewhere to look up Socket Error: 12007, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D?... What it is, and what to do about it? Until this is fixed, I'm losing all incoming messages.

Since last using OE with no trouble, I have done the following:
1- Downloaded the latest Windows Critical Update.
2- Uninstalled ezArmorLE
3- Downloaded, and tried unsuccessfully to install
Zonelab's free firewall. It refused to install,
saying I needed a password. Tried several times,
finally deleted the download. Downloaded
again, was asked for a password again. Tried
two more times, same result. Quit, deleted the
download again. Uncle!
4- Installed and ran free versions of:
Adaware SE Personal
Spybot
NoAdware3
Spywareblaster
Registry Mechanic
(I'm getting sick.)
5)- Tried to import my hotmail addresses into OE,
following instructions on a website. No go.
I think the instructions may have been for XP
and a newer version of OE.

I've gone to each of the new programs and closed/exited. Still no go -- but do any of them "run silently in the background"? Is there any way to disable them temporarily without removing them altogether, to see if that solves the problem?

I've tried everything I can think of (which isn't much). I'm afraid to do anything else, because I really don't know what I'm doing. Meanwhile, my hotmail inbox is full and all my incoming messages are being returned to sender.

I would really appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Thanks,
Jack

 

Re: Outlook Express stuck in the station - HELP!!

Thanks for the reply, Halo.
I tried the ms support link, did what it said. It didn't work.

Meantime, I REALLY AM losing all my incoming mail -- permanently, until I can make room in my htmail inbox.

My hotmail limit is still 2M. Over that, hotmail returns all incoming msgs to sender. I never see them, don't even know what was sent. Have to keep incomings moving, keep room in the hotmail inbox for the next ones. I use OE for this -- to collect my email from hotmail & keep room, under the 2M, in hotmail.

I apologize for my post. It's my first ever, anywhere. I was trying to follow the instructions (There CAN NEVER be too much detail), and I think I may have overdone it -- it came out pretty muddy.

Is there a way I can edit it? Or is it OK to clean it up, and make a New Post out of it?

 

Pvt. Parts,

I saw you started another thread, better to just stick with one and avoid any confusion. Your first post was fine.

One other thing you might check is any type of pop-up, spam or ad blockers you have installed, just disable them and try the site again. Double-check your anti-virus and firewall (if you have one installed yet) settings for the same thing.

Also, look in the control panel and Add/Remove programs and see if ZoneAlarm is installed by some chance. I can't remember if the free version ask for a password or not. We have it here at MG's if you need it, http://www.majorgeeks.com/download388.html

Check those blockers and settings first, see if it works and let us know.

Steve