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04 Mar 2008
Microsoft has released details of the problems that have plagued its Hotmail service in recent days.
The first outage occurred on 26 February when the Hotmail authentication systems went down. This stopped customers using Live IDs to log into Windows Live services.
The second issue was described as "unrelated" and affected a small number of Hotmail customers. Microsoft has not said whether this problem has been resolved.
"We are working to contact affected Hotmail customers directly to work through potential remedies," Microsoft said in a statement.
"We understand the inconvenience of this issue for affected customers and sincerely apologise."
Microsoft claimed that approximately 150,000 people were affected by the problems, or roughly 0.5 per cent of the Hotmail user base.
The comments explain the confusion that the incidents have caused. Microsoft had said that the problems were sorted out on 26 February but the second failure caused frustration for many customers.
Analysts are now watching Hotmail rivals GMail and Yahoo Mail to see how many customers transfer their loyalty to other services.
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Hotmail Ok but just VERY SLOW!
All OK with my hotmail. However, before I can reply, open an email up, etc., I have to wait 5-10 minutes for it to fully 'load' then work!!! Just NEED TO SPEED IT UP!!
Posted by: ClaireM 04 May 2009
Try to set the 'away on holiday' function to fix accounts that no longer work.
I had issues with a 'frozen' hotmail account that started 5 weeks ago. I could log in but not read or send mails. I found out I could set the 'away on holiday' function so chose to do so to divert my regular mailers to another account but found the account then started to work!! To prove it I have cancelled the 'holiday' message and the account fails again. My holiday message is now on with a 'not really on holiday' message and the account works fine. Dodgy bit of coding me thinks!
Posted by: john coles 12 Nov 2008
Disappointed,
Hotmail is my No. 1 email account and has been for over 10 years. I have always found it user friendly and the security top notch. However, now with being unable to receive or send I am distraught. I do have other accounts that I use for different purposes and still prefer Hotmail. Now for the first time I consider dropping Hotmail. I do not want to do this. Please FIX.
Posted by: Eileen 14 Oct 2008
I cannot send and repy anymore. What is this!??!?
I have been using hotmail for more than a decade and never had any problems but now I cannot reply or send messages anymore. This is very inconvenient! Please fit this mr. mircosoft.
Posted by: dennis 31 Jul 2008
Hotmail database corruption?
I have just lost 6 months worth of inbox messages. MSN attempted to blame MacAfee for the premanent deletion of the emails. Whilst MSN support were able to recover the majority of my inbox mail items the last 6 months (approx 1000 emails)have been permantely lost. UNACCEPTABLE. Time to swap to Gmail!?
Posted by: andrew 26 May 2008
cannot send or save hotmail
since upgrading yesterday I can receive hotmail and I can write new or reply. Neither will send. I cannot delete. I cannot send info to file.
Posted by: john titterington 13 May 2008
Problems with Hotmail services
Dear Sirs, I have been experiencing problems in getting my e-mails with Hotmail for about a month now. What is going on? is somebody going to be responsible enough to fix this? where do we go? whom to complaint? This is serious because many people use Hotmail for working purposes too and do not want to loose their contacts just like that. Can somebody heard us? Susana Enger
Posted by: Susana Enger 06 Apr 2008
I cant log in to my Hotmail account
March 30th 2008 - suddenly I am unable to access my Hotmail. I have reported the problem to MSN but their only way of contacting me is through email - which I cant access. A pop up box advises me that my computer doesnt recognise the live.com site as a safe site. What is going on?
Posted by: Amanda Reed 31 Mar 2008
I cannot get text from Hotmail.com users either
I have not been able to receive the text part of the message from Hotmail.com users for the last week or so. They can receive my message in full, but all I get is the from, date, to, and subject line from them. It evidently does not affect a Hotmail.com user sending to another Hotmail.com user, as they are getting the text in full.
Posted by: Linda 31 Mar 2008
enough is enough
This problem is still ongoing as of now I shall definately be using my gmail account as 2 similar problems in less than 2 years is more than enough and beside Gmail is far more user friendly with bigger storage plus you do not have to access the account within specified times or risk Hotmail deleting everything!
Posted by: jen 30 Mar 2008
Hotmail problem - text missing to recipients (only MSN advert link)
Can anyone provide a solution to the problem I am experiencing in hotmail since four days ago. All messages sent do not relay my text message - only an advert from MSN. There seems no way to get rid of this, and it means I cannot communicate with anyone through hotmail. Nor do I see anywhere that I can report this issue, or receive information as to how to amend.
Posted by: Maggie Moone 28 Mar 2008
wits end
For over a week every email I send is going out blank. Reported the problem to MSN, installed that Fiddler tool as they advised, save the capture they said ermm how exactly when the option to save it is greyed out. Every time I report it I get the same response- use Fiddler!!! Doing a google search I found out this was a real problem way back in 2005 but seems to have been fixed then.Meanwhile what the hell am I supposed to do now?
Posted by: jan 26 Mar 2008
All my old emails are GONE!!!
I cannot open 95% of all my saved emails. Some information is very critical. I am being told that the files have been deleted! When is this going to be fixed? For the largest corporation in the world, this is the saddest event since the invention of the computer!
Posted by: Ken Maguire 25 Mar 2008
Problems with sending emails
For the last couple of days we have been experiencing problems with sending emails. The email is being sent but no text included just a blank page. This is very annoying! Can anyone explain why this seems to be happening after using hotmail successfully for many years. The problem seems to be when we forward or reply to email.
Posted by: John Lewis Jones 22 Mar 2008
Hotmail confusion Mar 14th
My hotmail has been behaving erratically for about a week now. Some messages get sent, some don't. Same with my inbox. It's a total lottery. I run a small PR company from my hotmail and it has caused a lot of confusion. The worst thing was I did not know there was a problem. Have now switched to gmail to avoid future headaches.
Posted by: Jane Begarnie 15 Mar 2008
Hotmail service
I have tried for two days to sign into hotmail, I get all my work through email and it is costing me. I will definitely be changing to some one more reliable.This is not the first time.
Posted by: Les Jury. 13 Mar 2008
hotmail problems
Today is March 9 2008. I have not been able to access my hotmail account, which I pay for!, for over 3 days. The resolution is simple. When one of the largest companies in the world take my money, dont provide the level of service I want, dont offer any customer support telephone number (I'd like to speak with someone) then I switch and take my custom elsewhere. I urge you to do the same. Its what makes the world more efficient.
Posted by: Paul Chapman (dont use the email below) 09 Mar 2008
Windows Live Hotmail PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!
I have used hotmail for years!! Windows live was introduced( we had no input to the change!)Ever since the change, I have problems with certain people cannot receive my e-mails etc. I have to e-mail a certain client on a daily basis and now cannot receive them!!! Major problem for in home business, it worked before nad not I cannot receive the client's e- mails!!!!??? Can you answere me WHY this is happeneing??!!! Important isssue that is a major problem~~ Is threre a reason for thsi happening now????Please respond to: flowergarden462@hotmail.com Thank you, D. Israel
Posted by: Dolores Israel 05 Mar 2008