Cant access Hotmail

[whitebloodcell]

For the past few days I have been getting this message (in attached image) every time I try to access Hotmail. I can't get at it in any way I can think of. Now, I doubt Hotmail would be down for more than a couple of minutes, so any ideas.

EDIT: Ok, ran Spyware/Adware Check. I had alot of problems, dont know how they get there. Got rid of them but still no hotmail.

[bchur83]

If you go to the command line, can you ping www.hotmail.com? Try it and post your results. What IP does it ping? It looks to me like you are being redirected. I can see hotmail just fine.

[dicecca112]

works fine for me, I'm gonna have to agree with bchur on this one, I would make sure you are clear of spyware and adware, and perhaps set up Outlook Express to get your hotmail, even when the sites down, you can still read your mail.

[whitebloodcell]

works fine for me, I'm gonna have to agree with bchur on this one, I would make sure you are clear of spyware and adware, and perhaps set up Outlook Express to get your hotmail, even when the sites down, you can still read your mail.

I could have sworn that to ping somewhere all I do was go Start>Run>cmd then type (no speech marks) 'ping address' but it isnt working, what am I doing wrong. (Screenshot attached of what it says)

I am clear (or atleast I should be) of all Spyware and Adware and Viruses. I am running checks now. I used to use Outlook Express to get Hotmail, it worked great up until about 6Months ago I think, when it just stopped. I emailed MS and they told me they had disable access through Outlook Express etc for free users. If you know how to get it it would be greatly appreciated. I use thunderbird if that is any easier.

[bchur83]

Wow, that is strange that your system wont ping. The correct syntax would be:

ping www.hotmail.com

Without the http://

[whitebloodcell]

It cant manage that either, I'd better add this to my list of random problems which have developed in Windows. Time for a reinstall methinks, now if only I had 36 DVDs to back up to...

[bchur83]

try:
tracert www.hotmail.com
see what that yields.

[whitebloodcell]

I recieve the Same error message as ping. I dont really know how the comp cant ping anymore, it cant even ping other comps on my network.

[bchur83]

How about if you type

path

?

It sounds like your run path is all messed up.

[whitebloodcell]

when I type just 'path' I get the response

Path=C:\Perl\bin;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE

Not sure if it is related but I am now unable to follow links from word. I get the error shown in the attached Image.

I noticed the path leads to ATI. A couple of days ago the ATI control panel became unaccessible if its relevant. Though I think this happened after I lost contact with Hotmail. I also get an error message at Startup fereering to cli.exe Which is an ATI thing I think.

Ive started backing up my stuff anyways. Its good in some ways, get rid of all the rubbish that builds up.

[bchur83]

IT looks like your path is all messed up. I have seen perl do this before, and the ATI thing may also be related. You need to have c:\windows and c:\windows\system32 in the path.

Here is mine for XP Pro

PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\Sys tem32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel

[whitebloodcell]

How do I change it?

[bchur83]

Well to temporarily set it, you can type:

set path="See Above"

But to get it to stay for good, Right-Click My Computer, select Properties. Go to the Advanced tab, and select the Environment Variables. In the bottom pane, click on Path and then edit. Paste in the above and then restart.

[whitebloodcell]

Alright, I changed the path to

C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32 \Wbem;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel (Only change to yours was that I removed the space inbetween System32)

I then tried pinging hotmail and google, just to check. Because I can access google fine. I get the attached results. I am still unable to follow links in Word for some unknown reason. I think that only started when I upgraded to Office 2003 from XP. I did that 2 days ago. Is that a possible cause?

EDIT: Curiously, after I reinstalled me Firewall Software (Zonealarm) the links in Word worked again.

[bchur83]

Something is very messed up with your OS. Can you use System Restore to go back to when it worked good? If not, I would have to recommend a reinstall. Or at the very least a Repair reinstall.

[whitebloodcell]

It was system restore that screwed it all up. (See my thread about System Restore Hong Wrong here (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=3677087#post3677087) )

I had hoped I would be able to avoid a reinstall, but it looks inevitable now. Ive started backing up my stuff, got through 22 DVDs so far.