Can't sign in to primary email--Help!

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

I can't sign into my major email account. It says my password is wrong, and I've tried the only two passwords I've had in five years. Still wrong. It won't let me reset the password either, using two options: reset by using personal information, which I've tried, but never remember being asked for a favorite child's name--It was my mother's maiden name--so that is really screwy. The other option is to send the reset change to my email box, but it doesn't end up there either. (How in the heck couldn't when I'm not signed in to begin with?)

I'm on MSN. The only way I got here is by using my yahoo address. All of my major contact information is with the other address.

My sister and niece can access their accounts easily. It seems like I've been completely restricted or hacked off. It's boggling to me. Do you have any simple solutions or ideas about what went wrong?

Thanks for your help,

Tri

alleycat · Dec 19, 2009

I'll start with the simplest (sometimes works) solution . . . have you tried rebooting your computer?

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

Yes, I have, but I'll try it again. I suppose a soft restart will work? I'll be back.

Tri

alleycat · Dec 19, 2009

Next step . . . have you changed any of your security settings, such as not allowing cookies?

Seams · Dec 19, 2009

well first, is this a yahoo account that is locked

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

Okay, reboot didn't work. Yes, I think I messed with the cookie settings. Should I make sure cookies are allowed or deleted? What about browser history?

This is an msn account--live hotmail. I'm currently using yahoo to get into just this website.

alleycat · Dec 19, 2009

You probably want to delete your old cookies, then be sure cookies are allowed for the website you're visiting. Also, if you're using Internet Explorer, be sure your security setting isn't set too high for the website.

You can delete browser history if you'd like (I do at least once a day using a "cleaner"), but it's probably not what's causing this problem.

Seams · Dec 19, 2009

not a good thing

i hope its just msn, sometimes that happens, you can't sign into msn. did you try just login in through msn web page? its not msn messenger, but the account area for emails. so might be easier

i wont' say you've been hacked, but it has the signs, i hope its just msn or just a password typed wrong too many times

good luck

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

The security setting is medium/high, I guess the recommended setting. I just can't figure out why I can't change my password, or get to it through the "Forgot your password" option.

Tri

alleycat · Dec 19, 2009

I don't mean this to sound insulting (I'm just throwing some ideas out there), but are you sure you're using the right case if the website login is case sensitive? You might also lower your security setting to medium temporarily and try that. Worth a shot anyway.

Seams · Dec 19, 2009

yup, sometimes caps lock catches me
i blame my kids

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

Yes, I've gone through the case sensitive issues too. I can try the medium setting. I just think it's something else. I've had a tech savvy person over to diagnose and he's gob-smacked.

Tri

triceretops · Dec 19, 2009

Isn't there some kind of a feature by which you can go back into your history and calibrate for the default setting? Is that apropo to this type of problem?

Seams · Dec 19, 2009

normally when this happened, i'd be changing any accounts that had that same password...just to be safe...its a bit like losing your wallet, you change things quick so no one gets to mess around. maybe it was my experiences in that talking here, but can't hurt to be safe, a just in case you internet wallet isn't returned.

triceretops · Dec 20, 2009

Nothing's worked so far. I did send to messages to tech support online, and have to wait for the answers.

I'm just wondering if I can't use this yahoo address I'm on to create an alternate email address, so when I reset for a password they send that information to the alternate, where I can at least retrieve it. Sending a reset to the non-funcitioning email can't work at all, in my way of thinking.

This is a mess.

Seams · Dec 20, 2009

just use your yahoo as an alternate. keep it simple for them, they are msn afterall

triceretops · Dec 20, 2009

Okay, wheeeew! Problem resolved. Microsoft Live Team verified that I was hacked by a pro, who represented themselves as the "Windows Live Team--Verify Account to Avoid Closer."

Repeat: Do not open or fill out information when you see this prompt:

WINDOWS LIVE TEAM--VERIFY ACCOUNT TO AVOID CLOSER.

So far I'm okay with a new password reset. Be very careful, people, and thanks for your concern and help.

Happy Holidays,

Tri

Matera the Mad · Dec 20, 2009

Oh, pheces. Be careful about clicking on things.

triceretops · Dec 21, 2009

It was a hacker out of Senegal, who changed my profile and sent 1,650 emails to my friends, publishers, agents, and editors begging for money. Not to mention, over a thousand national newspaper editors. Now that's real great for my rep!

Sorry if any of you have received this piece of trash in the name of my email. It's been fixed by the real MSN Hotmail Team.

Tri

Can't sign in to primary email--Help!

triceretops

alleycat

Still around

triceretops

alleycat

Still around

Seams

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triceretops

alleycat

Still around

Seams

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triceretops

alleycat

Still around

Seams

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triceretops

triceretops

Seams

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triceretops

Seams

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triceretops

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

triceretops

Can't sign in to primary email--Help!

Still around

Still around

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Still around

&#9675;

Still around

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Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

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