Outlook 2003, 2007 - Live Mail, Hotmail, MSN - Get Microsoft Connector

I have had an MSN account since October, 2000 and I normally access my mail through Outlook 2003. So on the 1st of September when it ceased to work, I tried a half dozen attempts to fix it myself. Since I have a free MSN account help is non existent and I couldn’t get Outlook to access my MSN account.

So I went over to my Windows 7 machine that I am running the preview of MS Office which happens to include Outlook 2010. While setting up the account I was asked if I wished to access Live Mail, which the statement also included MSN, Hotmail and Exchange services. I answered yes and I was directed to download what is called ‘Microsoft Office Outlook Connector’. After downloading the software it automatically setup the account for me and MSN mail started to flow once again.

So I went out on the Internet and located the software on Microsoft’s site and it stated that:

With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages, contacts and calendars for free!

Outlook Connector enables you to use your Live Hotmail accounts within Outlook:

• Read and send your Office Live Mail/Windows Live Hotmail e-mail messages.
• Manage your contacts in Windows Live Hotmail.
• Use advanced options for blocking junk e-mail messages.
• Manage multiple e-mail accounts in one place.

After installing the software my MSN account was once again fully functional in Outlook 2003. I hope that this helps someone else who may have this same problem.

Comments welcome.

Get Microsoft Office Outlook Connector here.