Outlook Connector reports "connecting" but does not connect

[Greg]

Two days ago, outlook connector worked fine for the past 6 months with my *.msn.com email (i.e. hotmail / windows live).

Yesterday, it stopped working (i.e. would not download nor upload any new emails)

Deleted account, reloaded outlook connector (v4) to no avail. Turned off Firewall, still no connect.

Status shows:
Mail Storage: 500MB of 5 GB
Email: Connecting
Calendar: Connecting
Contact: Connecting


Detailed Status reports shows:
Outlook Connector Version 12.0.4518.1068

Account: **********@msn.com
Signed in successfully at 7/23/2008 11:03:49 AM

Mail:
Calendar:
Contacts:

Any ideas?

 

[wiggums]

I'm having the SAME problem.. I use MSN too and Outlook Connector stopped
working last night. No error message, but I noticed the emails were not
updating properly. I checked Hotmail.com and my e-mails showed up there, but
not in Outlook 2007 using Outlook Connector.

 

[Deke]

Same problem here... I did receive a couple messages very early this morning,
but all-in-all, I'm NOT receiving messages.

I can send messages sucessfully.

I have Outlook 2003

 

[Julie]

So, we all have the same problem at about the same time (my inbox stopped
connecting Monday afternoon though I can send from Outlook). I tried to
write MSFT but it tells me I'd be charged. Does anyone have access to direct
help from MSFT? It must be a problem on their end?

Julie

 

[wiggums]

It is definitely something from Microsoft's side.

I don't know what it was.. I dismissed it thinking it'd be fixed the
following morning, but it hasn't been fixed. I sent e-mails to myself -
nothing showed up on Outlook, but I am able to get it from my cellphone's
Live Outlook so I know it's sending things just fine.

Very frustrating..

 

[Bryan Drost]

I too am experiencing the same problem...I have been on the phone with Microsoft all day as well as e-mailed several people and have not found a resolution! Hopefully we'll get their soon! Anyone have any ideas?

 

[wiggums]

I took out Outlook Connector, re-installed it, but that didn't work.

I am out of ideas.. now that I know it's not my side, I am not going to do
anything further.

 

[Jan]

Good to know I'm not going crazy! I've tried everything -- multiple times.
The wierd thing is -- everything appears to be working OK on the other
desktop in the house that's using Outlook Connector to our MSN account.

Very weird indeed. Maybe I'll try a virus scan - just 'cause it can't hurt
at this point. I sure hope someone has an answer for us all soon!

 

[James Gu]

The real weird thing is, I tried to reinstall Windows, and it works straight after. then 2 reboot later (ie this morning) it just collapsed. So I cant say its a hotfix or a software conflict atm, but i doubt its either.

 

[Jan]

The only way I finally got things to work was to uninstall Outlook Connector
and then set up Outlook without the connector. Now everything works fine.

Go figure...

 

[Matthew Gagett]

got the answer guys - well at least it worked for me, check out the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...B1-DF0A-46E1-AA93-7D4870871ECF&displaylang=en

Date Published: 7/23/2008

I would say you need to update the connector - I did - it all works - AND the calendar connects - I have a free level hotmail account....


matt

 

[Larry]

Glad to know it's not just me. I've spent the past two days trying to get
Outlook Connector working again. I did hear back from MSN who told me to
reinstall Connector and to delete and re-establish my email. Neither worked,
nor did establishing a new "profile". Would love to hear if anyone figures
out how to fix the problem.

 

[Julie]

Well, Bryan:

At least you're "privileged" enough to talk to MSFT. With like 10 people
all having the same problem obviously it's a problem that MSFT has to solve.

Re-install is not working, so can you PLEASE keep talking to MSFT and
pressure them to find a solution. The user community is pretty frustrated,
esp. since most of use can't reach a live person at MSft to work through it.

THANKS,

Julie

 

[Larry]

You're a genius. It works again, thanks!

Larry

 

[wiggums]

It works, it works, it works!

Thank you so much!!!!

 

[Julie]

YES. You're my hero.

thank you.

Julie

 

[Julia]

I am having the same trouble and I think it all stems from the automatic
downlaods from Microsoft done on 7/22/08. I tried Matthew's fix but it did
not work for me!!

 

[Greg]

Matt,

Thanks for digging for the solution. It works for me. Next I need to create a script to copy from the ost file to a private pst file for backup purposes.

 

[James Gu]

omg!!! I owe you one! Works as intended.

 

[Matthew Gargett]

I'm not sure that you will get the ost copy to work too simply...

the ost is an open file and will be locked - to copy this you will need to have VSS (shadow copy) working to image the partition and copy from the partition - vista has VSS installed - so its just a matter of getting the command line queries going - should be able to find these in a Google search (I can assist if you like). If you are using XP - you will need to download the VSHADOW SDK and use that - again run from command line...

Alternatively - what I do - is install Synctoy 2.0 (beta) and set up a contrib. sync to the end location for backup. For this to work though, I close outlook down each night...

I hope this gets you started on the ost copy/backup...