Cannot access MSN and Hotmail after switching ISP's

[songbird72]

Sorry to bother you all so much with problems!
I have an XP Home Edition 2002 sp3 desktop. IE8. After 6 months of agony with Comcast cable internet, I switched back to AT&T first week of January 2010. Since then, I cannot access the msn homepage nor my hotmail email account that I've had since 1998.

I will put www.msn.com or www.hotmail.com either in google or address bar and it says done at the bottom but after about 4 mins. I get the diagnose connection problems. When I click on that, I get the XP Network Diagnostics come up. Sometimes it will say that: "http, https, ftp is blocked by my firewall." Another time it will say: "check that ports 80, 3 hundred something and another port are open or listed and contact my service provider."

Windows Defender firewall came with this computer. MSN is allowed and checked. Don't know how to check the ports it just has add a port. AT&T told me it was a browser problem and not their problem. What do I do?

[Rich-M]

You know what with all the issues you have, maybe you said this before but I don't remember, is there an XP product code on your pc? If no download and run this (standalone version) and under licenses you will see the XP product code so http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html
write it down very carefully.
Then either borrow an XP cd (planning to use your code so it must be the same i.e. oem XP Home or retail XP Pro etc) or buy one, after all you have to invest something to get something and install Windows XP clean. This unit is quite obviously seriously messed up and this is going to go on and on. When you take a unit from someone, it is really the best idea to start fresh.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[songbird72]

Rich thank you for taking so much time on my pc problems. I will ask the Pastor if he has the cd. There are alot of programs on here that I don't know what they are or if I need them that were put on here in 2004. I think someone gave the church this xp tower. I don't know how to wipe clean the entire OS system, but guess there are directions online somewhere for doing this. I have only been on a pc since April of 2003, when I bought a rebuilt one from a friend (windows 2000) for $250 lol.

My Associate Pastor is a pc tech on the side and don't know if he has a degree or not, but he put the new soundcard in and downloaded IE8 and Microsoft Security Essentials for me. I also don't know if the Windows firewall is good enough either. I am 60 and on social security so cannot afford to buy a new pc. Wish I could. I guess doing this I would have to reinstall everything including the ATT internet, programs for school online, etc. Don't know how to save my favs, music, etc. If I have to buy the cd and it is more than $30-$40 I cannot afford it. Would have to save for it I guess. Thank you so much!

[Rich-M]

Actually if you click the link I put in my last posts, you have complete directions for a clean install of XP.

[songbird72]

Oh didn't notice that link thanks lol. Got it.

[kelly]

Sounds like a firewall issue. Try turning it off and start using Windows' firewall.

To find out what firewall you're using, go to Control Panels and open Security Center. It should tell you what you're using for a firewall.

[songbird72]

I have gotten an error regarding my firewall and I am using Windows firewall. MSN is checked to be allowed. Thanks.

[Rich-M]

When we start to make a list of all the things wrong with someone elses pc that was given to you, it only further emphasizes my point it's your new computer. Make it yours by starting with a fresh version of Windows that you put on. Then you own the mistakes as yours but you also get a clean start. I have never seen a botched up pc with Windows XP that had a repair or overinstall done where there weren't network problems and the soundcard didn't work right and I have been repairing pc's for over 13 years now for a living (full time 5 years).

[songbird72]

Pastor says I don't need to do that and he doesn't have the cd. I do not have the money to buy one. Now, I can't even get my bank website to load to check my account! Most of my fav websites won't load. I have dsl fast access extreme with AT&T and everything is taking so long to load or do anything. geesh....

[Rich-M]

Well then I guess with that kind of advice, let's see what your Pastor can do to solve all those issues because I guess with my 15+tech years experience, and the fact I do this for a living, I cannot see any other way to solve your issues. Or maybe someone else can help you.