help with microsoft

Berton · 16 Nov 2021

I have both Hotmail and Outlook.com accounts and can log into either while logged into Win10 and Win11 with a Local Account or Microsoft Account. Both logins go to https://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=...obrandid=90015
I got the Hotmail account just over 20 years ago then also got the Outlook.com account later when it was announced it would replace Hotmail, which never fully occurred but did finally merge into one site. One other thing, at some time one had to log in within a period of time, probably at least monthly, to keep the account active but that seems to have gone away, at least hasn't affected me yet.

Londoner23 · 16 Nov 2021

thanks for your reply; as I said, i bought the computer (from dell) and outlook email is on the desktop and from the day I started using it there was no password needed (it is a stripped down version of outlook). I obviously need a password in order to log on to the computer. I use firefox to look at the web, but I can open outlook e mail without opening firefox.
After deciding not to fill in the form for the third time I haven't so far heard from ms though I guess they could contact me again, or just close down my e mail account, but would they stop allowing me to use the net?

Berton · 16 Nov 2021

I've removed both the trial version of Microsoft Office and the Mail application included in Win11 from my month-old Dell Vostro Notebook, have no issues with Internet use. My Hotmail and Outlook.com accounts are strictly online/Webmail. One of the things a few of my clients [older folks] have trouble with is understanding Outlook.com is not the same as Outlook, one of the propensities of Microsoft naming such as Works and Works Suite.

Londoner23 · 17 Nov 2021

hi Berton, yes I thought Outlook.com was the same as Outlook, until now! The major reason I started using outlook e mail was the problems I (and many others) have with Plusnet web mail. It's been dreadful for some time now, and getting worse, so I changed the e mail address of a lot of my contacts to outlook. For some reason the webmail service isn't worth repairing. There is quite a discussion about it on the plusnet community forum.

Berton · 17 Nov 2021

The nice thing about Hotmail and Outlook.com is they can be accessed from any computer with Internet service, don't depend upon any particular ISP, I do the same with my Domain, wife and I use its E-Mail service.

mngerhold · 19 Nov 2021

Londoner23 said:

hi Berton, yes I thought Outlook.com was the same as Outlook, until now! The major reason I started using outlook e mail was the problems I (and many others) have with Plusnet web mail. It's been dreadful for some time now, and getting worse, so I changed the e mail address of a lot of my contacts to outlook. For some reason the webmail service isn't worth repairing. There is quite a discussion about it on the plusnet community forum.

Whilst I don't understand exactly what you did ("changed the email address" ?), it sounds like you set up your outlook.com email address yourself, after having issues with Plusnet. If so, then you must have established a password for it. Do you know (or think you know) what it is?

Secondly, Outlook (the program) is not free, AFAIK, so did you perhaps buy it? What version of Outlook is it?

I am concerned that with no access to your outlook.com account via a browser, if your email setup on the PC fails for any reason (the PC gets corrupted or even dies), you won't be able to access emails at all. Have you ever accessed your email account on another device?

Sorry that's loads of questions, but it seems to me you are in a precarious position, even if everything is working fine right now. Martin

Londoner23 · 20 Nov 2021

hi, re e mail address I set up a new email with g mail, and changed to that for a lot of my contacts - eg Amazon. When I got the computer from Dell the Outlook e mail was just there, I didn't set it up it just opened so I didn't have to use a password - no idea why myself, maybe it's just a thing with Dell machines. I don't have another device by the way. I think I will now try to see if I can access outlook from my browser, but your point about being in a precarious position is looking likely! I hadn't even thought of that.

mngerhold · 20 Nov 2021

Londoner23 said:

When I got the computer from Dell the Outlook e mail was just there, I didn't set it up it just opened so I didn't have to use a password

I am a bit surprised (even sceptical) that Dell would set up an email address for you - and even less inclined to believe that they would then not provide you with a password. Something else must have happened that you have forgotten. Perhaps you bought it from a shop, and they set it up?

Londoner23 · 26 Nov 2021

hi, really sorry for the late reply. re Outlook, however it was done Outlook e mail is on my laptop and I wasn't given a password. Maybe it was just put on so that microsoft could send e mails to me, which they do occasionally eg recently about windows 11. I didn't use it myself until recently, I have just stuck with PN, but a couple of weeks ago I had no access to PN e mail for 3 days. But anyway thanks for all the advice I have received, it has been very helpful especially with pointing out that if my laptop goes I won't have access to outlook!

Daymin · 05 Dec 2021

As somebody said go to the actual website and login into your Microsoft account. I had one with my Windows Phone and honestly I can change the password when I want to.

You forget the password then you should have setup a backup password to be email to another email you have or even a phone call ( if you have your number connected ).