When is a Hotmail account, not a Hotmail account?

I've been given a new machine at work (Dell Optiplex 960) to replace the old one (Dell Precision 450) so I've started setting up Outlook to host my various email accounts. This hasn't gone smoothly and what's caught me out is the difference between Hotmail.com and Hotmail.co.uk accounts.

In Outlook 2007, you can add an MSN.com or Hotmail.com account pretty quickly - Tools, Account Settings, New, Next (for "Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP"), add your account details, Next and the configuration details are automagically downloaded. No need to worry about email server names, SSL ports and all that.

Assuming that a Hotmail.co.uk account would work the same way, I was soon stumped by

"An encrypted connection to your email server is not available. Click next to attempt using an unencrypted connection"

The unencrypted connection also fails, as does manually configuring with email server names, SSL port and all that.

The solution was to download - and, most importantly in my case, use - the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector. This does the same automagic work as before but has to be done through the Outlook Connector menu.

I'm still none the wiser why all the accounts don't just behave the same way though.

Comments

• Anonymous
  August 25, 2009
  Depends on which hotmail market your in. I'm pretty sure they're adding pop3 access (which is what you tried to use the first time above) to their user accounts based on market segment, over time, so you may well be able to use that option going forward.