Member Avatar for Liquidfire

ARRRGH! I am so frustrated. I am assuming my problem is with Internet Explorer, even tho all other sites are working.

My problem is that whenever my mum or sister try to log in to their accounts (one is @hotmail.com, the other is @) they get one of the following messages
-either a box with disguised letters and numbers telling them to match the characters
OR
-a message saying the address or password is incorrect.

Entering the characters (correctly, yes we do check carefully) or retyping details leads to a blank log-in screen.

Clicking on the help icon associated with the match the characters message brings up a blank window.

MSN 7 is working fine, other than a 'there is an error, do you wish to continue running scripts on this page' message when I sign in. My hotmail address works ok, but then I haven't tried to send an email from this computer since the problem. I can read messages tho.

The only way I found to solve this problem before was to restore factory settings. That only worked for a few weeks.

ANY ideas?!?!?!?!

PLEEEEASE!
It is driving me nuts that my family expect me to be a computer expert. I haven't a clue.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Bazdaa

Dani AI

Generated

reported a repeated Hotmail/MSN sign-in that shows the character-check then either rejects credentials or leaves a blank login/help window; resetting IE helped only briefly. and have already hinted at local interference, so the checklist below focuses on lower-level causes that commonly produce that captcha/blank-page loop and on safe, repeatable diagnostics.

Suggested checks (run these one at a time and test after each):

  • Verify local name/DNS routing: open the hosts file and remove any suspicious entries that map mail/login domains to local IPs. 
    notepad "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"
  • Confirm there is no proxy altering pages: Tools → Internet Options → Connections → LAN Settings (ensure no unexpected proxy is set).
  • Ensure IE can cache secure content: Tools → Internet Options → Advanced → Security → uncheck “Do not save encrypted pages to disk” if it is checked (some secure pages fail to render when this is enabled).
  • Test browser helpers without changing installed software: start IE without add-ons to rule out a toolbar/extension:
    iexplore -extoff
  • Check system time/clock accuracy (SSL sites can fail if the clock is far off).
  • Temporarily suspend any outbound-content filters/firewall/URL-filtering software for a brief test (do not leave protection disabled).

Extra diagnostics if the problem persists: run simple network checks from the command line to confirm correct DNS resolution and routing (for example nslookup and tracert for the mail domain), and scan the system for DNS/HTTP hijackers with updated anti-malware tools. If sign-in works from another PC or a fresh Windows user profile, the issue is local to that profile or IE configuration — consider recreating the profile or reinstalling/updating IE. Caution: never keep firewall/filters disabled permanently; re-enable protection after testing.

Member Avatar for greghuston

Hi,

Did you check to see if you're being hijacked/redirected? Make sure you're still on a hotmail site. Other than that - see if IE is blocking cookies - I don't know if hotmail/msn needs it, but if you are blocking them, try enabling them for that site. Other than that, have you tried using firefox?

Greg

Member Avatar for Bazdaa

Right, if your using Zone Alarm then you will need to go to Zone Alarm > Privacy > Cookie Control > Custom > and untick block 3rd party cookies.

Once you have matched the characters and are in your email account, you can re-tick this option.

Cheers

Bazdaa

Hi,

Did you check to see if you're being hijacked/redirected? Make sure you're still on a hotmail site. Other than that - see if IE is blocking cookies - I don't know if hotmail/msn needs it, but if you are blocking them, try enabling them for that site. Other than that, have you tried using firefox?

Greg

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