figure out why I can't get my e-mail via Outlook

thanks to 43Things superfantastic community!

Thanks, girafeenfeu!

http://www.43things.com/person/girafeenfeu

after today, I’m taking it to the tech guys to solve. I suspect it’s something strange in the IP settings, but I have no clue how to fix it. The Web powers up fine, but Outlook is still ailing…

Okay, okay. I’ve called tech support for my ISP, and they’ve told me to delete my big fat files. Yes, I’m on dialup. I’m old-fashioned. This has been going on for four days. I am able to access the Web. What the hell?

The e-mails are on the server. I can view and respond to them via a mail-viewing client. But when I power up Outlook, it appears to go into an endless send/receive hang and eventually it times out. It won’t “talk” to the server, I’m guessing.

Here’s the weird thing: Plaxo gets through. I got and send an update to my information today. Yes, it does appear to be quite Microsoft friendly, this problem.

Any ideas, 43Things, geniuses? Could it be a virus? Could I have reset the software in some way without knowing it. (Yes, the port addresses are correct.)

HELP. I don’t want to send the computer back to my local repair guys..I just got it back from Dell.

I’m going to call the provider again, but…hey, I get by with a little help from my friends.