mail works intermittently

[nobuddy]

When I use OE, it appears ashweb wants to handle the connection - on rare occasions I do see ashmaisv appear in Outpost - but that is the one time out of many that I actually receive mail - when it fails it's a time out error. In task manager, all of Avasts' providers are enabled

   

[Vlk]

Are you using OE to access a Hotmail account? That would explain why WebShield is in play.

[nobuddy]

Ok I see. Gmail and my ISP's mail work. It's a problem with hotmail. Hotmail says I still have access with OE but it's been only occasional access then. Thanks Vlk.

[alanrf]

To expand a little on Vlk's comment.

OE's (and Outlook's) access to Hotmail is not using POP3.  It is using a modified form of HTTP called HTTPDAV.  This is what Microsoft planned to restrict to paid accounts but has just decided to allow existing accounts to keep for now.  It will not be permitted on new accounts. 

   

[Vlk]

alanrf are you saying it still works for the existing (free) Hotmail accounts?
That would be good as we could do some additional testing of it (using our existing Hotmail accounts).

Thanks
Vlk

[alanrf]

Vlk,

yes Microsoft reversed their policy (for now anyway) during the past week.  They will allow free access to continue via OE and Outlook for currently active accounts. 

I suspect that this will lead to some confusion in the forums with the issue of old free accounts vs new free accounts. 

As a matter of interest does the Avast special consideration for Outlook/OE scan/add clean text for mail read from Hotmail via HTTPDAV?

This MS decision also means that third party HTTPDAV to POP3 converters will continue to work for existing accounts too (the only one I know is sourceforge hotwayd).

Other third party converters of Hotmail to POP3 that are using  standard HTTP access (MrPostman, FreePops etc.) are unaffected either way. 

Alan