tuxfan,
i am using hotmail since last 3-4 yrs. and that too thru OE. but since last couple of months they have started to block the mails or rather say to inactivate the account unless and untill you personally go & sign in thru either messanger or website. this happens once in a week and quite irritating but since the same mail id has given to hundreds of people by now, nothing can be done. so i am sure, u go thru the typing the charcters you see and might get the problem solved.