One for computer experts

[anneed]

I've been trying to delete spam mail from my hotmail junk box but as fast as I delete it just keeps reappearing. I Googled the problem and it seems a common thing but I can't try any of the suggested solutions because I can't locate my hotmail 'options' or 'preferences'.

Sounds like it should be so easy to find but there is absolutely nothing to click on in my mail box (my hotmail was already installed for me on my Windows 8 laptop). I've also tried clicking on the sign-in icon in the top right hand of the screen but it just gives three messages - change account picture, lock and sign out. No drop down menu or anything else.

Any suggestions?

Anne

[Manoverboard]

Hotmail wouldn't be my choice but in your situation I would create a new Account, advise trusted friends of the new one and then delete the Account that is being infested by SPAM ... t'is very difficult to stop it once your details are known, meanwhile change your Password.

[lioness]

If it's coming in that fast, sounds like it's been hacked. I would change your password. Also, try Gmail - it's much better.

[david63]

... my hotmail was already installed for me on my Windows 8 laptop

Not being a Hotmail user (in fact personally I would not touch it with a 10 foot barge pole ) then I cannot help with your problem but what I find strange is the quote above.

As far as I am aware Hotmail is a web based mail system so there is nothing to install on a PC and in any event under an EU ruling Microsoft are not allowed to automatically install propriety software on a new PC.

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Anneed,

Try signing out of mail in windows 8 and logon using a browser either internet explorer or google chrome which you will probably have on a Windows 8 PC.

You can then block the account that is sending you spam.

Then change your password and you can log back on to the mail section on 8#

Hope this helps John.

P.S I have used hotmail for years and find it ok, never had any problems with it.

[david63]

P.S I have used hotmail for years and find it ok, never had any problems with it.

As indeed have thousands of others - but personally there is no way that I would trust Microsoft to look after my mail messages - not to mention the problems of hacking and/or disclosure to the US authorities.

[ChesterfieldJohn]

P.S I have used hotmail for years and find it ok, never had any problems with it.

As indeed have thousands of others - but personally there is no way that I would trust Microsoft to look after my mail messages - not to mention the problems of hacking and/or disclosure to the US authorities.

David, surely you don't believe that only microsoft are the only ones monitoring what you do?

Any system can be hacked I used to work with a guy who could log on to loads of sites that supposedly were 'secure'

Oh and he now works in Hong Kong for IBM

John

[david63]

It is not the monitoring in itself that bothers me - it is what is done with that information. If GCHQ want to monitor what I do (and in all probability are well capable of doing so) then that is fine by me. If Microsoft, or any other company, want to monitor what I do for commercial purposes then that is not OK in my book and I will, and do, everything within my powers to stop it happening.

Also I do not trust any web based mail hosting system as if anyone is going to loose data then it will be me.

You are quite right that almost any system can be hacked but there are some (i.e. Microsoft) that are prime targets and I prefer to stay well clear of them.

This is just my personal view.

[Quizzical Bob]

Emails are like postcards - anybody can read them and you never know if they are going to get there.

[Holiday Planner]

I work for a museum who have a large number of volunteers working for us. I often have to contact the volunteers, and I find that any emails we send to hotmail accounts automatically get sent to spam unless they include us in their list of contacts. So if you have a Hotmail account make sure you check your spam frequently, as I'm sure we're not the only organisation who has this problem.

[david63]

On a similar theme with Hotmail accounts - there are many mail servers that will "blacklist" anything that goes to a Hotmail account, so anyone with such an account may not receive some emails.

[anneed]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a go when I'm feeling calmer. Nothing gets me so het up as computer problems. If only I knew what I was doing!

By the way, when I said the hotmail was already installed I think that was done for me by the boffins at John Lewis. I paid extra for them to set it up ready for use. I've noticed that when I log in to hotmail from another computer I do get a lot more settings options. But I still feel very nervous about trying to change them.

I want a laptop course for the terrified.

[Orpheus]

anneed I do believe on all P&O ships there is a computer course for the terrified. On the subject of e-mails like david63 I will not us a web based mail hosting system I have for many many years used Incredimail and have found it very safe and great fun but not sure if this works with Windows 8 yet (I have Windows 7 Pro)

[royalprincess]

Give gmail a try. It tries to identify spam and you can specify any mail as spam. When you check your mail just have a look at the spam folder (you dont have to read the mail) to check that everything is working okay and it's identifying spam properly and then delete all the spam. Unfortunately it doesn't always get in right so that's why you have to check - it identified P&O and Cunard as spam once but you can specify that its not. It learns as you go and I hardly get any spam in my inbox now.

[Silver_Shiney]

anneed I do believe on all P&O ships there is a computer course for the terrified. On the subject of e-mails like david63 I will not us a web based mail hosting system I have for many many years used Incredimail and have found it very safe and great fun but not sure if this works with Windows 8 yet (I have Windows 7 Pro)

They stopped doing that course on the last three Oceana cruises we were on, and she doesn't even have a computer room anymore.

[Kendhni]

Give gmail a try.

Both gmail and yahoo mail have very good spam filters and are available anywhere with an internet connection. I personally dumped programs such as Outlook etc. a long time ago ... just keep email in the cloud.