Internet Checkers: error message 0x80041006.

I love how Microsoft gives you BS solutions. When it happens it happens on multiple PCs that i own. The reason it occurs is the MS server goes down Nothing anyone does solves it. Not removing Yahoo or toolbars or anything. All you can do is wait it out. The problem is at Microsoft's end and It will be fixed when the server comes back up. They need to change it to say "The game server is down, try again later" instead of the inane error code stuff.

One time at the time it occurred I contacted  15 different people all over the country and they all got the error message at the same time.

I wonder why Microsoft have not corrected there answer to the above, While it is obvious a network issue on your home computer could cause the issue the fact that the issue occurs regularly and normally disappears after an hour or so but this time frame can be longer on weekends. The fact that when it happens if I try any of my four computers they all have the same issue even those connecting via the mobile network and the fact that all the computers on different networks all start working at the same time without and updates and the fact that no other functionality has suffered and all other websites can be reached does suggest the unthinkable that the issue is at the Microsoft end.

A better answers my be to give an ip address and port to ping to see if the server is running, as I am happy to be proved wrong.

It usually clears after a few hours, I reckon it's an MSN or internet problem, not us.  It regularly occurs on Internet Spades and Backgammon too so it's probably not you.  I usually just leave and return later.