Getting Error code 0x80048820 Sorry, we were unable to sign you in to Windows Live ID at this time. Please try again later

Apologies. I can be a bit short sometimes.

3 PCS all running XP SP3 and Windows Live Mail Desktop. Different accounts on each PC. Upgraded the standard IE6 that comes with XP SP3 to IE8 from file hippo. 

During the installation on one page it asks to install updates incl the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - left this ticked. 

Next page got a green tick against "Downloading" and a red cross against "Checking your computer for malicious software" and busy "Installing Internet Explorer 8". Install updates and Finish setup disappeared to quick before I could make note. I'm guessing here that no updates available for XP SP3. Second PC was just as successful with internet temporarily disabled so definitely no updates.

Next page "Choose your settings". TICKED Use Express settings" listing:

Search provider: Private search

Search Updates; Download provider updates

Accelerators: Blog with Windows Live, Map with Live Search, E-mail with Windows Live

Translate with Live Search

Smartscreen Filter: Enabled

Default Browser: Internet Explorer

Compatibility View: Use updates

I have no idea what half of these settings do.

And that's it. All worked beautifully after that on two PCs. Still to do last.

Note: I tend to use FireFox as default and on first PC couldn't get manually set IE6 to be default for some reason. IE8 is now default

I have screen shots if you want them. But you aren't struggling with IE6 to IE8 are you? or XP SP3?

Upgrading to IE8 from IE6 works for me to be able to use windows live on my xp laptop. 

Beware of the hippofile though for IE8.  I found there to be some malware that hijacks your home page, if you download anything else besides IE8. 

Regards, Gary.

I have a recent backup of my mail messages; can I restore my folders from there and then re-sync them?

"If this is what happened, the only way to get those folders and their contents back on to your computer is to set up the account again, preferably to use DeltaSync but if you still can't get that to work, IMAP. Both of these will download all the account folders from the server and keep them in sync."

Can you walk me through this process?

I can receive and send messages.

Hallelujah!

What folders? ... Do you not see them under the HTTP account?

... they are user-created. I use my e-mail as a kind of filing system, I move my incoming mails into user-created storage folders.

OK. Re-reading this whole saga, it looks as if you might at some stage have removed the HTTP account (the one that wasn't working because of the authentication error) after following instructions to 'reconfigure' your account. Is this the case? If so, you will have permanently deleted those folders and their contents, as a warning message will have told you when you removed the account.

If this is what happened, the only way to get those folders and their contents back on to your computer is to set up the account again, preferably to use DeltaSync but if you still can't get that to work, IMAP. Both of these will download all the account folders from the server and keep them in sync.

I'm so sorry that you've been given this runaround. A lot of people have been experiencing this authentication failure (error 0x80048820 - Authentication Server Error) recently. A lot has been happening in respect of communications security, including Windows Updates to some of the built-in systems and a general deprecation of SSL. I can't see that the support staff have done any troubleshooting to find out why this spate of errors has arisen, but I don't think it would take much to determine what the affected users have in common. It might be something as simple as a Google-inspired disablement of SSL3. I have neither the time nor the facilities for conducting this sort of troubleshooting, and I think it's a poor show that the support staff don't care enough to do it either.

Happy New Year!

Almost there;        

Does that mean that the account is now working?

Now I just need to recover my folders!         

What folders? Are these user-created folders under your Hotmail account? They should still be there under the HTTP account. POP3 doesn't deal in folders; it only downloads new messages from the account inbox.

I assume they are on my hard drive somewhere but WLM doesn't load them.        

Do you not see them under the HTTP account?

P.S. The additional folders are visible in Outlook.