I can no longer log into my old hotmail.com account, message saying it doesn't exist. Can someone please help?

Anonymous
2013-07-26T21:31:49+00:00

Hi,

I have created this new outlook account just to log this issue.

I've had a hotmail.com email account for years but not accessed it for a while and I really need to access it for some urgent emails but am unable to log in. I keep getting the message: The Microsoft account is incorrect. Please try again.

I know and am 100% sure that the emails address I am entering is correct but it still says it doesn't exist. This is the first time i'm trying to access it since the outlook.com changes so it may be something to do with that. It won't even let me create a new account with the same email address which implies it still exists.

I have seen on the forum other people have the same problem and it was not mis-typing the email addresses or issues like that. So if someone could please have a look as I need to access my hotmail account asap that would be much appreciated.

I am happy to provide my email address and relevant details.

Thanks.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy

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Anonymous
2013-07-28T01:58:53+00:00

Hi,

I'm here to assist you. I have tried to go to the sign up pageto create a new account and I was able to get the options to use @hotmail.com, @outlook.com and @live.com by clicking the dropdown arrow. You need to register the same account (@hotmail.com) if you wish to receive the emails that will be send to this account. I'd like to inform you that emails sent to @hotmail.com will not be received to account @outlook.com because it is 2 different accounts.

Please be reminded that you if you still cannot register the same account, it is possible that the account is still in the process of deletion from the database.

Should you have more questions, get back to us.

Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-27T14:50:57+00:00

    Hi VishKhiroya,

    I have checked our database and confirmed that the email address that you have provided does not exist.

    If you  want to recreate the account, I would suggest that you wait for the account to undergo the recycling period, an additional of 30 days on top of the inactivity,  that is the probable cause why you cannot reuse the account at this time.

    If you have other concerns, please do inform us. 

    Thanks!

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-27T07:46:31+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for the reply back.

    If the account has been marked in-active but the account name is still reserved, I would still like the same email account back - with the same email address (removed for privacy). I understand any data would have been lost but that's okay as I use this as my secondary email however I am currently trying to change a password on a different application which is sending the code to my hotmail email which I can't access so I am unable to proceed. I can get the email re-sent once my hotmail account has been re-activated.

    If someone in support could please re-activate my email/password (or re-set the password) then I would really appreciate it as I really need to access it for my other application password change.

    Thank you again for your help and hope to hear back soon.

    Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-07-26T21:33:45+00:00

    Accounts become inactive if you don't sign in for more than 270 days VIA WEB BROWSER or within the first 10 days after signing up VIA WEB BROWSER for an account.  If you have a welcome email that has happened.

    After an account becomes inactive, all messages, folders, and contacts are deleted. Incoming messages will be sent back to the sender as undeliverable.Your account name is still reserved.

    However, if the account stays inactive for an additional 90 days, the account name may be permanently deleted.

    If you don't use your Windows Live ID for 365 days, your Windows Live ID will be permanently deleted.  Once the account is marked as in-active all data is purged so even if you could get the email back the data would be gone....

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