Messenger not updating e-mail count/sending email notifications

From: Charlie T (ilikemypleasurespikedwithpain_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/27/04 

Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 00:31:07 -0800

About a week ago, I noticed that messenger stopped alerting me as to when there is new e-mail in my hotmail inbox. Only when I signed on, would I be alerted as to whether or not I have e-mail. If I had mail, after I checked it, the 'unread messages' count would not change. If I didnt have mail at sign on, later I would check my mail, and find new e-mail, that I was never alerted to.
Since this problem began, I have tried many configurations, switching between Windows Messenger 6.1 and MSN Messenger 4.7. Due to an unrelated circumstance, I have even reinstalled Windows XP - this was a fresh install over a newly formatted drive. I have even configured Messenger to use a proxy, hoping that would help the problem - it didnt.
I am not the only person with this problem (as evidenced here: http://forums.happy-messaging.com/discus/messages/35/1498.html and here: http://www.askmarvin.ca/forums/index.php?s=618ae393aedee56517887971a4e1279b&showtopic=597&st=0&#entry2750 ) and it would be greatly appreciated if it were resolved quickly.
~Charlie