If you are experiencing problems accessing your Hotmail account due to an error message relating to enabling cookies, please follow the steps below (please note — if you do not have Internet Explorer 6.0 you will not be able to see the "Privacy" tab referred to in the instructions below. If this is the case, please ignore steps 1-9 and read on from, "Also, the date on your computer may be incorrect...").

1. Within Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
2. Click the Privacy tab.
3. Ensure that the Privacy level is set to Medium. Use the grey slider bar on the left-hand side of the window to set the level to Medium if necessary.
4. Click the Apply button in the lower-right corner of the window.
5. Click the Security tab.
6. Select the icon of the world, called Internet.
7. Click the Default Level button.
8. Drag the grey slider bar down one notch to Medium-low. Click Yes when asked if you are sure you wish to adjust this setting.
9. Click the Apply button, then click the OK button.

Also, the date on your computer may be incorrect and this could be causing the problem you are experiencing. You can check the date on your computer by double-clicking on the clock (generally located in the lower-right corner of your screen). If the date is incorrect, please alter it to the correct date and then attempt to access your Hotmail account again.

If you have any firewall software on your computer this could be affecting your access. Consider temporarily disabling it to access your Hotmail account, then enabling it again once you have entered.

Next, you may wish to try to sign in through MSN Messenger (available at http://messenger.ninemsn.com.au).

After accessing your Hotmail account through Messenger, please click the grey Sign Out button in the top right-hand corner, then attempt to sign into Hotmail again.

If this does not work, please click here to contact Hotmail 1st Level Support directly to request further assistance.