Error message when you try to synchronize a Windows Live Hotmail account in Outlook 2007 or in Outlook 2003: "Error 3212. Unable to connect" or "Error 4101. Unable to connect"

You have Microsoft Office Outlook Connector installed in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 or in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. When you try to synchronize a Windows Live Hotmail account in Outlook, the account is not synchronized. Additionally, you receive an error message that resembles one of the following error messages:

This issue may occur if one of the following conditions is true:

• There is a high traffic situation on the Windows Live Hotmail server.
• There is a service disruption on the Windows Live Hotmail server.
• The Windows Live Hotmail account has been migrated to another server.

To work around this issue, follow these steps:

1. In Outlook, back up your mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Start Outlook.
   2. In the folder list, click the folder for the Windows Live Hotmail account. The folder name for the Windows Live Hotmail account resembles the following folder name:
      accountname@msn.com
   3. On the File menu, click Import and Export.
   4. Click Export to a file, and then click Next.
   5. Click Personal Folder File (.pst), and then click Next.
   6. In the Select the folder to export from box, click the folder for the Windows Live Hotmail account if it is not already selected.
   7. Click to select the Include subfolders check box, and then click Next.
   8. Click Browse to select the location to back up the Windows Live Hotmail account folder, and then click OK.
   9. Click Finish.
2. Remove the Outlook Connector folder for the Windows Live Hotmail account. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Account Settings.
   2. Click the E-mail tab.
   3. Click the folder name such as accountname@msn.com, and then click Remove.
   4. Click Yes to confirm the removal, and then exit Outlook.
3. Add the Windows Live Hotmail account. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Start Outlook.
   2. On the Outlook Connector menu, click Add a New Account.
   3. Type the appropriate information for the Windows Live Hotmail account, and then click OK.

For more information about Outlook Connector, visit the following Microsoft Web site: