See this archived thread from earlier this year: http://tinyurl.com/s9ckd
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org

Mike wrote:
Hello.

For 2 weeks now I have been trying to solve the problem where I can no
longer (after many years with no issues) receive my hotmail emails through
Outlook Express (Version 6). I get the following error message whenever I
click send/receive which occured suddenly without me changing any
configuration.

Unable to poll for new messages on your HTTP server. Account: 'Hotmail',
Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp', Protocol:
HTTPMail, Server Response: '', Port: 0, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error:
12029, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E

I have tried all manner of things, including deleting my hotmail account
from OE and reinstalling, I have checked my internet Explorer
configurations which I have read are crucial to integrating OE qand
hotmail, but again I had not changed any setting when this issue occurred.

Please any help most appreciated as I am at my wits end

regards
Mike