Windows 10 Problem with Outlook 2021

[John Clark]

Today I run into a problem trying to get onto outlook.exchange365.com for my email. Dialog box pops up requesting correct username and password. It will not accept the correct data. It has been a couple of weeks since I was on the desktop but outlook worked fine.
I have outlook on my laptop and Android phone with no trouble accessing my email.

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.9
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit, Build 19045, Installed 20200719111952.000000-240
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 30 Stepping 5, CPU Count: 8
Total Physical RAM: 8 GB
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 6450, 1024 MB
Hard Drives: C: 390 GB (319 GB Free); D: 540 GB (439 GB Free); F: 1862 GB (1568 GB Free); G: 3725 GB (3297 GB Free);
Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P7P55D-E PRO, ver Rev 1.xx, s/n 103822980000259
System: American Megatrends Inc., ver 121009 - 20091210, s/n System Serial Number
Antivirus: ESET Security, Enabled and Updated

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're encountering a frustrating login issue with Outlook on your desktop, especially since your other devices (laptop and Android phone) are working just fine. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the problem:

1. Check Username and Password: Double-check the username and password you're entering. Sometimes, there could be a typo or the caps lock could be on inadvertently.

2. Reset Password: If you're sure the credentials are correct but still can't log in, it might be worth resetting your password. You can often do this through the web portal at outlook.com.

3. Clear Outlook Credentials:
- Go to the Control Panel on your PC.
- Select User Accounts > Credential Manager.
- Look for any stored credentials related to your email account and remove them. Then, try logging into Outlook again; it will prompt you to enter your credentials fresh.

4. Safe Mode: Start Outlook in Safe Mode to see if the problem lies with add-ins:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type outlook.exe /safe and hit Enter.

5. Update Outlook: Make sure that your Outlook is updated to the latest version. Sometimes, bugs can remain unresolved in older versions, and updates often address these issues.

6. Repair Outlook:
- Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- Find Microsoft Office in the list, select it, and choose Change.
- From there, you can opt to perform a quick repair.

7. Firewall/Antivirus Interference: Sometimes, security software can interfere with email clients. You mentioned having ESET Security enabled; it could be worth temporarily disabling it (if safe) to see if that resolves the issue.

8. Check Network Connection: Though your other devices are working, sometimes resetting your internet connection can resolve underlying issues.

9. Log in via Web: Since you have access on other devices, try logging into your account via the web browser (outlook.exchange365.com) on your desktop. If you experience issues there too, it may indicate a broader problem with your account.

If these steps don’t solve the issue, providing error messages or codes would help in troubleshooting further. Good luck, and let me know if you need more assistance!

 

[John Clark]

I got on the web and logged into my account with no problem.
Network is fine, just slow.
Anti-virus is not interfering with outlook.
Repaired outlook and also opened in safe mode ending up setting up a new account by mistake but able to deal with it.
I cut and paste username and password and still cannot open outlook with outlook refusing my username and password.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're navigating through quite a puzzle with your Outlook 2021 login issue. Since you've successfully logged in via the web and ruled out network problems and antivirus interference, let's dig a bit deeper into the specific problem.

Here are some further troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Set Default Account: If you accidentally created a new account, ensure that your original account is set as the default within Outlook:
- Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Under the Email tab, verify which account is marked as default. If it's not your original account, set it as default.

2. Delete and Re-add Account: Since you mentioned setting up a new account, it might help to remove the problematic account and add it back:
- Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Select the account giving you trouble and choose Remove.
- Then, click New to add the account back, entering your email and password carefully.

3. Check Server Settings: Ensure that the incoming and outgoing server settings are correct for your Outlook configuration. Sometimes, if the settings do not match, login issues can occur:
- For Exchange accounts, server settings can usually be auto-configured, but check with your IT support or the documentation specific to your email provider.

4. Delete old Cached Credentials: Even though you checked the Credential Manager, make sure there are no leftover entries that could cause conflicts. Go back and ensure all previous credentials related to Outlook or Exchange have been removed.

5. Update Windows: Ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date. Occasionally, there are underlying OS issues that affect applications like Outlook, and updates can fix these.

6. Check for Conflicting Applications: If you're running any other applications that might interfere with authentication (like VPNs, proxy servers, etc.), consider disabling them temporarily to see if that resolves the problem.

7. Reinstall Outlook: As a last resort, if nothing else seems to work, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling Outlook. This can clear up any stubborn issues caused by corrupted files or settings.

Since Outlook seems to be quite stubborn this time around, keeping an eye on any updates from Microsoft regarding bug fixes for known issues could also help. If you still can’t resolve it, support forums or Microsoft support might offer more personalized assistance. Good luck, and don't hesitate to reach out for further help!

 

[John Clark]

Problem solved. Had to delete account and reestablish.
What a friggen messy nightmare. A windows outlook buggy screw up that cost me 2 days to put it back together and still lost contacts and old deleted emails showing up. I've always thought that putting everything in one file is asking for trouble and this is not the first time that screw ups in outlook cost me lots of time and data.

 

[ChatGPT]

I'm glad to hear you were able to resolve the issue by deleting and re-establishing your account, even though it turned into quite a hassle. It sounds like you had quite the ordeal!

Losing contacts and dealing with old deleted emails popping back up can certainly make the recovery process feel like a messy nightmare. Outlook's reliance on a single file (PST or OST) for storing data can definitely lead to complications if anything goes south.

To help prevent similar issues in the future, here are a few tips:

1. Regular Backups: Regularly back up your Outlook data files. You can export your contacts, calendar, and emails to a separate file and save it securely. This way, even if something goes wrong, you'll have a recent copy to restore from.

2. Use Exchange or 365: If you aren't already, consider using Exchange or Office 365 accounts for email. They sync live with the server, meaning you'll have a more seamless experience without relying on local files.

3. Rebuild Indexes: If old emails keep showing up, it may help to rebuild your Outlook index. This can resolve issues where old items are mistakenly displayed.

4. Stay Updated: Keep Outlook and Windows updated to benefit from patches that fix bugs and improve stability. Regular updates can lessen the chance of encountering these frustrating issues.

5. Split Up Large PST Files: If you're using a PST file and it's becoming unwieldy, consider splitting it into smaller files. This can help reduce the risk of corruption and improve performance.

It's frustrating when technology adds more work than it saves. If you need assistance or if any other issues arise in the future, I'm here to help!