E-mail and Shut down

My computer came with 2000 and until recently all was fine. Now I can't receive or send e-mail. I've tried in outlook and Netscape. also when shutting down windows it takes several minutes now or doesn't shut down and I need to shut off my computer. Since both problems start together I starting to think it's an OS problem.

 

With Netscape nothing happens. In Outlook the box comes up getting mail and after 60 seconds the message comes up about trying for 60 seconds and not getting a reply from the server and should it keep trying. If I keep trying I just keep getting the same message. I use Netscape exclusively as most e-mail viruses seem to come through Outlook. I talked with my DSL provider and my dial up provider (won't get into why I have both) and they can't find a problem on their end.

 

I'm assuming that you still have normal internet connectivity via your browser(s).

You speak of Outlook for email but to clarify, is that the Outlook that is part of the Microsoft Office suite or the Outlook Express that comes with Internet Explorer? They behave very differently and are fixed in different fashions we we have to be sure which.

 

It' Outlook express. I have everything but the ability to receive and send email.
On netscape mail I even get the news of the day and the adds.

 

Some more info

I don't know if this will help but when I try to shut down a end task pops up for
ccApp and after it's done I still don't shut down. Going back to start and shut down slowly brings me to a light blue screen I still need to push the on off button.

 

E-mail Fixed

Turns out my Norton Firewall was blocking my e-mail. If I disable it I get my mail.

 

Thanks for the update.