Question about Outlook Express 6 repair/reinstall

I am having trouble with Outlook Express 6. For a while, I was receiving a couple of different errors and was unable to send or receive mail, then, suddenly, OE would work fine again, sometimes for a few days. Then it would malfunction again. At this point, I receive only the following error:

The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'pop.charter.net (1)', Server: 'pop.charter.net', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10061, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E

I am using Windows XP Home and a cable Internet connection, with Charter as my mail server. I have had the problem, on and off, for a few weeks. However, someone shares my computer, and OE6 always works just fine on his desktop.

I have already tried creating a new account. After I did that, the mail worked for a day or so, but then the error reappeared. I disabled my virus scanner's outgoing mail scan, and OE worked for a day or so, then the error reappeared. Before I proceed with more serious measures--considering that it is working fine on another desktop, is there anything else I should do?

 

Have you tried going into IE and deleting Temp files and History then do a Disc Cleanup and a Defrag and see if this helps? Also make sure that OE is your Default Mail Program. Tools/Internet Options/Programs

 

Yes, I already tried that, to no avail.

Yes, I have.

It is now obvious that something is blocking the ports, but now there is a twist: The other user is also getting the error, but if we restart the computer, the problem goes away. This morning, there was no problem at all.