Help! Deleted Cookies, now I can't open my mail!?

What are the error messages you receive?

Are the actual mail messages stored on your computer or are they really on a remote server?

You may have to reinstall your mail program.

what operating system and e-mail client are you using? If you are using Windows and Outlook Express, you can try downloading and installing Mozilla Thunderbird. However, it also sounds like one of the cookies may have been related to spyware. You need to run your antivirus (an updated one, of course) and if you don't have one, get a good spyware removal software. Also, be sure you get yourself a good software firewall. You can find the firewall and spyware removal software with google, many are free but make sure you research for the best quality you can find. Since I am now a died in the wool Linux user, I can't tell you what you need to get for Windows any more. I bet some other Microsoft gurus can help you. If you want to know where I get my information for this answer, please go to CERT. CERT is now partnered with Homeland Security and is the very best source for securing and protecting your computer.

Sounds to me like you (at some point before the problem occurred) might have checked a "remember me" (user id and password) either before or after you deleted the cookie (used to identify your machine to the server). This would assume that you normally sign in with id and password when accessing your In box service (?). If something like that has happened--and if there is not really a problem with corruption as mentioned in previous responses--it is possible you will not be able to "correct the problem" (on that one machine) even by reinstalling....

But...it would be helpful to know in greater detail just what you did, from the last time you accessed your In box, up until the time you cleared the files and (presumably) the temporary cookes with the internet options tool in IE. That might help...to eliminate what did not occur to cause your problem...and then take it from there to find the appropriate fix.

If you are using Windows XP , try running System Restore. Just select a few days back

as the restore point before you deleted the cookies. Everything will be restored as

before.

I agree that systems restore is a good first attempt. If that doesn't work then you'll probably have to re-install your mail app. There's a reasonable chance you won't loose any mail messages. But I have to second the idea that you've probably got a malware tracking cookie on the computer, so as soon as you have your mail back you need to get a good antivirus / antispyware app running. I don't know about CERT (I'll have to check it out) but Norton Internet Security is a pretty good package too.

shame on you for not knowing about CERT!

If one visits those porno and sex sites or if one tours some of the student side of the .edu sites, one runs a major risk of catching something that is not so good. Sadly, there are as many bad guys on the Internet as there are in life. Also, spam sometimes carries infections, too. Be very, very careful about opening websites and email from any spam yoiu might receive. After all, you do not need to be bigger than you are and you get all you deserve, already, STD's, AIDS, and babies.

I had probs( read slow) so yesterday in a fit of drunken rage deleted everything from desktop to recycle bin then deleted contents- today I had no functions whatever- mind was boggling- then I simply reloaded setup disc- & heeey, WOW- now so fast as should be- bottom line- don't be afraid of these mongrels- try anything- ( the free virus protection in my case found nothing, nor the free adware protection)- BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS PROBLEMS!.