If she’s using the proper Outlook settings, I’d agree with those who think it’s an AOL issue (which makes me lose the ranch, dammit!). I must sign on with everyone else who hates AOL - okay, I’ve deleted all the awful things I said. Breathing… breathing… AOL is crap. That’s all.
If she’s amenable to using a new email address, I’d recommend GMail (if she’s into browser based or Thunderbird). But if she wants to stick with Outlook/Outlook Express, Hotmail is okay. . . even though it’s part of the evil empire.
I told her that NOTHING about the net makes sense to me, which was why I latched onto idiotproof Yahoo years ago, but since her name has commercial value and she already has a website named after her, setting up with Roadrunner an account with the address hername@hername.com would be a good idea. More professional looking looking than the rube-ish hername@aol.com. So I think this trek is at an end; I know I’ve done all I can to help her.
It has also been noted in polls, that having addresses from certain providers does influence how people think of the sender or receiver. AOL is one of them mentioned as a negative association.
Probably more like because the 24 hours (+ a weekend + a couple days because AOL had a backlog) isaaccs described had expired but I guess even scientists sometimes have to find a reason other than the obvious.