Vista - having trouble closing my windows live account

Hi All.

I'm experiencing lots of difficulties closing my account. I keep getting these msgs:

Cannot close "my account"


To close your account, you must resolve one or more of the following issues:

• One or more paid services or a Microsoft Points account is linked to your account. To close this account, make sure each service is canceled and your Microsoft Points account is closed. Get help with this
• There is a Microsoft e-mail account (Windows Live Hotmail) associated with your account, so you can't close your Windows Live account immediately. To close your Windows Live account, you need to close your Microsoft e-mail account first. After a period of inactivity, your Windows Live account will automatically be closed. Close your Microsoft account

I never even have any paid services or any microsoft account so I don't understand why I'm not even able to close my windows live account. It's getting very frustrating. Does anyone know any way around this?? I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Hello cherrykiki.
I found this on a site. Hope it helps.
Give it a try and post your results. Good luck.

To close a Hotmail/Live/Live ID account please do the following:

Close all browser windows.
Start, Run Bing, click "sign in" in upper right corner. This should
be the scuba divers page.
Sign in using the name of the account you wish to close.
Click "Windows Live" in upper left corner, between "MSN" and "Hotmail".
You should now be at http://home.live.com.
Click "Account" in upper right corner.
Click "Settings" in upper left corner.
Under "Common tasks" in upper right corner you will see "Close your
account".
Verify that the correct Live ID is displayed, supply the password, and click
"Yes".
You should see a screen that says

«There is a Microsoft e-mail account (Windows Live Hotmail) associated with
your account, so you can't close your Windows Live account immediately. To
close your Windows Live account, you need to close your Microsoft e-mail
account first. After a period of inactivity, your Windows Live account will
automatically be closed. Close your Microsoft account.»

The words "Close your Microsoft account" are a link. Click it and go to
this screen

«To deactivate your Windows Live Hotmail account, click Close account. All
stored messages are permanently deleted and incoming e-mail is refused.
Your e-mail address is reserved for 120 days after closing your account.
After that time, it may become available for other people to use.
To reactivate your account once you have closed it, sign in within 120
days. »

Click the "Close My Account" button.
You will either see a "Confirmation of Closed Account" or a "Signing Out"
screen.
If it is the "Confirmation of Closed Account" screen you are done.
Otherwise {
On the "Signing Out" screen, just click the "Done" button. This is the
last step. The next screen says

«Your e-mail account is now closed
Your stored messages and contact list will be
permanently deleted within the next few days. »
}
Do not sign in or access the account for 120 days. If you have second
thoughts just sign in to the account at the Hotmail or Live portal.
Received messages and items in online folders may be lost if you do this.
By
Earle Horton.

Thanks for your help Stoney-nutz but when i tried to follow your tips, i don't get what you wrote.

Close all browser windows.
Start, Run Bing, click "sign in" in upper right corner. This should
be the scuba divers page.
Sign in using the name of the account you wish to close. (yes I did sign in)
Click "Windows Live" in upper left corner, between "MSN" and "Hotmail". (when i sign in, there's no "windows live" option in the upper left corner. only "MSN" and "Hotmail")
You should now be at http://home.live.com. ( i clicked on "msn" in upper left corner and i land on http://mail.live.com page instead)
Click "Account" in upper right corner. (there's no "Account" on the page listed. i click on "Options", there's "Account" in the lower right hand corner.)
Click "Settings" in upper left corner. ( There's no "settings" listed)

If you can please help me out any furthur, i would very much appreciate it.

Thanks again in advance

Hello cherrykiki,
Click on the link home.live.com.
It will take you to your main page after you sign in.
At the top of the page, a bit to the right, you will see your name and a small space for a profile picture, click on the picture.
Go to "view your account".
On that page there is an option for closing the account.
Follow the prompts.
Hope this helps, post your results. Good luck.

http://home.live.com.