Got a new laptop and I am having a couple of problems.
1. If I open my works email remotely I can read 'em ok but if I try to reply the space for the reply has the old red square with a white cross in it and I can't use it.
2. My Hotmail account – if I get an email with a file attached and try to download it, it says it is downloading but never reaches where it is supposed to be downloading to and just cycles endlessly, doing nowt.

I can't find anywhere to alter any relevant settings. What gives? I *really* need to be able to save downloaded files, and soon. HELP!

Reconfigure Outlook?

if you're using a web portal to access your works mail (which it sounds like if you have a red cross) try ctrl+f5 in your browser to refresh the image cache.

Tell me more.

Tried Cntrl and F5.Comes up with 'The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.'

Bump.

Are you using something like BitDefender? – if so disable it [or any other anti-virus or firewall software] & try again

If it now works, you know you have a permissions/security configuration problem

Chances are the plugin needed by the web app version of your mail software isn't installed or the security settings won't allow it to run. We use Outlook Web Access at work for those without laptops and have that problem. Take it to your office IT bods and get them to sort it as it's hard to fix it (easier to suggest teh problem) over a forum 😉

fixed the second issue for my next door neightbour, by dumping McAfee security scan and replacing it with Avast (free) VA and ZoneAlarm (free).

It has got McAfee on it, maybe that's the problem.

I had a similar problem with outlook express. Disabled the 'Outgoing mail scan' on Kaspersky, and straight back to business as usual.

Did you get it sorted OP?

or the security settings won't allow it to run

I've seen this before – most likely your problem.

maybe you dont have activeX downloaded in your work email is there a yellow bar at the top of the screen with a message?

Your reply problem is a server side issue, there was a hotfix for it, forward this to your IT folks:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911829

Still not sorted either of the problems. Will try that, tragically1969.
Thanks to everybody who has suggested solutions.

Have you tried a different browser? With the web Outlook portal IE tries to run a load of extra stuff to make it look nice. In firefox you'll get a more basic look, but it might work a lot better