I use an IMAP email Server "Hamster Classic" v 2.1

After the Microsoft upgrade / patch last week, the connection is buggy.

All other email clients work great. I can connect to the server with
Thunderbird, Outlook Express, and Outlook 2002.

When I attempt to use Outlook 2003, I can connect only 50% of the time.

When I do get a connection, it locks up 50% of the time.

Lastly, folders keep disappearing and I must re-subscribe.

I want to keep using Outlook because I have macros which I have
written.

The macros are not the problem because I have tested the connection
with all macros deleted. I even went so far as to delete all email
accounts and then add back the account.

Is anyone else having difficulty with IMAP?

The University of Minnesota reports that a performance issue was
discovered in Outlook 2003 when several (or large) IMAP folders are
subscribed. The problem arises when Outlook checks for mail, scanning
not only the Inbox but also all the IMAP mail folders stored on the
server. Combined with a frequent mail check interval or a relatively
slow Internet connection, this unfavorable configuration can cause
slowness and timeouts in Outlook.

It recommends lengthening the time for automatic Send / Receive.

It recommends unsubscribing from folders and removing the check from
the checkbox "When displaying hierarchy in Outlook, show only
subscribed folders."

The issue of working offline may be due to folders being unchecked
under mail options Send/ Receive. Outlook creates an offline file, or
ost file, if the box is checked.

Help!

Even with the alternations recommended by the University of Minnesota,
the connection to Hamster is very very slow.

All other email clients work fine, even Outlook 2002.

The fix has reduced the number of crashes.