1) Check out Optimize and Swappolube. Also maybe consider overclocking? Its easy to do and get good benefits - there are obvious risks but ive never had any problems running 1150mhz everyday since I got it.

2) Mine used to do that but has now started to work - weird I know. I take it you still have the settings correct in hotmail itself so that it doesnt leave a message on the server?

3) Not sure of a recent tutorial but what network are you on? I'll get you the settings how I'd set it up - not had a problem since right in the beginning.