Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your follow-up. If the system still says the account “does not exist” and blocks re-registration because the username is taken, it unfortunately means the account has been permanently deleted likely due to prolonged inactivity. Microsoft typically removes inactive accounts after about two years of no sign-ins, and once that happens, the data is not recoverable, even by support. At this point, the best option is to try recovering linked accounts (bank, work apps, etc.) using any alternative recovery methods you had set up like another email or phone number. If you need to create a new Microsoft account, consider a variation of your old address (e.g., adding a number or symbol). Keep a written backup of any login details moving forward to avoid issues like this in the future. I truly understand how important your information is, and I’m sorry there isn’t a way to restore that old Hotmail account.
Warm regards,
Cherrelyn