Outlook on new Macbook Air giving me all kinds of errors and problems

I have an iMac with Snow Leopard and Outlook works great. Got a Macbook Air for Christmas and downloaded Office from Microsoft site, and it's been one problem after another. I entered all the settings correctly, that and usernames/passwords verified by Roadrunner (webmail works), but I'm getting messages that it can't find either of my two accounts ("not connected to ..."), and both have amber dots in Accounts, though earlier both were green, then one green and one amber, now both amber;  authentication messages; can't send now try back later. "Outlook cannot find the server. Verify the server information is entered correctly in the Account Settings, and that your DNS settings in the Network pane of System Preferences are correct." (there's nothing wrong with the server). It's also sending some of my personal incoming email to junk. I had to put my iMac Outlook contacts on a stick to get them to the Air.I have never had such problems in email.  If I reinstall, will it wipe out all my work? And does a reinstall count against the 5 computers I'm allowed to use my Office app? Any help appreciated.