Mailboxes and More

I use, at least for a short time more, Hotmail courtesy of DellNet/MSN. I would like to like to sign up an alternate Hotmail mailbox so most of the spam and junk would go there. I did this once before, but can't remember how, and when I punch in Hotmail.com I get the home page of the mailbox I have now, and no direction about how to set it up again with a new account, new user name, password, etc.. Can someone point me in the right direction. Or would I be better off with another mail "provider" like Yahoo, or whatever else is available. I plan to hook up to Earthlink in the next few weeks, so maybe that it the answer.
If I change ISP's will my mailbox in MSN still work or even come up. I have some things archieved there that I would like to keep, or export.
What does Outlook Express have to do with what I have now. It is fully installed, and I use it at work, but that is intranet. I have no idea if it and Hotmail are somehow connected on my home system. Or would I have to use it if no other option, such as Hotmail is available. Sorry to show such a DUH factor here, I touch the surface on many applications, but don't understand the nuts and boltz of the programs. There seem to be more mail apps than I know what to do with. Thanks ahead of time.