[Malcolm]

Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now banging
my head against the wall.

I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes it will
send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out' (even though I
haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't always solve the issue.

I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus. firewall,
etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain why sometimes I
am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when I have made no changes
at all. Furthermore, I do not have email scanning enabled on my PC and my
email client is not protected by a firewall.

Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to send the
email through another ISP account whilst using a different connection, and
therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but I made sure that I was
sending email using my the correct account.

When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also using
Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities with the SMTP
server.

I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with both
clients.

I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.

In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the mail
account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?

Cheers

[DGuess]

"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net...
> Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now
> banging
> my head against the wall.
>
> I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes it
> will
> send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out' (even though
> I
> haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't always solve the issue.
>
> I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus. firewall,
> etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain why sometimes I
> am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when I have made no
> changes
> at all. Furthermore, I do not have email scanning enabled on my PC and my
> email client is not protected by a firewall.
>
> Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to send
> the
> email through another ISP account whilst using a different connection, and
> therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but I made sure that I
> was
> sending email using my the correct account.
>
> When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also
> using
> Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities with the
> SMTP
> server.
>
> I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with both
> clients.
>
> I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
>
> In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the mail
> account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
>
> Cheers
>
>


Tools | Options | maintenance tab | Store Folders button
Note the location of the message stores (dbx files)

Create a new folder and name it Old Sent
Move all the messages in the Sent Items to the Old Sent folder

Close OE

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder you saw in the Store
Folders dialog.
If the dbx files are not visible, from Windows Explorer, go into Tools |
Folder Options | Views tab. Select "Show all files" and uncheck "Hide file
extensions for known file types" Click OK, the files should be visible.

Delete the Sent Items.dbx and the Outbox.dbx files

Restart OE, new dbx files will be create (empty of course) and check to see
if it will send now.

[Michael Santovec]

It could be the mail server.

Pinging is of limited use. A success lets you know that the physical server is most
likely accessible, but you aren't talking to the SMTP software and there are other
potential issues. And a ping failure may just mean that the server is set to not respond
to pings. Many don't anymore since hackers have used excessive pinging in Denial of
Service attacks.

Telneting into the SMTP mail server is more useful, but I'm guessing that you just went as
far as getting a server logon response. You don't know how far your mail client got
before the problem occurred.

You may want to record an smtp.log which will show more details about outgoing mail.

To create an SMTP.log In OE5+, go to Tools, Options, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Mail
You may need to close OE after doing the send for the log to get written to disk.
The log will be in the Store Folder which is listed in Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store
Folder.

There have also been cases where people thought they had disabled their anti-virus from
scanning e-mail, or even completely uninstalled the anti-virus, but it still had its hooks
into the mail client.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net...
> Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now banging
> my head against the wall.
>
> I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes it will
> send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out' (even though I
> haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't always solve the issue.
>
> I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus. firewall,
> etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain why sometimes I
> am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when I have made no changes
> at all. Furthermore, I do not have email scanning enabled on my PC and my
> email client is not protected by a firewall.
>
> Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to send the
> email through another ISP account whilst using a different connection, and
> therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but I made sure that I was
> sending email using my the correct account.
>
> When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also using
> Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities with the SMTP
> server.
>
> I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with both
> clients.
>
> I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
>
> In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the mail
> account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
>
> Cheers
>
>

[Malcolm]

Thank you for your post 'DGuess', however I have tried that and the problem
was still present.



"DGuess" <majik@mindspring.oops> wrote in message
news:uES3h8LhFHA.2840@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> "Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net...
> > Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now
> > banging
> > my head against the wall.
> >
> > I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes it
> > will
> > send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out' (even
though
> > I
> > haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't always solve the
issue.
> >
> > I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus.
firewall,
> > etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain why sometimes
I
> > am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when I have made no
> > changes
> > at all. Furthermore, I do not have email scanning enabled on my PC and
my
> > email client is not protected by a firewall.
> >
> > Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to send
> > the
> > email through another ISP account whilst using a different connection,
and
> > therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but I made sure that I
> > was
> > sending email using my the correct account.
> >
> > When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also
> > using
> > Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities with the
> > SMTP
> > server.
> >
> > I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with both
> > clients.
> >
> > I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
> >
> > In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the mail
> > account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> >
>
>
> Tools | Options | maintenance tab | Store Folders button
> Note the location of the message stores (dbx files)
>
> Create a new folder and name it Old Sent
> Move all the messages in the Sent Items to the Old Sent folder
>
> Close OE
>
> Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder you saw in the Store
> Folders dialog.
> If the dbx files are not visible, from Windows Explorer, go into Tools |
> Folder Options | Views tab. Select "Show all files" and uncheck "Hide
file
> extensions for known file types" Click OK, the files should be visible.
>
> Delete the Sent Items.dbx and the Outbox.dbx files
>
> Restart OE, new dbx files will be create (empty of course) and check to
see
> if it will send now.
>
>

[Malcolm]

Hello Michael

Thank you for your post. I logged the SMTP data and even though I am not
sure exactly what I should be looking for, there were a lot OK's/go ahead's.

The final log was '354 go ahead'.

Cheers


"Michael Santovec" <michael_santovec@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:Ohn22DMhFHA.1948@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> It could be the mail server.
>
> Pinging is of limited use. A success lets you know that the physical
server is most
> likely accessible, but you aren't talking to the SMTP software and there
are other
> potential issues. And a ping failure may just mean that the server is set
to not respond
> to pings. Many don't anymore since hackers have used excessive pinging in
Denial of
> Service attacks.
>
> Telneting into the SMTP mail server is more useful, but I'm guessing that
you just went as
> far as getting a server logon response. You don't know how far your mail
client got
> before the problem occurred.
>
> You may want to record an smtp.log which will show more details about
outgoing mail.
>
> To create an SMTP.log In OE5+, go to Tools, Options, Maintenance,
Troubleshooting, Mail
> You may need to close OE after doing the send for the log to get written
to disk.
> The log will be in the Store Folder which is listed in Tools, Options,
Maintenance, Store
> Folder.
>
> There have also been cases where people thought they had disabled their
anti-virus from
> scanning e-mail, or even completely uninstalled the anti-virus, but it
still had its hooks
> into the mail client.
>
> --
>
> Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm
>
>
> "Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net...
> > Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now
banging
> > my head against the wall.
> >
> > I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes it
will
> > send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out' (even
though I
> > haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't always solve the
issue.
> >
> > I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus.
firewall,
> > etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain why sometimes
I
> > am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when I have made no
changes
> > at all. Furthermore, I do not have email scanning enabled on my PC and
my
> > email client is not protected by a firewall.
> >
> > Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to send
the
> > email through another ISP account whilst using a different connection,
and
> > therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but I made sure that I
was
> > sending email using my the correct account.
> >
> > When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also
using
> > Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities with the
SMTP
> > server.
> >
> > I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with both
> > clients.
> >
> > I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
> >
> > In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the mail
> > account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> >
>
>

[DGuess]

"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:sYudnQNVifIzrE3fRVnyig@pipex.net...
> Thank you for your post 'DGuess', however I have tried that and the
> problem
> was still present.
>


Well, that would rule out the problem in OE. Just reread part of the message
and saw that you have tried a different email program as well with similar
results.

You don't mention if you're on a dial up or broadband or if this computer is
on a network. If you're on a networked setup, try from another computer. If
on dial up, create another DUN and reboot then try it. You say the email
isn't firewalled but have you disabled the complete firewall to see if it
would send then?

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE]

"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net
> Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now
> banging my head against the wall.
>
> I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes
> it will send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out'
> (even though I haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't
> always solve the issue.
>
> I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus.
> firewall, etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain
> why sometimes I am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when
> I have made no changes at all. Furthermore, I do not have email
> scanning enabled on my PC and my email client is not protected by a
> firewall.
>
> Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to
> send the email through another ISP account whilst using a different
> connection, and therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but
> I made sure that I was sending email using my the correct account.
>
> When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also
> using Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities
> with the SMTP server.
>
> I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with
> both clients.
>
> I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
>
> In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the
> mail account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
>
> Cheers

Turn off email scanning in your anti-virus. It provides no added
protection.

The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express
Published: November 18, 2004
By Tom Koch
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

Email scanning slows down Sending and Receiving, sometimes enough that OE
times out. Since some of the received messages have large (often virus)
attachments, which exasperates the problem.
Some Comcast users have found it necessary to totally uninstall Norton and
switch to the free AVG with mail scanning off. Norton invented email
scanning and here's what they say:

"Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that
are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans
incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and
email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To
make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions."
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/d4578f66d8f00a0188256d4e006aaa94/4ba5fc8ef939c44c88256c7500723cf0

"...your computer is protected if Auto-Protect is enabled. Auto-Protect
scans any incoming files, including email attachments, when the files are
saved to your hard drive."
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2001100907323806

"NAV provides multiple layers of protection. Email scanning is just one of
those layers. Even if you are not running Email Scanning, your computer is
protected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments by NAV
Auto-Protect. Auto-Protect will scan any incoming files, including email
attachments, as they are saved to your hard drive. To make sure that
Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect enabled
and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus
definitions."
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sunset-c2002kb.nsf/f7d6cb402f0b760785256ee600549628/abcba312aed2225285256edd00478dbd?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

See also
http://help.expedient.com/mailnews/norton_antivirus.shtml

So Symantec used to say this often and clearly. The newer stuff doesn't
have the statement included as it was considered an embarrassment. If you
know anyone who programs for Norton try to get them to talk about it.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

[Malcolm]

Cheers Frank. I do not have any mail scanning enabled as I know a virus
when I see one (even from people I know).




"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23R1LDmMhFHA.3256@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> "Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:Wv-dnawslOgmZlLfRVnyjQ@pipex.net
> > Hi group, this one has got me baffled. Tried everything, and am now
> > banging my head against the wall.
> >
> > I am having intermittent problems sending email via SMTP. Sometimes
> > it will send, and other times it will just hang until it 'times out'
> > (even though I haven't changed any settings). Rebooting doesn't
> > always solve the issue.
> >
> > I initially thought that maybe the problem was with anti-virus.
> > firewall, etc. However, if this was the cause, it would not explain
> > why sometimes I am able to sent email, and other times I am not, when
> > I have made no changes at all. Furthermore, I do not have email
> > scanning enabled on my PC and my email client is not protected by a
> > firewall.
> >
> > Another possible cause I looked into was that maybe I was trying to
> > send the email through another ISP account whilst using a different
> > connection, and therefore the other ISP was rejecting the email, but
> > I made sure that I was sending email using my the correct account.
> >
> > When the problem was present I tried pinging the SMTP server and also
> > using Telnet to query the SMTP server. Both showed no abnormalities
> > with the SMTP server.
> >
> > I tried two different email clients, but the problem occurred with
> > both clients.
> >
> > I tried two different SMTP accounts, but the problem continues.
> >
> > In conclusion, the problem isn't caused by the email client or the
> > mail account, so I would imagine the problem is local? Any ideas?
> >
> > Cheers
>
> Turn off email scanning in your anti-virus. It provides no added
> protection.
>
> The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express
> Published: November 18, 2004
> By Tom Koch
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx
>
> Email scanning slows down Sending and Receiving, sometimes enough that OE
> times out. Since some of the received messages have large (often virus)
> attachments, which exasperates the problem.
> Some Comcast users have found it necessary to totally uninstall Norton and
> switch to the free AVG with mail scanning off. Norton invented email
> scanning and here's what they say:
>
> "Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
> that
> are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans
> incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and
> email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To
> make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
> Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
> the most recent virus definitions."
>
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/d4578f66d8f00a0188256d4e006aaa94/4ba5fc8ef939c44c88256c7500723cf0
>
> "...your computer is protected if Auto-Protect is enabled. Auto-Protect
> scans any incoming files, including email attachments, when the files are
> saved to your hard drive."
> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2001100907323806
>
> "NAV provides multiple layers of protection. Email scanning is just one of
> those layers. Even if you are not running Email Scanning, your computer is
> protected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments by NAV
> Auto-Protect. Auto-Protect will scan any incoming files, including email
> attachments, as they are saved to your hard drive. To make sure that
> Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep Auto-Protect
enabled
> and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have the most recent virus
> definitions."
>
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sunset-c2002kb.nsf/f7d6cb402f0b760785256ee600549628/abcba312aed2225285256edd00478dbd?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam
>
> See also
> http://help.expedient.com/mailnews/norton_antivirus.shtml
>
> So Symantec used to say this often and clearly. The newer stuff doesn't
> have the statement included as it was considered an embarrassment. If you
> know anyone who programs for Norton try to get them to talk about it.
>
> --
> Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
> Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
> http://www.fjsmjs.com
> Protect your PC
> http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
> http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/
>
>

[Malcolm]

Yeah, I am on Broadband.

I have considered uninstalling the firewall temporarily, but that doesn't
explain why the problem is intermittent.


"DGuess" <majik@mindspring.oops> wrote in message
news:uHWaSfMhFHA.572@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> "Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:sYudnQNVifIzrE3fRVnyig@pipex.net...
>
> Well, that would rule out the problem in OE. Just reread part of the
message
> and saw that you have tried a different email program as well with similar
> results.
>
> You don't mention if you're on a dial up or broadband or if this computer
is
> on a network. If you're on a networked setup, try from another computer.
If
> on dial up, create another DUN and reboot then try it. You say the email
> isn't firewalled but have you disabled the complete firewall to see if it
> would send then?
>
>
>
>

[Malcolm]

I temporarily removed the anti-virus software and firewall, still the same.
I really think that the problem is with Pipex.


"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:4dudnScqKYQDwE3fRVnyuQ@pipex.net...
> Yeah, I am on Broadband.
>
> I have considered uninstalling the firewall temporarily, but that doesn't
> explain why the problem is intermittent.
>
>
> "DGuess" <majik@mindspring.oops> wrote in message
> news:uHWaSfMhFHA.572@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > "Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> > news:sYudnQNVifIzrE3fRVnyig@pipex.net...
> >
> > Well, that would rule out the problem in OE. Just reread part of the
> message
> > and saw that you have tried a different email program as well with
similar
> > results.
> >
> > You don't mention if you're on a dial up or broadband or if this
computer
> is
> > on a network. If you're on a networked setup, try from another computer.
> If
> > on dial up, create another DUN and reboot then try it. You say the email
> > isn't firewalled but have you disabled the complete firewall to see if
it
> > would send then?
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[DGuess]

"Malcolm" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:pP-dnVrUbt4d_k3fRVnyuA@pipex.net...
>I temporarily removed the anti-virus software and firewall, still the same.
> I really think that the problem is with Pipex.
>



Call them and explain what all you have done. It appears you've done all you
can from your end.

[N. Miller]

On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 21:41:42 +0100, Malcolm wrote:

> Hello Michael
>
> Thank you for your post. I logged the SMTP data and even though I am not
> sure exactly what I should be looking for, there were a lot OK's/go ahead's.
>
> The final log was '354 go ahead'.

Then the transfer is hanging during the SMTP DATA phase. The server will
wait for your client to send data until it receives a lone dot ('.)
followed by an endline sequence. The final log entry should be something
like '220 server closing channel'. It looks like the server is timing out
without a data stream, or something like that. Usually, that is an AV mail
scanning problem, but you say you disabled the AV mail scanner.

--
Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint