Sending mail, timeouts. 3

[Grenage]

The internet connection is ADSL coming through the BT router (this router is not hacked/cracked/configurable in any way). The OS in XP.

The internet connection is working fine and we can browse/download files/download emails perfectly. The trouble we are having is when we try to send an email.

Basically it starts to send a message but times out. There are no/has never been a firewall on this computer. Norton Anti-virus is/has always been running.

I can telnet into the BT email server and send a message from there, but neither outlook nor outlook express will send a message. I have tried repairing the connection, re-installing email acounts and the software but have come up with nothing.

Can anyone think of something I might be overlooking?

PS: while this error occured around the time of the MSBlast worm outbreak, I have given the system a good once over and can find no spyware, virii or worms (Sbybot, Norton & Mcaffee).

 

[Grenage]

Good Morning,

Well I've tweaked, patched and fiddled - then done it again.

The problem still remains so it's definately going to have to be a format job (if only because the time to reinstall is minimal in comparison).

Thankyou kindly for your advice on the issue Bcastner.

 

[bcastner]

Sorry it did not work out.

I agree a reinstall at this point is advisable.

Please report back.

 

[Grenage]

Well that fixed it anyhow, dissapointing in a way.

Still at least it can be used again, Thanks for the help Bcastner mate.

 

[Grenage]

*chuckle*

Just as an update, the issue came back.

 

[bcastner]

1. System Restore point, will it fix it?

2. sfc /Scannow

 

[manarth]

OK, here's a few ideas to throw into the mix:

smtp domain name: bt has a couple of mail domains, some of the older ones may have been discontinued - BT's site suggests mail.btopenworld.com is the current server

smtp auth: BT uses smtp auth - put a tick in the box for "My server requires authentication".
I think this may be a recent upgrade - possibly in light of the recent virii outbreaks, which may explain why what used to work no longer does.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[Grenage]

Hi again,

Bcastner,
I did try a restore but infortunately to no avail. No bloatware has been installed, it's insane really.

Manarth,
I've tried just about every domain name under the sun it doesn't seem to make any difference, the smtp auth also did not work.

After it went down again I formatted a second time and used the USB modem rather than the router (and removed the Nic), this also did not help. As rediculous as it sounds I think I may actually have to start swapping out hardware.

 

[bcastner]

So all of these things are true:

1. User Grenage sits at computer A and cannot send mail. User Grenage with an identical mail account profile in all particulars including logon name can send mail from workstation B without issue;

2. Any mail account on computer A has a send mail issue, there is not once account for Grenage1 that works, and another account for Grenage2 that does not;

3. The problem exists whether using dial-up or through a LAN connection on the workstation;

4. There is no firewall, not a hint of a firewall, on the workstation;

5. All other internet and intranet communications are without issue;

6. At least a bare drive re-install of XP works for a short period of time;

7. An anti-virus scan with current definitions comes up empty of virus;

Try the &quot;Troubleshooting Trinity&quot;:

Hijack This!
SpyBot 1.2
AdAware

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/#removal

It is possible there is a mail daemon interposing itself in the MAPI service.

 

[bcastner]

Also, did you see this?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315008

 

[Grenage]

Thankyou for another thorough posting,

Your listings are correct with the exception of #6, the first base install worked for a short time while the second did not.

I did try the usual Spybot and friends although I have not used &quot;Hijack This&quot; before. I will try it tonight.

With regards to the MS article I have issues sending regardless of attachments but will try this also.

Hope to post back with some good news, thanks again.

 

[bcastner]

One other obscure issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;195778

 

[manarth]

Both of the following setups have been tried:

Internet --> Router/Switch --> PC
Internet --> USB-Modem ==usb==> PC

If it's failed from a clean, freshly formatted install, we can discount malware (this is a standard XP install CD, not some unusual OEM or other variant?)

The settings are surely correct, given that it works from a second workstation with identical settings. This also discounts router /modem hardware failure.

Norton Antivirus scans outgoing emails when it's sent which must mean it intervenes between the email client and the smtp server. Have you tried sending mail with Norton completely deactivated? (Perhaps BT uses an smtp_auth method which isn't supported by Norton?)

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[Grenage]

Finally, a result!

Last night I removed the modem and added a different Nic, which turned out to be faulty so I put the old one back in.

I then removed and created any mail profiles and accounts and set up fresh ones, using the same settings as before.

We sent a few dozen test emails and it all seems to be working again, installing norton and other software didn't stop it.

I don't quite see what the problem was which is extremely annoying, but I'll take what I can get in this instance.

Thankyou both for your help on this issue, much appreciated.

 

[manarth]

Ah yes, one of those inexplicable problems that you solve, but you're never quite sure how you fixed it

Glad you're up and running.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[bcastner]

It it was not 8 AM of the morning, I would have a cold beer on you for this one.

I have heard complaints that various NIC drivers will not pass all TCP/IP protocols. I know I have had various problems in the past with routers not allowing IGMP, which my mail server for one demands (since resolved). There are broadband modems that will not pass GRE 47 traffic, which drives some VPN clients to the ground.

It is likely the NIC you removed is fine, but the drivers are lousy.

Glad you got it sorted. I will remember this issue.

Best to you Grenage,

Bill Castner

 

[Grenage]

I did suspect the same, being the only thing that had really changed since the previous evening. Still, I was not about to dig any deeper than required this time

Thanks again.

 

[manarth]

Well, I think for resolving the problem, Grenage deserves a star as well...

Perhaps we should point people to this thread as The Network Troubleshooting FAQ!

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[PaulAlexander]

Hi Guys,

Since you mentioned that a 50% mail testing was succesful, it appears to me that the problem might have been in the area of &quot;More Settings&quot; when adding &quot;Mail accounts&quot;.
That particular area in some ocassions is known to present problems with the settings not easily registered by M. Outlook.
In particular the outgoing ports have to be applied & make sure that they are set properly.
The usual practice in such an error of &quot;mail testing failure&quot; is to re enter & reassure the ports section of your mail accounts. If this fails then I recommend the removal and the reinstalling of your profiles & mail accounts from scratch as they were before.
This is what you did and your email sending is back to business!!
Thanks though Guys for the clever approach in solving the puzzle. Certainly this thread is going to be popular!!
PaulAlexander.

 

[Grenage]

Manarth,
Thanks we certainly did try it all, didn't we.

PaulAlexander,
Greetings. I can assure you that all port/mail settings were thoroughly checked many times.