can't retrieve email

[Evan]

I am trying to retrieve email from a comcast account using both windows mail
and live windows mail. I get the following error message using live windows
mail:

Anyone have any suggestions on how to fix the problem? Thanks

Unable to send or receive messages for the MOM account. The connection to
the server has failed.

Server: 'mail.comcast.net'
Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC0E
Protocol: POP3
Port: 110
Secure(SSL): No
Socket Error: 10061

 

[Mike]

Get on the Comcast web site and see what your Pop/Imap SMTP settings should
be and if Comcast requires any other settings.

 

[Evan]

I've been on the Comcast site all day, chatted with 2 reps, checked my
antivirus settings. Can anyone tell me what Socket Error: 10061 refers to?
Thanks

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Your settings are fine.
Which antivirus are you using?
Any other security programs like SpywareBlaster?

 

[Evan]

I'm using McAfee Security Center.

Your settings are fine.
Which antivirus are you using?
Any other security programs like SpywareBlaster?

 

[Art Altenburg]

Well, after working my way through Comcast and Microsoft customer support
heirarchies, a similar problem that I had was solved with the help of Trend
Micro customer support (my internet security software provider). Turns out
that some firewall settings in the security software were interfering with
my connection to my isp. Once those settings were changed, my connection
problem went away. Don't know how the firewall settings got changed in the
first place - perhaps it was an update in the security software, or an
update by Microsoft. But the fact that, once I finally got to the right
service people, they had no trouble diagnosing and fixing the source of the
problem, indicates to me that the problem is not a rare occurance.

Art

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

McAfee antivirus is among the top three troublemakers for Windows Mail.
Sometimes it takes a while before symptoms start showing up.
First of all, turn off email scanning in McAfee, although that is seldom sufficient.
Next, delete that email account (because it has been corrupted by McAfee),
restart Windows Mail, then recreate the account.

If the problem continues, the only way you can prove or disprove that
McAfee is the culprit is to uninstall it, followed by using their debris removal tool:
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=107083&lc=1033

If you decide to replace McAfee, we can recommend a free antivirus
program which is more compatible with Windows Mail:

Instead of switching to a different antivirus, another option is to upgrade
to Windows Live Mail (WLM), which is more resistant to the adverse effects
of overly intrusive antivirus products: http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Even with WLM, you must disable email scanning in the antivirus,
for the reason explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Windows Firewall or Trend Micro firewall? You'll find that Windows Firewall
never gives any trouble, while third party security software can grind to a halt
every time there is a Windows update. If you enjoy having to make frequent
adjustments/setting changes and having to call support, be my guest!
I prefer to run only Windows Vista compatible software.

 

[Evan]

I was able to fix it. Thanks for eveyone's help. Went into the McAfee
firewall settings and had to create a new SMTP port 587and check off the POP3
100 port.

Evan

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Glad you got it working.
However, really good security software should be transparent, i.e.,
not requiring one to go in and fiddle with the settings.