Username and Password boxes keep opening -- then error message

J

JoeRimrock

I'm trying to add an account to Windows Mail on my new Vista machine. My
email is through Qwest (*@q.com). I've spent time with a Qwest technician
trying to figure this out, to no avail. I've set up incoming and outgoing
servers correctly, I believe, but I just keep getting an endless string of
pop ups asking for my username and password. If I click "cancel" then I get
the following error message:

Account: 'pop3.live.com', Server: 'pop3.live.com', Protocol: POP3, Server
Response: '-ERR authentication failed', Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server
Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC92

Any ideas?
 
M

mac

JoeRimrock said:
I'm trying to add an account to Windows Mail on my new Vista machine. My
email is through Qwest (*@q.com). I've spent time with a Qwest
technician
trying to figure this out, to no avail. I've set up incoming and outgoing
servers correctly, I believe, but I just keep getting an endless string of
pop ups asking for my username and password. If I click "cancel" then I
get
the following error message:

Account: 'pop3.live.com', Server: 'pop3.live.com', Protocol: POP3, Server
Response: '-ERR authentication failed', Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes,
Server
Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC92

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

See:

POP3 Availability in Windows Live Hotmail (13 Jan-09)
http://windowslivehelp.com/solution...op3-availability-in-windows-live-hotmail.aspx

Look for OE settings, same as WM.

Use your mail providers SMTP server, and use their SMTP port number and SSL
settings.
 
G

Gary VanderMolen

Qwest partners with Microsoft, and I believe Qwest customers have had
POP access to the Live server for some time already.
If you are sure you are you are entering the correct username and
password, one possible cause for that error is account corruption.
One thing you should try as a quick fix is to delete that corrupted
mail account, restart Windows Mail, then recreate that account.

If that doesn't fix it, more drastic measures will have to be taken.
Which antivirus are you running?
As a minimum, email scanning in the antivirus must be turned off,
although that may not be sufficient to eliminate all bad effects.
In a worst case scenario, your antivirus may need to be uninstalled.

If turning off the email scanning function does not resolve your problem,
consider upgrading to Windows Live Mail, because it is less prone to
suffering bad effects from overly aggressive antivirus programs.
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Email scanning in any antivirus must be disabled, for reasons
explained here:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
 
J

JoeRimrock

The machine came with 30 days worth of McAfee. I tried disabling it as best
I could, but it has no option to suspend protection. I've installed Avast,
which by default does not scan Windows Live email (but it does scan web mail).

Still no luck. Same thing happens. Should I uninstall McAfee?
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

1. Uninstall Avast.

2. Do Steps #1 & #2 of this three-step fix:
http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?lc=1033&id=TS100507

3. IMPORTANT! Make sure the Windows Firewall is enabled.

4. Reinstall Avast & disable email scanning (if present).

Tip: If you can opt for a Custom install, do so and do not install the email
scanning component (if present).

However, if the Qwest/MSN partnership does not already include POP3
availability, you might have to wait a few weeks. See
http://windowslivehelp.com/solution...op3-availability-in-windows-live-hotmail.aspx
 
J

JoeRimrock

I followed all your instructions, including custom install of Avast, but
still have the same problem with Windows Mail. I removed my email account
from WM, exited the program, re-opened it and re-added my account.

Account: 'pop3.live.com', Server: 'pop3.live.com', Protocol: POP3, Server
Response: '-ERR authentication failed', Port: 995, Secure(SSL): Yes, Server
Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC92

Never had trouble with OE on my old XP machine.
 
J

JoeRimrock

Interesting question. I got my new Vista machine because my XP machine died,
so I can't go back into my old OE program to check settings. I think it
might not have been a POP3 account. It's been a while, but it seems that I
entered something other than a POP3 server address when setting it up (15
months ago).

Does this get us closer to a solution?
 
J

JoeRimrock

Yes, I have web access to my email. Right now there are about 20 Mb worth of
messages waiting to be downloaded (2% of my 10 Gb limit).
 
J

JoeRimrock

I contacted them, and I do have POP access. The technician gave me some
addional advice on account settings that I'll try. If it works, I'll post
results here.
 
J

JoeRimrock

I got on with a Qwest technician (Rick -- Tech ID: RH5) and he gave me
detailed instructions that I found nowhere else:

"1. Delete messages in Outbox
2. Remove existing email account
3. Add email account
4. type name as you want it to appear
5. Enter full email address
6. select "POP3" as server
7. "pop3.live.com" for incoming mail
8. "smtp.live.com" for outgoing
* 9. type COMPLETE email address as username "(e-mail address removed)"
10. enter password
11. hit Next and Finish
12. Select account just made and hit properties
* 13. On Servers tab, select "my server requires authentication" and click
SETTINGS
* 14. Use full email address and password, then click Advanced
15. Under server port numbers, select "this server requires authentication"
for both incoming and outgoing
16. OK and close.

That did it. The steps with asterisks (*) indicate indicate differences
from other instructions I'd been given.
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

OP found joy and posted a reply to this thread with an edited subject:

<QP>
I got on with a Qwest technician (Rick -- Tech ID: RH5) and he gave me
detailed instructions that I found nowhere else:

"1. Delete messages in Outbox
2. Remove existing email account
3. Add email account
4. type name as you want it to appear
5. Enter full email address
6. select "POP3" as server
7. "pop3.live.com" for incoming mail
8. "smtp.live.com" for outgoing
* 9. type COMPLETE email address as username "(e-mail address removed)"
10. enter password
11. hit Next and Finish
12. Select account just made and hit properties
* 13. On Servers tab, select "my server requires authentication" and click
SETTINGS
* 14. Use full email address and password, then click Advanced
15. Under server port numbers, select "this server requires authentication"
for both incoming and outgoing
16. OK and close.

That did it. The steps with asterisks (*) indicate indicate differences
from other instructions I'd been given.
</QP>
 
G

Gary VanderMolen

Thanks for reporting back.
Next time please post updates in the same original thread instead of
starting a new thread.
 

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