Windows Security Error

[Greg K]

I'm running Vista using Windows Mail and Comcast broadband. When I
try to send a message I get the Windows Security dialog asking for
username and password. I enter the info, but it keeps popping up. I
used to be able to access the account, but Comcast blocked port 25 for
outgoing email so I had to reconfigure it to use port 587 (including
requiring server authentication). I have two other Comcast accounts,
and I was able to correctly reconfigure them. I've tried logging in
to Windows as different users and creating this account, but I get the
same behavior. I've deleted the account in WM, closed WM and
recreated it. I've tried deleting the account, closing WM, deleting
the WM store file and then restarting WM completely fresh. I've tried
disabling the firewall (using Windows Firewall) and antivirus (McAfee
through Comcast, McAfee states it is Vista compatible). I can receive
emails in WM and by using Comcast web mail. I don't think it is the
firewall or antivirus as I have no problem sending emails with the
other Comcast accounts under any of the Windows user accounts.

Is it possible the account itself has been corrupted in some way on
Comcast's servers? The fact that other email accounts work fine for
different users but this one won't work for any user seems suspect.

Thanks for the help,
Greg

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

The thing about antivirus corruption of Windows Mail accounts is
that the onset tends to be unpredictable. The only way you can rule
out the possibility that McAfee is the cause is to completely uninstall
it, reboot, delete the problem account, restart Windows Mail, then
recreate that account.

 

[Greg K]

I created a brand new Windows user account, logged in, started WM and
created a brand new WM account. I experienced the same behavior with
this brand new account, so it makes me doubt antivirus corruption.
But I'll try what you suggested just to rule it out completely.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Let us know the result.
Don't forget to recreate the account after uninstalling the AV.
I assume you have double-checked the username and password.
Sometimes only a username is required, other times (e-mail address removed).

 

[mac]

I'm having the same problem all of a sudden! I have gone through the same
steps as you. I don't think this is a virus...I'm calling my server tomorrow
to see if my password needs to be reset. This happened back in the fall.-mac

 

[Greg K]

I tried Gary's suggestions, but it made no difference. Repeatedly
called Comcast tech support, but was told it was a Windows or WM
problem or disk corruption. Out of frustration, I complete flattened
the machine, repartitioned the disk and rebuilt Windows. Problem did
not go away.

Finally, I decided to use a telnet client to telnet to their smtp
server directly (thus eliminating Windows and/or WM from the
equation). When I tried to authenticate against the server, it
returned authentication rejected. My other accounts would
authenticate fine.

Called Comcast back and explained my discovery. They insisted it was
still a Windows problem and since I could send email using their web
mail client, there was nothing for them to do. After six calls, they
finally referred me to a division in NJ that deals with Internet
security and fraud (a toll call no less). They led me through the
same steps of checking settings and deleting the WM account and
recreating it only to agree there really was a problem. After
explaining the telnet tests, they said there was nothing they could do
except try switching me back to using port 25 (the exact thing I had
requested 12 hours previously). Surprise, surprise - this finally
solved the problem.

Moral of this sad story - don't give up just because tech support says
there's nothing they can do.

Thanks for all the ideas and posts (especially Gary).

Greg

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks for sharing your troubleshooting story.
I don't know if this played a part, but I just remembered that
Comcast is one of the few ISPs who does not allow its port 587 SMTP
to be used when connecting from a non-Comcast connection.