Can't receive email, have run out of things to check

[Ralph]

Outlook 2007
New install on brand new laptop, running Windows 7
Setting up Account and [Testing] shows success
(POP and SMTP settings identical to working machine)
When clicking [send and receive] dialog shows no errors
(and shows success for account sending and receiving tasks)
Using ZoneAlarm
(Turned off email checking)
Wireless Connection
Internet works
(Can download etc.)

Send works, can't receive.
Don't know what else to check.
Is there is some new security setting someplace?

 

[Peter Foldes]

Ralph

You have the right Port? Also turning off the email scanning will not work most of
the time. You need to uninstall ZA or your AV and then re-install without the email
integration(scanning)option.
Also if I were you I would get rid of ZA completely and as fast as you possibly can
and replace it with your Windows Firewall (if set up correctly it is better than
most) Also install a good free AV without the scanning option. Something like Avast
comes to mind

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

What antivirus software? Is it scanning incoming mail for viruses (most do
it automatically without telling you).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Exchange server do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=33803

 

[Ralph]

What antivirus software? Is it scanning incoming mail for viruses
(most do it automatically without telling you).

ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 20010

I thought I had turned it off, however Mr. Foldes has suggested that I might
not have. That would certainly appear to be the most likely culprit at this
point.

I'll holler at ZA support. Surely if that is the case, I'm not the only one.

It seems odd, that I can received RSS and Microsoft Emails (confirmation of
registration etc), just nothing from friends and family. ????

[I'm new to the ZA Extreme, ForceField, &etc. as well, having used only the
Securty Suite in the past. Back to clicking and reading. <g>]

-ralph

 

[Ralph]

Ralph

You have the right Port? Also turning off the email scanning will not
work most of the time. You need to uninstall ZA or your AV and then
re-install without the email integration(scanning)option.
Also if I were you I would get rid of ZA completely and as fast as
you possibly can and replace it with your Windows Firewall (if set up
correctly it is better than most) Also install a good free AV without
the scanning option. Something like Avast comes to mind

As noted in my reply to Ms. Porernsky the AV does appear the most likely
suspect.

[One does tend to over-look the obvious, when they *know* for a fact that
can't possibly be the problem. <lol>]

I have used ZoneAlarm like forever and have used their AV addon since its
release. Although I find it a tad intrusive at times, I've been very pleased
with it overall. It gets great reviews and is based on Kaspersky which is
also considered one of the best in the business.

I'm a bit wary about it since it was purchased by Check Point. Many a fine
product has gone downhill once 'acquired'.

thanks
-ralph

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

To be honest, Zone Alarm's been going downhill for a few years - I don't
think checkpoint will make things worse.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Exchange server do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=33803

Ralph

You have the right Port? Also turning off the email scanning will not
work most of the time. You need to uninstall ZA or your AV and then
re-install without the email integration(scanning)option.
Also if I were you I would get rid of ZA completely and as fast as
you possibly can and replace it with your Windows Firewall (if set up
correctly it is better than most) Also install a good free AV without
the scanning option. Something like Avast comes to mind

As noted in my reply to Ms. Porernsky the AV does appear the most likely
suspect.

[One does tend to over-look the obvious, when they *know* for a fact that
can't possibly be the problem. <lol>]

I have used ZoneAlarm like forever and have used their AV addon since its
release. Although I find it a tad intrusive at times, I've been very
pleased
with it overall. It gets great reviews and is based on Kaspersky which is
also considered one of the best in the business.

I'm a bit wary about it since it was purchased by Check Point. Many a fine
product has gone downhill once 'acquired'.

thanks
-ralph

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

I don't know how the MS mails are getting in (they could be generated by
outlook)- but RSS feeds are pulled in via HTTP ports and wouldn't be
affected by the same things that affect email.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Exchange server do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=33803

What antivirus software? Is it scanning incoming mail for viruses
(most do it automatically without telling you).

ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 20010

I thought I had turned it off, however Mr. Foldes has suggested that I
might
not have. That would certainly appear to be the most likely culprit at
this
point.

I'll holler at ZA support. Surely if that is the case, I'm not the only
one.

It seems odd, that I can received RSS and Microsoft Emails (confirmation
of
registration etc), just nothing from friends and family. ????

[I'm new to the ZA Extreme, ForceField, &etc. as well, having used only
the
Securty Suite in the past. Back to clicking and reading. <g>]

-ralph

 

[Ralph]

I don't know how the MS mails are getting in (they could be generated
by outlook)- but RSS feeds are pulled in via HTTP ports and wouldn't
be affected by the same things that affect email.

Ok, thanks, that's kind of what I figured.

I checked your links but didn't see anything. But then it is possible I
don't know what I'm looking for or would recognize it if I saw it. <g>

[PS: I used to think I was a knowledgeable user. But coming from Win2k and
Office 2k - I'm thoughly and completely lost.]

Checked with ZA support. No issues there. Emails are coming from a Trusted
Zone, and specific people/addresses are shown as "Allowed". In fact the
email log for ZA shows a count for every email sent to the laptop as
"Allowed", ie, it appears that Outlook [Send and Receive] IS fetching them,
BUT they don't show up in the Outlook Inbox.

Also re-installed Outlook, no change?

Any more ideas?
Profiles?
Some security setting someplace?
Rub the screen with a raw potato, bury the potato and pass a candle over it
three times while chanting?

-ralph

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

What antivirus do you use?

Turn off ZA or disable the email feature - you may need to uninstall ZA and
reinstall using the custom install option so you can not include email
scanning.



--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Exchange server do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=33803

I don't know how the MS mails are getting in (they could be generated
by outlook)- but RSS feeds are pulled in via HTTP ports and wouldn't
be affected by the same things that affect email.

Ok, thanks, that's kind of what I figured.

I checked your links but didn't see anything. But then it is possible I
don't know what I'm looking for or would recognize it if I saw it. <g>

[PS: I used to think I was a knowledgeable user. But coming from Win2k
and
Office 2k - I'm thoughly and completely lost.]

Checked with ZA support. No issues there. Emails are coming from a Trusted
Zone, and specific people/addresses are shown as "Allowed". In fact the
email log for ZA shows a count for every email sent to the laptop as
"Allowed", ie, it appears that Outlook [Send and Receive] IS fetching
them,
BUT they don't show up in the Outlook Inbox.

Also re-installed Outlook, no change?

Any more ideas?
Profiles?
Some security setting someplace?
Rub the screen with a raw potato, bury the potato and pass a candle over
it
three times while chanting?

-ralph

 

[Ralph]

What antivirus do you use?

Turn off ZA or disable the email feature - you may need to uninstall ZA and
reinstall using the custom install option so you can not include email
scanning.

I am using ZA Extreme Security (Firewall and AV - which is Kaspersky)
I have uninstalled ZA completely - No change.
(Keeping only the Windows 7 Firewall - No Changed)
(Turned off the Windows 7 Firewall - No Change)
I have re-installed ZA with no Email checking - No change.
I have simply turned ZA off - while in Win7 - No change.
I have installed ZA Internet Security Suite - No change.
(Going through the same steps as with ZA Extreme)
I have directly connected to the network.
(Usually run the laptop off a wireless router - No Change.)
Outlook is "default" as installed. ie, no filters, special views, rules,
&etc.
Win 7 is as default. ie, UAC is as "recommended", etc.

Here is an odd artifact that showed up. If I send an Email with an incorrect
address, I do receive the Mail Administrator (from the IP) Error message.
????

I have hollered at MS. No answer yet.
I have hollered at ZA. No answer yet.
Next stop - return the laptop or pay the Geek Squad a fortune. <g>

It has to be something with Win7 and Outlook? But don't know what obscure
item to click.

thanks
-ralph

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Are you using the correct POP server name?
Can you send messages to valid addresses?
Do you have more than one profile configured?

Here is an odd artifact that showed up. If I send an Email with an
incorrect
address, I do receive the Mail Administrator (from the IP) Error message.
????

If its your computer's IP address, the error is probably generated by ZA.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Exchange server do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=33803

 

[Ralph]

Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:


First, thanks for hanging in there. I appreciate it.
I'm rual, so returning the laptop would be a hassle and a repair shop
expensive. I'm sure millions of these boxes do work - it has to be something
simple.

Are you using the correct POP server name?

Yes. When I setup an Account. Outlook verifies it. And I can go to the
server using the Web Mail and see the messages, or retrieve them using
another box. I can also retrieve (using another box) the Test Email that
Outlook sends.

I can also send an Email from the laptop. See it on the server. Then see it
disappear when the Laptop Outlook does [Send and Receive].

ie, Outlook on the laptop is receiving the Emails without error. They just
disappear into the ether.

I have sent emails with bizzare strings in the text and subject, then did a
full HD search for files with those strings. No success.

Can you send messages to valid addresses?
Yes.

Do you have more than one profile configured?

No. Everything is plain vanilla, straight from the vendor, Win7 already
installed. I can't find any other user/account on this machine except the
one initially setup up when I first turned on the machine.

I "re-installed" or "re-freshed" Windows. But was doubtful that would
actually make any difference, since they didn't supply a CD/DVD with the
laptop. ie, I had to create my own 'recovery' disks. So I would assume any
configuration error - would simply be propagated.

If its your computer's IP address, the error is probably generated by ZA.

No. The "Error Message" I meant is the "Error EMail" you typically get from
the provider when you send a message with an incorrect or invalid address. I
didn't mean a Windows or Application error.

Perhaps there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I discovered a few
test messages in the Junk Senders folder. Not all just two. Unfortunately,
when I discovered them I hadn't a clue what particular configuration I was
using when they showed up. And no particular reason why they would be
considered Junk? (Maybe that is a new Outlook feature?)

Ha. At this point I have tried so many different configurations - there is
little difference between my 'debugging' and a monkey striking random keys.

thanks,
-ralph

 

[Ralph]

Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote:


Ha. At this point I have tried so many different configurations -
there is little difference between my 'debugging' and a monkey
striking random keys.

Tah Dah!!!

Apparently even monkeys can get lucky - It started working.

Burnt everything down to the water-line. Deleted all Accounts, unistalled
Outlook, etc. Built it back up. (Something I have done n-th times over the
last 30+ hours.)

Unfortunately have absolutely no idea what triggered the change, as I
entered nothing different, so have no advice for anyone else that may
experience the same problem.

Anyway, thank you again for your help and patience. Just having a 'voice'
out there in the darkness was helpful. <g>

-ralph

 

[Ralph]

Unfortunately have absolutely no idea what triggered the change, as I
entered nothing different, so have no advice for anyone else that may
experience the same problem.

FYI:

Think I discovered the difference.

On the last clean re-install of ZoneAlarm Extreme I accepted the "Quick
Installation", ie allowed EMail checking, ie, the default.
After re-booting etc. and back to a stable box.
I opened Outlook and [Send and Received] ...
Outlook/Windows complained about having trouble with SonicWall Addin.
Offered to disable that Addin.
I clicked [Yes] and let it do its thing.
No problems after that.

In other words,
Manually removing/diabling Addins had no effect.
Doing a custom ZA Extreme install had no effect.
Only when I allowed Win7/Outlook to do it for me *after a warning* did it
work.
(I don't remember ever seeing this message before this last install.)

Hope this helps others.

-ralph