POP3 not working after XP Critical Update

[Guest]

After installing the most recent two critical updates for Windows XP Home
Edition (823718 and 822925) my email POP3 server will no longer respond. I
have DSL service with BellSouth. They confirmed that there were no problems
with their mail server, and I also am unable to reach POP servers on two
other e-mail accounts. They suggested that I uninstall Microsoft Outlook.

After trying everything else I could think of (trying Outlook Express and
even AOL Communicator, neither of which worked with my POP accounts) I
uninstalled my entire Microsoft Office. While Office was not installed, POP
server access was again shown as available according to Bell South's Fast
Access Connection Manager version 2.1, however without Outlook installed, I
was unable to actually check my mail. I reinstalled Microsoft Office 2000
premium and immediately lost POP service access again. I have now
reinstalled all the updates (SP1 through SP3 and the Outlook 2000 update)
and still cannot access any of my POP servers. The problem seems to have
happened immediately after installing the critical updates for Windows XP.

The errors being generated in Outlook 2000 are timeout errors, and
increasing the waiting time doesn't solve it. The only way I have been able
to check my e-mail is through Internet Explorer at the mail servers
websites. I was able to check AOL mail through AOL communicator, but that
doesn't use a POP3 server. Outlook and Outlook Express don't work with any
of my POP3 accounts, even after reinstalling. My computer is completely
up-to-date with Microsoft updates and McAfee virus/firewall protection. No
problems prior to the two recent critical updates done.

Any suggestions would be welcome. I've posted on Microsoft's Assisted
Support, but have had no response after three days.

 

[jcado]

Hi,

Thanks for responding.

1) I have both a McAfee Firewall and the Windows XP firewall enabled. I had
already tried disabling both, but it didn't solve the problem.
2) I'm connected directly to a Westell Wirespeed modem, not networked, no
router.
3) My virus protection is McAfee VirusScan Online, which hasn't interfered
prior to this. During the same evening that I did the two windows updates,
I also updated the VirusScan.

 

[jcado]

I just tried disabling my virus protection (very scary these days), and
suddenly Outlook will download my mail, so it must have been something in
the latest VirusScan update that did it. I'll do a little more
troubleshooting, since I hadn't explored that possibility yet. Thanks, and
I'm still open to ideas if you have any. This may be the time to replace
McAfee with the Norton Systemworks that I just bought.

 

[jcado]

I spent time online with a McAfee Technician, and they are aware of a
problem with the last VirusScan Update and Microsoft Office POP3 access.
They are working on the solution and will include it in a future update. In
the meantime, the best he had to offer was to end a McAfee process right
before sending and receiving mail in Outlook. This temporary solution at
least works to let you get your mail.

Here are the steps he gave me:
Hold down CTRL ALT and DEL
Click on the Processes Tab
Find and highlight the file "mcvsescn.exe"
Click on the "End Process" button
Hopefully, now Outlook will be able to Send and Receive Mail - It worked for
me

I wasn't sure how much of my Virus protection was being disabled by ending
the process, so I downloaded my mail, then rebooted before attempting to
read any of it. I sure hope the VirusScan update comes soon.

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

thanks for the follow-up that is was McAfee.

I spent time online with a McAfee Technician, and they are aware of a
problem with the last VirusScan Update and Microsoft Office POP3 access.
They are working on the solution and will include it in a future update. In
the meantime, the best he had to offer was to end a McAfee process right
before sending and receiving mail in Outlook. This temporary solution at
least works to let you get your mail.

Here are the steps he gave me:
Hold down CTRL ALT and DEL
Click on the Processes Tab
Find and highlight the file "mcvsescn.exe"
Click on the "End Process" button
Hopefully, now Outlook will be able to Send and Receive Mail - It worked for
me

I wasn't sure how much of my Virus protection was being disabled by ending
the process, so I downloaded my mail, then rebooted before attempting to
read any of it. I sure hope the VirusScan update comes soon.

respond.