Unable to send mail through SMTP servers

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Guest

I have been struggling for the last 2 MONTHS to send SMTP mail, both from
Outlook express, and (forgive the defection) from Mozilla Thunderbird.
In both cases the occasional mail gets through -only if it is REALLY small
- 2 or 3 words in the message body. In all other cases I get a message saying
that the server has refused the connection.

I initially suspected that it was a mail gateway blocking SMTP traffic that
didn't originate in the same network - I understand that this is done to try
and prevent spammers from riding on other peoples infrastructure.
Understandable.

I set up a POP3 / SMTP account with a small service provider who assured me
that my user id and password was authorised to send mail out through the SMTP
gateway, irrespective of what network I connected through.

I have now set up a GMAIL mail account and used their SMTP settings, but I
still get the same result.

What can be the problem?
 
EyeSee said:
I have been struggling for the last 2 MONTHS to send SMTP mail, both from
Outlook express, and (forgive the defection) from Mozilla Thunderbird.
In both cases the occasional mail gets through -only if it is REALLY small
- 2 or 3 words in the message body. In all other cases I get a message saying
that the server has refused the connection.

I initially suspected that it was a mail gateway blocking SMTP traffic that
didn't originate in the same network - I understand that this is done to try
and prevent spammers from riding on other peoples infrastructure.
Understandable.

I set up a POP3 / SMTP account with a small service provider who assured me
that my user id and password was authorised to send mail out through the SMTP
gateway, irrespective of what network I connected through.

I have now set up a GMAIL mail account and used their SMTP settings, but I
still get the same result.

What can be the problem?
Click to expand...

Start troubleshooting by disabling the email scanning function in your
antivirus program. Email scanning does not provide any additional
protection and can cause problems in sending email.


Malke
 
Thanks Malke, but that was one of the first things I did - no change. I have
now run a few more tests.
To test that it was not a firewall blocking smtp traffic specifically from
my machine (my ip address) I got a colelagues who can send SMTP mail to
configure his machine to use my IP address. He can still send SMTP mail even
when using my IP address, so I conclude that it can't be an IP specific
firewall rule.

Next I tested if it wasn't perhaps that my use name was persona non grata at
the mail service provider. I send SMTP mail from a colleagues machine to my
SMTP service provider no problem. Conclusion: my mail account and mail
service providers infrastructure is working fine.

I then got my long suffering colelagues to try and send SMTP mail from my
machine to his service provider, which failed. Conclusion: the problem is
with my machine's configuration.

My machine is a brand new ACER 6460 running Win XP SP2. I reinstalled the
entire machine last week so there is no strange 3rd party software on the
machine.

Anyone have any other ideas of what I can test or where to look next?
 
EyeSee said:
Thanks Malke, but that was one of the first things I did - no change. I have
now run a few more tests.
To test that it was not a firewall blocking smtp traffic specifically from
my machine (my ip address) I got a colelagues who can send SMTP mail to
configure his machine to use my IP address. He can still send SMTP mail even
when using my IP address, so I conclude that it can't be an IP specific
firewall rule.

Next I tested if it wasn't perhaps that my use name was persona non grata at
the mail service provider. I send SMTP mail from a colleagues machine to my
SMTP service provider no problem. Conclusion: my mail account and mail
service providers infrastructure is working fine.

I then got my long suffering colelagues to try and send SMTP mail from my
machine to his service provider, which failed. Conclusion: the problem is
with my machine's configuration.

My machine is a brand new ACER 6460 running Win XP SP2. I reinstalled the
entire machine last week so there is no strange 3rd party software on the
machine.
Click to expand...

Just to check, use the smtp settings for your Internet Service Provider.

Some ISPs care about smtp traffic over their network being relayed and
some don't. Ex. - I have a client who has his own domain and he uses
their mail server. His ISP at home is Comcast Cable and at the office
AT&T DSL. At home, Comcast doesn't care about whether the smtp is from
the domain or from comcast.net. At work, AT&T does care and the smtp
settings must be theirs. So never mind what some tech told you; try
changing the smtp settings in your email client.


Malke
 
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