Problem Sending Email Using Outlook Express

Subscriber Terry Millburg wrote recently with a queestion about sending email with Outlook Express.

I have an issue with Outlook Express in XP Home on a dell. Do you have any recommendations on a unit that can receive but not send in Outlook Express? I have tried the usual, uninstall & reinstall the OE from within Windows, removed & recreated the account, but still no luck. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Terry

I wrote back to Terry to say that I suspect that there's something wrong in his SMTP (outbound) mailserver setting, perhaps a transposed number or a different subdomain should be used. I told him to check with his ISP to make sure what he's supposed to be using.

If he's trying to use your Outlook Express to send outbound via a third-party's SMTP server instead of the ISP through which he's connecting, then he's probably being blocked by the ISP. They do this routinely to block the sending of spam from within their network.

If he's really trying to connect to an outside SMTP mailserver to send outbound emails, then that server might have an alternate TCP port that they also use. The normal SMTP port is TCP port 25.

Alternate ports are usually either 587 or 26. Both would typically required your userID and password before allowing you to connect to send. My web host goes a step further and requires that I have successfully polled for INBOUND email messages within the last few minutes, before it will allow me to connect to send emails.

Terry Millburg wrote back to say:

Terry,

Thanks so much for your prompt response & helpful information. This unit is using a local cable internet service that was working OK for some time, but for no apparent reason it started this about a week or so ago. I have also checked with the service provider & have verified all settings. The information has been setup into a new account profile with the same results.

The user can use the same username & password info that has been verified, in the providers web access & can send & receive successfully. I can setup the users account on another machine with tall he same setup info & it works OK on another unit. Something has changed but we just can't figure out what. The A/V is up to date & no other firewall in installed, only XP's built in one is activated.

I will appreciate any other ideas you may come up with for this one.

Thanks,
Terry

In that case, it sounds like the problem is specifically on that computer. I suspect that his firewall may be blocking the Outlook Express or blocking the responses from his ISP's mailserver.

Copyright © 2010 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.