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Outlook Express - receiving NOT sending

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ChirpyKez | 11:50 Sun 10th Jun 2007 | Technology
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Out of the blue and for no reason whatsoever my e-mail wont let me send anything - I just get the 'your server has un-expectedly terminated the connection' message. It is still receiving mail fine but if there is anything in the outbox it just keeps saying ERROR. Any suggestions? Please help!
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Sounds like a problem with the outgoing mail server you are using, typically that of your ISP. I know Tiscali have had huge problems with email recently, are you with them?
Question Author
No I'm with Sky....and I have no idea why it has suddenly done this!
Are you using Sky's SMTP servers?
Question Author
Yes, I think so....sorry, I'm not that hot on computer stuff!
Ok, the way to check is to look at the account details within Outlook Express. I don't use it myself, but it will be something like Tools/Accounts. You may have just one email account listed, or possibly several. If several, one should be highlighted as being the default one, and it is this one that is used when you send email. You need to open up the properties for this account and look at the outgoing mail server details. If you are using Sky, it will be something like smtp.sky.com. You can actually log into your Sky account on-line and download a file that installs the correct settings for Outlook Express, you may have done this....

Let me know the name of the outgoing mail server.

Paul
Also, have you recently changed or updated your anti-virus/firewall software? It is possible that the firewall could be blocking your outgoing email, especially if it is Mcafee which is notorious for these kind of nasties....
Question Author
Thanks for all your help Paul. You were spot on, my out-going server is smtp.sky.com and no, I haven't changed my firewall etc - I wouldn't know how and to be honest I don't fully understand what firewalls are! I have Norton protection.
OK, well, looks like your SMTP settings are just fine, and obviously, you haven't changed them just recently.

More likely, your firewall is blocking the emails. One quick way would be to simply turn it off, just for a short while. Somewhere, within your Norton Control Panel, there will be a firewall setting, you should be able to turn it off temporarily, and then try sending a few emails.

For the record, there are hardware firewalls and software firewalls. Picture them as exactly that, a ring of fire protecting those on the inside from any nasty creatures on the outside! In a typical setup, say 3 PCs wirelessly sharing a broadband internet connection, there would be 1 hardware firewall provided by the router, and each PC would run its own software firewall. In simple terms, the hardware firewall does the main job of stopping things (hackers) getting in, the software firewall stops things going out (as in rogue applications sending out personal information, or Denial Of Service attacks to company servers). However, the software firewall doesn't always know what is legitimately trying to contact the outside, so we need to tell it. For example, your email client is something you want to pass through the firewall, as you need to send emails. Other applications will also attempt to connect to the internet from your PC to see if there are software/driver updates (Windows, cordless mouse & keyboard, anti-virus software itself). What would normally happen when something tries to connect to the internet, typically at Windows Startup, would be that your firewall would kick-in and say, for example, "Logitech iConnect is trying to connect to the internet...do you wish to allow this?". You would then be given the option to say yes to this, and would not be asked again. You shouldn't really be asked this for email, especially something like Outlook Express.

Paul
Question Author
Paul - thanks for all your help and detailed answers, you've been great! I think I've sorted it now, I tried what you said and then tinkered around with the settings and hey presto. It is just annoying that random things like this happen from time to time - damn computers!! You obviously know your stuff - I wish I knew more, I just muddle through!
I think we all just muddle through in reality :)

But, we get there in the end.........

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