Thunderbird problem

[Groundgripper]

For some time now (like months!) I have been intermittently unable to send messages using Mozilla Thunderbird. When I try to send, I get asked for a password which it then refuses to recognise (yes, I have checked it's correct - even re-set it!).

I then get a message box titled:
'Mail Server Password Required'

which states that:
'The message could not be sent because connecting to SMTP server mail.btinternet.com failed. The server may be unavailable or is refusing SMTP connections. Please verifythat your SMTP server setting is correct and try again, or else contact your administrator'.
Some days it's OK but then it'll come up with this request for one or two days, then it'll suddenly recgnise the password or not even ask for it. Generally it seems to be getting worse.

Any ideas, folks?

GG

[blackace]

Have you changed to SMTP authentication like they told you too ?

Check the box is ticked in your E-Mail connections box.

[Groundgripper]

yes,

Under 'Account Settings' it asks for the name of the 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' and gives me the alternatives as "*****.btinternet.com" (my mail address) or "Default Server", and under 'Server Settings' it identifies the Server Type as POP Mail server. These have been unaltered since I started using T'Bird several years ago.

[blackace]

There should also be another tick box that says.

This server requires SMTP authentication.

or something similar.

Make sure its ticked. All E Mail servers have been migrating to using this setting for some time now. If its not ticked it wont connect or it will ask for the password but ignore it as the server will still reject your connection.

[Saab Dastard]

There may of course be problems with the mail server.

I frequently get this with the MS Exchange servers running the blueyonder mail service (telewest).

It's the only problem I have with blueyonder, but at least once a month I get login problems - and it IS the server!

SD

[Groundgripper]

There may of course be problems with the mail server.

I was wondering that myself, but 50% downtime over the last couple of weeks seems rather excessive!

GG

[Mac the Knife]

I've had this intermittently with different OSes.

Problems with my ISP's mail server.

[Groundgripper]

There should also be another tick box that says.
This server requires SMTP authentication.

Yes, that's ticked.

I'm coming to the conclusion that it must be the ISP although it's odd that if I use the BTYahoo setup I have no problems, only with Thunderbird.

Over the last year I've also found that it has become increasingly difficult to get on to the internet via BTYahoo at peak times - on Saturday evenings I've had to wait for up to three hours before I can connect to the home page, but it had got a bit better recently. There could be a connection.........no that's a most inappropriate phrase, but you get my meaning!

Thanks anyway, folks, I'll just keep trying.

GG

[Gonzo]

Groundgripper, I had exactly the same problem with Thunderbird and BTBroadband a while ago. I think I even posted on here, it might be worth doing a search for the thread. I remember that I was forgetting to do something, but can't remember what it was!

[Groundbased]

I've had this problem with BT internet using Outlook as the mail client. In fact I downloaded Thunderbirsd last night and reset my BT password to see if a different mail client would solve my problem. It receives OK but will not send email, presenting me with the same message you get.

In Outlook I get either a request for a network password or a POP3 error saying the outgoing server is not recognised. When hitting the Test settings button the test email won't go for the same reason.

Initially I took this to be an Outlook problem and I used Windows system restore to go back to a point where I knew the email was OK. This worked initially but has now reverted to the above situation.

My final thing is that I have created a new email account with Bluebottle which I will try with Thunderbird tonight. If this works I can only assume the problem is with BT. I'll let you know what happens.

Incidentally I agree with Groundgripper that the internet service is unreliable. I went through a period recently where I could not access the internet at all anytime after about 16.30 gmt. In the daytime no problem. I spent hours on the phone with BT on this and thwy were not at all helpful. I couldn't understand it as we have a separate ADSL socket. What eventually worked was to unscrew the socket from the wall and plug the router into the test socket that is inside the box. I haven't had any problems since then.

[blackace]

What eventually worked was to unscrew the socket from the wall and plug the router into the test socket that is inside the box. I haven't had any problems since then.

then the fault is obviously with your wiring.

I couldn't understand it as we have a separate ADSL socket.

Unless you have a dedicated broadband line that makes no difference.

One thing to consider is the extension ringer wire from BT, it you have no extensions or they don't ring you must disconnect that wire in your main BT socket or it acts like an aerial and makes your line unstable.

[Groundbased]

Take your point about the wiring, but what I fail to see is how, when using the original ADSL socket it was possible for this to manifest itself as a problem at peak times, i.e. evening, but not during the day. BT couldn't answer that either.

[blackace]

Because of your wiring problem your signal strength (Signal/Noise ratio) was probably so low it was only just working during the day, It would not affect your download speed enormously so you wouldn't notice it much.

At peak times when more people log on your signal strength will be reduced even further (because of your contention ratio) and obviously to the point of your modem deciding it wasn't enough of a signal to recognise.

If its working fine plugged into the test point you must try to find out what is wrong with your wiring, or if your happy to leave it plugged in to the test point just leave it there.

I had a BT engineer telling me that last week he had a major fault with about 100 customers who kept losing broadband in the evenings, the fault turned out to be from a single customers modem that was putting noise on the line of everyone else via the exchange, a faulty modem. But if yours is fine in the test point it cant be that.

[Groundbased]

After a lot of faffing about I have resolved this.

I'm using a BTopenworld address, and I would recommend logging onto BT yahoo and checking the server settings for your account. I had mail.btinternet.com for both, but it appears that you need to change them to

pop.mail.yahoo.com (incoming)
smtp.mail.yahoo.com (outgoing)

Make sure you are using port 587 for the outgoing server and that the SMTP authentication box is checked.

Worked for me.

[Gonzo]

That's odd.

Thunderbird has now started asking me for a password today. I haven't changed anything.

Oh well, I tend to use the BTYahoo webmail now anyway, rather than an email client.