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Can't send email with Vista

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Dogsbody

Senior member
I just got a new Cox Cable connection for my new Dell Desktop, and I am not able to send email. I usually use Outlook 2007, but I tried Thunderbird too to see if it was an Outlook problem. I get the same problem in both. I receive email fine, but whenever I try to send I get "The operation timed out waiting for a response from the sending (SMTP) server. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP)." I know the settings are correct. I use three different email servers and the same settings have always worked before and still do on my laptop at work. This is either a problem with Cox Cable, or more likely a problem with the security settings in Vista. It's driving me nuts, and any help would be greatly appreciated!! By the way, they are all POP3 accounts. Thanks. 😕
 
Perhaps your cable provider has sent your modem a cfg file with an SMTP (port 25) block. This essentially makes any application "blind" to outside SMTP servers. Some providers will have alternative SMTP servers using port 587 and REQUIRE SMTP authentication. You have to call your ISP for further information.

Additionally, if this is indeed the case you may want to check the integrity of systems running because they do this because a PC using your modem was compromised sending out lots of unsolicited email. (zombie syndrome) I don't know what their thresholds are like but if you have wifi that's open or even a guest that brings an infected PC over and uses your connection it could be possible to get your modem SMTP blocked.
 
I'll have to try that, Rubycon. I don't think my modem has sent out any of those emails, though, as this happened from the moment I got my cable connection and there wasn't time to send anything out. It's a new computer and a new connection.
 
Rubycon, just for the heck or it, I changed from port 25 to port 587 without making any other changes, and two of my three accounts can now send mail. Not sure why the third one won't, but this is sure better than it was. Thanks very much for your help.
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Perhaps your cable provider has sent your modem a cfg file with an SMTP (port 25) block. This essentially makes any application "blind" to outside SMTP servers. Some providers will have alternative SMTP servers using port 587 and REQUIRE SMTP authentication. You have to call your ISP for further information.

Additionally, if this is indeed the case you may want to check the integrity of systems running because they do this because a PC using your modem was compromised sending out lots of unsolicited email. (zombie syndrome) I don't know what their thresholds are like but if you have wifi that's open or even a guest that brings an infected PC over and uses your connection it could be possible to get your modem SMTP blocked.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
Cox Home Internet blocks outgoing requests to TCP Port 25 on all servers except for Cox's email servers. This prevents rogue SMTP servers on contaminated home computers from sending email directly to the world. You can RECEIVE email from those "foreign" servers, but can't SEND to them.

Well, not QUITE all servers. I recently found that Cox was allowing direct SMTP connections to Gmail's servers. Maybe to other major mailservers, too?
 
Does anybody have another fix for this? Changing from port 25 to port 587 worked for two of my email addresses, but not the third. If I call Cox (I'm traveling right now and can't call) is it possible for them to remove the block?? Thanks for the help!!
 
I used to be on cox cable and I had to log into my account and change my settings for certain things including the email. It's entirely possible they've put certain limitations on your email that you must reconfigure otherwise a phone call is probably in order.
 
Thanks very much. When I get back I'll see if it's possible to log in and change settings. If not, I'll give them a call.
 
Either get a Cox Business Internet account (it's not THAT pricey), or use webmail to access that troublesome email account.
 
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