Opening port 25?? Can't send email :-/

[duritz]

Recently outlook express has been denying me the option of sending email. It tries to connect to the outgoing smtp server then after it times out it gives me the following error codes:

The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'xxx.xxx.xxx', Server: 'xxx.xxx.xxx', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10051, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E
I've searched for the issue and the only answers I could find were about some isps blocking port 25 and the only solution was to enable the outgoing mail authentication (which didn't help) and I know my ISP (i-55.com) does not block port 25.

I've tried many different smtp servers all with the same timeout and the same error message. I've tried many different mail clients, again the same results.

I think that port 25 is being blocked somehow on this machine even though the firewall built into XP is turned off.

Can anyone help me out?

 

[duritz]

also.... i did have norton systemworks 2002 installed..... uninstalled it and disabled all the norton services, still doesn't work..... and i did a netstat -an and port 15 is not open and listening on the list. however port 115 isn't on the list either and i can receive email fine. i've tried telnetting to many different smtp servers on port 25 and all of them timeout

someone please help me, i'm going insane

 

[Mark R]

Can you give a bit more detail about how you are getting your net connection, and how you are trying to send mail.

Many ISPs will block port 25 to all addresses with the exception of their own dedicated outgoing mail server. Similarly almost all mail servers will refuse to do anything unless you are connected to their network or the final recipient is on theirs.

The other thing, if you are sure it is your machine, is that some virus scanners will intercept connections to port 25 so that they can scan them. Have you had one installed, and then the installation failed?

 

[duritz]

Originally posted by: Mark R
Can you give a bit more detail about how you are getting your net connection, and how you are trying to send mail.

i use i-55's high speed dsl. i am trying to send mail using outlook express (i have tried eudora and netscape to send mail and they give the same problems.)

Many ISPs will block port 25 to all addresses with the exception of their own dedicated outgoing mail server. Similarly almost all mail servers will refuse to do anything unless you are connected to their network or the final recipient is on theirs.

to my knowledge i-55 is a small town isp that doesn't block port 25. even when using mail.i-55.com to send mail it times out when trying to access the mail server. it says "connecting to...." and never connects. i've messed with all the secure settings forcing it to try to log on to send mail but it never connects to the server which is why i think it's a port issue on my computer. i've tried using hotpop which allows smtp access after checking your email and it doesn't work either. fyi i had no problems with sending email until a few days ago and no options have been changed when it stopped working.

One other thing, if you are sure it is your machine, is that some virus scanners will intercept connections to port 25 so that they can scan them. Have you had one installed, and then the installation failed?

systemworks 2002 was installed a long time ago but disabled. as said before i uninstalled it and the email still isn't working.

like i said earlier, it appears that the computer can't connect to any address on port 25.

 

[bunker]

Check to see if port 25 has indeed been blocked:

The test is to try an MS-DOS or Command Prompt:
telnet smtp.domain.tld 25 (substitute your exact, current smtp server's designation - eg - mail.attbi.com)

*IF* that telnet connection succeeds, port 25 has *not* been blocked by the ISP - check elsewhere for problems.
However, *IF* that telnet test fails to connect, then port 25 *has* been blocked (by the ISP?).