Problems with Qwest DSL and Mozilla Thunderbird

[oldbutdumb]

I recently switched from Charter cable to Qwest DSL. Now I find that Qwest is married to the MSN mail server for free mail. I have a lot of historic stuff in my old mail including paid bills etc. I can't use the new mail server to get them and I can't move my address book because my old server ran with Thunderbird and used Pop3 to receive and SMTP to send mail. Also MSN doesn't allow storing of mail on my computer. I haven't found a work around so that I can use Thunderbird with my Qwest account. I looked at another site that had a long thred of moans and fixes for Qwest users but couldn't understand most of it. It looked like some had success with a mail server called FastMail. When I went to their site I was confused about the choices there. Has anyone had any luck making Tbird work with Qwest DSL?
Thanks

 

[aCynic2]

I'll assume you've already talked to Quest tech support.

Do I understand you right that you're unable to use the software you have at your disposal to perform these basic, but essential functions?

It's not reasonable for them to hold your e-mail. I think if they can't accomidate your tools, you're in a position to break your contract and find a new provider.

And note, thunderbird is not a mail server, it's a mail client. Quest has the mail server.

 

[MrChad]

http://alexking.org/blog/2003/...-does-not-support-smtp

EDIT: There are a few posts in the comments (Rob, Trent) that explain what you need to do.

 

[oldbutdumb]

MrChad:
I have been to the threads you mention and have had no luck doing what it says there in my Thunderbird email client. I found a service at the help center for Tbird that says it can talk in both pop3 and http, but their site is very smoky and requires signing up for a service without clearly knowing its cost. I'm not that trusting.

 

[nweaver]

just sign up for gmail. That supports pop3, and is very nice (much nicer then the MSN stuff, imho)

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: oldbutdumb
I recently switched from Charter cable to Qwest DSL. Now I find that Qwest is married to the MSN mail server for free mail. I have a lot of historic stuff in my old mail including paid bills etc. I can't use the new mail server to get them and I can't move my address book because my old server ran with Thunderbird and used Pop3 to receive and SMTP to send mail. Also MSN doesn't allow storing of mail on my computer. I haven't found a work around so that I can use Thunderbird with my Qwest account. I looked at another site that had a long thred of moans and fixes for Qwest users but couldn't understand most of it. It looked like some had success with a mail server called FastMail. When I went to their site I was confused about the choices there. Has anyone had any luck making Tbird work with Qwest DSL?
Thanks

I can give you a vipmail.com account (hosted by gmail) if that will help.

 

[chusteczka]

Have you looked through the Qwest support webpages? Is there a list of servers available for email clients such as Mozilla Thunderbird? If there is a list of email servers with 'pop' or 'imap' in their name then this is the server you need to connect to. If Qwest does not provide a pop or imap server, then you will not be able to connect your Thunderbird to their email server.

The server they most likely provide is http.mail.msn.com, or something similar. You could try changing the "http" to "pop" in the name. If this does not work, then call up Qwest support and ask if they have an email server available that uses pop or imap.

If there is not a pop or imap server available, then your best option is to open a gmail account. Mozilla Thunderbird supports gmail accounts with an option on the first dialog page of the "Add Account" function.

All of your mail is located in this directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\<user_ID>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<random>.default

Create a new email profile with your new gmail account and then edit the Profiles.ini file to map your new gmail account to your old folder settings with the Profiles\<random>.default value.

C:\Documents and Settings\rsgsan.RSG\Application Data\Thunderbird\profiles.ini

Now, your new gmail account will add its email directly into your old Thunderbird profile.


Another option is to obtain a new internet service provider that provides a pop3 or imap email server.

 

[lxskllr]

I like the gmail option, very easy. I have a gmail address for bs stuff, and it works great with Tbird.