messages stuck in Outbox despite correct ISP settings and XP reins

[Mark Galeck]

Hello, a few days ago it started to happen that outgoing messages were stuck
in Outbox.

I checked all the settings with my ISP and they are correct, and in fact we
sent messages successfully with the same settings, using Outlook Express. So
the ISP and ISP settings are not the problem.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the whole Office Suite, including Outlook -
did not help, messages still stuck. In fact, in the meantime, I reinstalled
the whole Windows XP Pro, and reinstalled Outlook again. Still the same
problem.

What to do next??

Mark

 

[DL]

Start outlook using the safe switch to see if the problem is replocated
Start
Run
Outlook.exe /safe

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Are they stuck or getting marked read?
See http://www.slipstick.com/problems/nosend.htm for common causes of mail
not sending.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you keep Outlook open 24/7? Vote in our poll:
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=22205

 

[Mark Galeck]

Are they stuck or getting marked read?

As I said, they are stuck in Outbox, they are not marked read, they are
shown in bold (unread) and italic.

I tried Safe Mode, same problem.

 

[Mark Galeck]

See http://www.slipstick.com/problems/nosend.htm for common causes of mail

not sending.

None of the causes in that site apply:

An add-in that marks items read if you view the Outbox.

they are not marked read

Not authenticating properly with the mail server.

No, I use the same exact settings with Outlook Express and they work

No default email account set.

Symptoms include being able to reply but not send new mail

No, I only have one account, and I can neither reply nor send new - all get
stuck in Outbox.

Cause #4: Using a program that access the pst or ost data.

No I just reinstalled XP, don't have any programs running yet.

Cause #5: An antispam or antivirus scanner is scanning outgoing mail.

Same as above, no installed virus software running yet.

The bottom line is, I pay for a software, it works for a while and then
stops, even if I reinstall it. And Microsoft wants me to pay $200 for
support. So I pay, does not work, then not only can I not dream of a refund,
I am asked to pay more.

Mark

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

What error message is in the Send/Receive progress dialog?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you keep Outlook open 24/7? Vote in our poll:
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=22205

 

[Mark Galeck]

What error message is in the Send/Receive progress dialog?

Task 'pop.att.yahoo.com - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC0F) : 'The
connection to the server was interrupted. If this problem continues, contact
your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).'


OK, so I know what you will say: this is ISP. No, it's not! Because, like
I said, we sent messages from Outlook Express, with the same exact settings,
same ISP servers and all that, without any problems. So it can't be the ISP,
despite what the message says.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

What SMTP authentication method are you using in OE?
What method do you have configured in Outlook?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you keep Outlook open 24/7? Vote in our poll:
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=22205

 

[Mark Galeck]

What SMTP authentication method are you using in OE?
What method do you have configured in Outlook?

In both cases, I check "SMTP requires authentication", and "use same
settings as incoming mail server", and the incoming server is authenticated
using my e-mail address and password (and the incoming mail works just fine
so that method must be OK). In both cases "Secure Password Authentication"
is unchecked. As far as I can tell, the settings are exactly the same, in
fact, we went over them with my ISP, to make sure that they are exactly the
same, and when I could send with OE but not Outlook, they simply said "not
our problem, contact Microsoft".

By the way, I am sorry I overreacted earlier with my ranting. I do like the
Outlook program, this is the first real jam, and I don't want to use another
client, because I like this one. So I am sorry for ranting, and I appreciate
your help. Hopefully my case will contribute to fixing some bug in Outlook.

I will tell you a few more observations.

When I uninstall Outlook (and Office), it is not really uninstalled
completely. Because, when I reinstall it, it remembers where my data files
are (and they are on a different drive than where Outlook is installed - to
protect them - you understand, I have to reinstall Windows
every-now-and-zen). So maybe if you tell me how to uninstall the darn thing
completely (I don't want to just go around cleaning the registry by myself).

Also, the error message that happens when I hit Send/Receive, as quoted
above, is one thing, but when I try to do "test account settings", I see a
different one

"Send test e-mail message: Unable to send test Message. Please verify the
E-mail Address field." Needless to say, I verified it and it is the same as
in Outlook Express.

I actually copied and pasted rather than retyping, because I have seen
behaviours before where typing something and copying and pasting, even
though visually the same, produced different results with your products
Microsoft is a strange beast, you hate it, yet you can't be without it. Some
of my friends can use Linux, I prefer to use Windows despite the love-hate
relationship.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Outlook can be frustrating.

When you uninstall, you remove the program but not the user files. You can
either delete the profile or just make a new one in Control panel, mail.
This will remove the account from the registry and there are two Outlook
folders under %appdata% path with mail and other support files.
"Send test e-mail message: Unable to send test Message. Please verify the
E-mail Address field." Needless to say, I verified it and it is the same as
in Outlook Express.
Try typing the address in, instead of copy/paste. Sometimes a copy/paste
picks up extra data - or a space at the end of the address. A bad address
would prevent authentication from working. Or try typing the address (and
password) in the authentication option for 'use this user/pw'.

If you are scanning outgoing mail with a virus scanner, close then restart
Outlook in safe mode and see if sending works - if it does, the virus
scanner or other addin is the problem. You can safely disable the email
integration in your virus scanner. (I'd try safe mode before anything
above.)

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you keep Outlook open 24/7? Vote in our poll:
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=22205

 

[Mark Galeck]

When you uninstall, you remove the program but not the user files. You can

either delete the profile or just make a new one in Control panel, mail.
This will remove the account from the registry and there are two Outlook
folders under %appdata% path with mail and other support files.

OK I will try

Try typing the address in, instead of copy/paste. Sometimes a copy/paste
picks up extra data - or a space at the end of the address. A bad address
would prevent authentication from working. Or try typing the address (and
password) in the authentication option for 'use this user/pw'.

If you are scanning outgoing mail with a virus scanner, close then restart
Outlook in safe mode and see if sending works - if it does, the virus

All these have been tried, no progress. I will try uninstalling and
reinstalling without old user files as you suggested and report back.

 

[Mark Galeck]

When you uninstall, you remove the program but not the user files. You can

either delete the profile or just make a new one in Control panel, mail.
This will remove the account from the registry and there are two Outlook
folders under %appdata% path with mail and other support files.

Well, I uninstalled Outlook and then folders under %appdata% were removed.
I then looked at the Registry and I was stunned to find tons of keys with
Outlook (not Express) in them. OK, I removed them all by hand, if something
does not work, I can always reinstall XP. I then reinstalled Outlook, set
the same settings as in OE.

The problem is still there, exactly as before!

Another observation which may help. If I send a test message, it appears in
Outbox in bold and italic. When I right-click on it and try to make it read,
I get

You cannot mark the items read or unread. The most likely reasons are:
You don't have permission to modify the items
These folders do not support marking items read or unread
You did not select anything to mark
The server is unavailable


(all these reasons are not true as far as I can tell)