Outlook 2000 POP3 doesn't work after Windows XP Critical Update

[jcado]

After installing the most recent two critical updates for Windows XP Home
Edition (823718 and 822925) my email POP server will no longer respond. I
have DSL service with BellSouth. They confirmed that there were no problems
with their mail server, and I also am unable to reach POP servers on two
other e-mail accounts. BellSouth suggested that I uninstall Microsoft
Outlook.

After trying other programs (Outlook Express and AOL Communicator, neither
of which worked with my POP accounts) I uninstalled my entire Microsoft
Office. While Office was not installed, POP server access was again shown as
available according to Bell South's Fast Access Connection Manager version
2.1, however without Outlook installed, I was unable to actually check my
mail. I reinstalled Microsoft Office 2000 premium and immediately lost POP
service access again. I have now reistalled all the updates (SP1 through SP3
and the Outlook 2000 update) and still cannot access any of my POP servers.
The problem seems to have happened immediately after installing the critical
updates for Windows XP.

The errors being generated in Outlook 2000 are timeout errors, and
increasing the waiting time doesn't solve
it. The only way I have been able to check my e-mail is through Internet
Explorer at the mail servers websites. I was able to check AOL mail through
AOL communicator, but that doesn't use a POP server. Outlook and Outlook
Express don't work with any of my POP3 accounts, even after reinstalling.
The Outlook Express Newsgroup server seems to work. My computer is
up-to-date with Microsoft updates and McAfee virus/firewall protection. No
problems prior to the two recent updates done.

Any suggestions would be welcome. I've posted on Microsoft's Assisted
Support, but have had no response after three days.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Does your ISP require authentication? Set this option on the server tab of
your Outlook mail account Properties page.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.


After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer
jcado <[email protected]> asked:

| After installing the most recent two critical updates for Windows XP
| Home Edition (823718 and 822925) my email POP server will no longer
| respond. I have DSL service with BellSouth. They confirmed that there
| were no problems with their mail server, and I also am unable to
| reach POP servers on two other e-mail accounts. BellSouth suggested
| that I uninstall Microsoft Outlook.
|
| After trying other programs (Outlook Express and AOL Communicator,
| neither of which worked with my POP accounts) I uninstalled my entire
| Microsoft Office. While Office was not installed, POP server access
| was again shown as available according to Bell South's Fast Access
| Connection Manager version
| 2.1, however without Outlook installed, I was unable to actually
| check my mail. I reinstalled Microsoft Office 2000 premium and
| immediately lost POP service access again. I have now reistalled all
| the updates (SP1 through SP3 and the Outlook 2000 update) and still
| cannot access any of my POP servers. The problem seems to have
| happened immediately after installing the critical updates for
| Windows XP.
|
| The errors being generated in Outlook 2000 are timeout errors, and
| increasing the waiting time doesn't solve
| it. The only way I have been able to check my e-mail is through
| Internet Explorer at the mail servers websites. I was able to check
| AOL mail through AOL communicator, but that doesn't use a POP server.
| Outlook and Outlook Express don't work with any of my POP3 accounts,
| even after reinstalling. The Outlook Express Newsgroup server seems
| to work. My computer is up-to-date with Microsoft updates and McAfee
| virus/firewall protection. No problems prior to the two recent
| updates done.
|
| Any suggestions would be welcome. I've posted on Microsoft's Assisted
| Support, but have had no response after three days.

 

[jcado]

I spent time online with a McAfee Technician, and they are aware of a
problem with the last VirusScan Update and Microsoft Outlook POP3 access.
They are working on the solution and will include it in a future update. In
the meantime, the best he had to offer was to end a McAfee process right
before sending and receiving mail in Outlook. This temporary solution at
least works to let you get your mail.

Here are the steps he gave me:
Hold down CTRL ALT and DEL
Click on the Processes Tab
Find and highlight the file "mcvsescn.exe"
Click on the "End Process" button
Hopefully, now Outlook will be able to Send and Receive Mail - It worked for
me

I wasn't sure how much of my Virus protection was being disabled by ending
the process, so I downloaded my mail, then rebooted before attempting to
read any of it. I sure hope the VirusScan update comes soon.