Outlook 2000: spam blocks retrieving messages

[Chris Bailey]

I've got about 20 users here using Outlook 2000 SP3 on either Windows 2000
SP4 or Windows XP SP2 (with all the latest patches to both the operating
system and Office). We've got Symantec Antivirus 9.0.1 and are using SpyBot
or Ad-Aware for anti-spyware (depends on the computer), and everything here
checks out clean, so whatever's going is not being caused by those factors.

Here's what happens. We have a POP3 server here (Eudora Internet Mail Server
running on Mac OS X 10.3.7). I'm not currently doing any kind of
spam-blocking but am looking into options because some of our users are
getting 100+ spams a day now. In the past, I'd just give them a new email
address but that's becoming more of a pain than considering options to block
spam, so I know I'm going down that road but just don't know which option
I'm going to take yet.

Anyway, I'm having a problem with some of the users -- the ones that get
high spam counts. Sometimes one of them will go to check their email after
being gone for a day or two (thereby having 200-300 messages) and Outlook
will fail to retrieve messages with this error:

1 message(s) couldn't be retrieved from the server. This usually happens when
the connection to the server is lost due to server or network problems. If the
problem persists, contact your administrator.

A TCP/IP error occurred while trying to send data to the server. (Account:
'PBI-old', POP3 Server: '192.168.1.98', Error Number: 0x800ccc13).

A search of Microsoft's knowledgebase suggests making a new .PST file will
fix the problem -- which would be a pain to transfer all their stored email
over, but I'll do it if I know that's the cure. The reason I think that's
*not* the solution is that if -- when this problem happens -- I go to my Mac
and use Entourage 2004 SP1 to access their account, manually remove only the
spam and leave just the good messages, then they can download their mail
just fine.

So the problem is: 1) caused by some piece or pieces of spam, assumedly
maybe ones with a bad header or something and 2) only caused in combination
with Outlook 2000. (I've got one computer here using Outlook 2003 and
another using Outlook XP but neither of them have run into the problem -- at
least yet.) Anyone know what's going on, and if there's a workaround -- or
if making a new .PST file will definitely fix the problem? I'm game for any
options while I research anti-spam technology. Thanks.

 

[Logicalman]

Chris, I have no solution for you, but maybe a few more details to add.
I have recently experienced problems accessing our Exchange server via VPN
from home. Outlook tends to lock up continuously, requiring two or three
restarts before it will handle the download from the sever. I am currently
running MSO 2000 on a Win2K Dell laptop. I am not sure what changes have
taken place to theexchange server recently, I will be taking it up with our
Outlook Team after the Xmas break.

You may also be interested in my post (one below this thread) concerning
using Outlook 2003 SP1 sending to Hotmail accounts using another ISP mail
server.

 

[Sun]

I have the same problem
1 message(s) couldn't be retrieved from the server. This usually happens when
the connection to the server is lost due to server or network problems. If
the
problem persists, contact your administrator.

A TCP/IP error occurred while trying to send data to the server. (Account:
'PBI-old', POP3 Server: '192.168.1.98', Error Number: 0x800ccc13).
I have found this happen when that account have one kind of advertisment
e-mail. ( total i have found three kind of e-mail will cause the problem)
It will jam the e-mail downloading for windows ME and windows98.
For Windows XP, it will by-pass that e-mail. Everytime i delete that e-mail,
outlook will download rest of e-mail again.
How can i solve this problem? Everytime i need to find the problem e-mail
and delete it.
Please help