Cant send emails ?

davyboy · 25-07-2005, 12:57

Hi,

I am an NTL broadband customer, originally with C&W whose email account was switched to BOLTBLUE when NTL took over.

The email service has worked fine for a couple of years. But around the end of June I seem to have lost the ability to send emails from my BOLTBLUE accounts. I can receive mails ok and WEBMAIL works fine.

There are no error messages produced and the mails all appear in the 'sent' box as if they had been despatched.

I have used both NETSCAPE 7 and OUTLOOK express with the recommended settings but same results. (SMTP.BOLTBLUE.COM)

I have tried disabling my Norton Security products and SPYsweeper but same occurs.

I have spoken extensively to BOLTBLUE on their 10P a aminute helpline and via email. The last thing they told ,me was I should be using smtp.ntlworld.com. I said "it had worked fine with the previous boltblue settings what had changed ?"........Got no answer,

I contacted NTL who told me that I shouldnt be using their smtp as all the responsibility for C&W email had been transferred to BOLTBLUE. They refused to help any further.

So..........here I am paying for a service that only half works.

I am keeoing an open mind on the causes. I haven't made any major changes to my system apart from regular updates from MS and the security products, but accept that it might be something at my end. Just cant think what!.

I noted from the NTL availability notices that they did email maint around the time I believe I lost the ability to send email.............may be unrelated but who knows ?

My next option is to restore the system to the last backup in May. Seems a bit drastic tho.

Any advice gratefully received.

Davyboy

Paul K · 25-07-2005, 13:04

I take it you have followed instructions here
http://www.boltblue.com/broadband/he...ductType=email
It seems strange that NTL are saying to use boltblue servers but boltblue are saying to use NTL servers

What firewall and anti-virus software are you running?
BTW Welcome to the forum

davyboy · 25-07-2005, 13:12

Hi,

yes its astrange set up. When NTL took over Cable and wireless anybody with a CWcom.net address was transferred to BOLTBLUE email for some reason. Even though NTL continued to provide the BB service.

And to be fair it has worked fine for a couple of years until this problem sending emails hit a few weeks back.

I have follwed the suggested setup instructions an few times including deleting and recreating the email account from scratch. All the settings are correct.

I am using Norton products. Firewall and AntiVirus plus webroot spy sweeper. I have disabled the products completely to no effect.

Regards

Paul K · 25-07-2005, 13:19

How have you disabled the Nortons products as some need to be told not to load at windows start up to disable properly? Failure to disable a firewall or anti-virus tool properly can actually lock your PC up in some strange ways sometimes.

davyboy · 25-07-2005, 20:07

Hi, thanks for the response.

I have just tried send emails with a the security products stoppped from initialising. Have also reset all the firewall rules as per the symantec website.

No change unfortunately. Very strange.

Angua · 25-07-2005, 20:18

I believe someone here has found a problem with Norton and e-mails if they have the "Outbound Training" switched on. I have mine switched off and have no problems (just a thought but could this be adding to your difficulties).

davyboy · 25-07-2005, 20:25

Hi,

I have tried disabling inbound and outbound email scanning too.

No change unfortunately. Am thinking of buying a fountain pen.

25-07-2005, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Hi,

I have tried disabling inbound and outbound email scanning too.

No change unfortunately. Am thinking of buying a fountain pen.

have you tried sending using NTL's smtp server?

davyboy · 25-07-2005, 20:40

Yes, didn't work. Then NTL told me not to

25-07-2005, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Yes, didn't work. Then NTL told me not to

that is weird, with an NTL account you should be able to send via the smtp.ntlworld.com server.

- my domain name host recommends that I use NTL's smtp, rather than theirs, for example.

with both the NTL & the boltblue servers not working for you, I'm wondering whether it is something with your setup - which email client are you using?

Paul K · 25-07-2005, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Hi, thanks for the response.

I have just tried send emails with a the security products stoppped from initialising. Have also reset all the firewall rules as per the symantec website.

No change unfortunately. Very strange.

A lot of email issues with Norton tools are centered around the AV software more than the firewall. If you are running XP can you turn on the built in firewall and then uninstall the nortons software? If loading it back up and registering it again is going to be a problem then obviously don't uninstall it.
How did you disable the software by the way?

davyboy · 26-07-2005, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

that is weird, with an NTL account you should be able to send via the smtp.ntlworld.com server.

- my domain name host recommends that I use NTL's smtp, rather than theirs, for example.

with both the NTL & the boltblue servers not working for you, I'm wondering whether it is something with your setup - which email client are you using?

__________________

Hi,

I am using NETSCAPE 7 email client, but have also tried OUTLOOK express using the recommended settings with the same result.

I am confident the email clients are set up correctly, but less confident that one of my security product updates has caused the problem.

Trouble is I cant pinpoint when it started happening as there are no error messages.All the emails appear to send ok. I know an email I sent was received successfully around the end of June.

On balance I suspect it is probably my system causing the problem.
But, I also cant help but have a sneaking suspicion that something has happened on the mail admin. Boltblue support said something about not being able to see anything I had sent. They had aliased my old dave.stephens@cwcom.net email address address to route to dave.stephens@boltblue.com. It had worked fine until a few weeks ago.
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

A lot of email issues with Norton tools are centered around the AV software more than the firewall. If you are running XP can you turn on the built in firewall and then uninstall the nortons software? If loading it back up and registering it again is going to be a problem then obviously don't uninstall it.
How did you disable the software by the way?

Hi,

Firstly I went into all the NORTON stuff and checked the boxes to stop automatic startup then edited my Windows XP msconfig to stop all services and agent starting up. Then rebooted to get a basic system without any products active.

Same occurred. Can receive email ok but cant send.

tetsuko · 26-07-2005, 11:04

I have been having the same problem. My mail was working fine on Friday when I last used it but since Monday (and I have made no changes to any of my settings) I can recieve mail but can't send any out. The email I send just bounces back to me

It also says something like:

550 relaying mail to "the recipient" is not allowed

Ramrod · 26-07-2005, 12:53

Yep, I suddenly can't send or receive e-mails either today

maverick · 26-07-2005, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetsuko

I have been having the same problem. My mail was working fine on Friday when I last used it but since Monday (and I have made no changes to any of my settings) I can recieve mail but can't send any out. The email I send just bounces back to me

It also says something like:

550 relaying mail to "the recipient" is not allowed

If your getting error 550 on sending but can recieve ok,try sending to another ntlworld.com account,also check your ip if it starts 86 its a known problem that is currently being worked on.You can also try sending via the ntl webmail service this should send for you ok.