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Can receive but NOT send mail

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  • Last reply by Bill

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I am in the process of transferring programs from my old computer (Dell e510, Win7 64b) to my new computer (Microflex 97B, Win10 64b). I have installed a fresh copy of Thunderbird v45.0 on the new computer, updated the one on the old computer to the same version and everything worked OK. I ran into problems while trying trying to move my profile.

After researching the Knowledge Base I first tried using MozBackup to back up my profile on the old computer to a thumb drive and restoring on to my new computer from the thumb drive. My address book and folders were transferred successful, but I was unable to send mail, only receive. I contacted my ISP (Fairpoint) and reset my in going and outgoing server parameters. I sent couple of messages successfully, but was not able to send any more. I got the following error message: "...connection to Outgoing server (SMPT) mail.fairpoint.net timed out". I contacted my ISP who set up the account again and checked my server connections. They said the problem is with Thunderbird, since I was able to send mail using Fairpoint WebMail successfully.

I could not find anything after poking around in Thunderbird, so I tried a fresh install of Thunderbird and used a different method to transfer my profile: replaced the default profile with one copied from the old computer via the thumb drive and re directing the file path by changing the path in profile.ini located in the Roaming\Thunderbird folder. My folders and address were transferred OK. I reset the server connections. Same error message on attempting to send mail.

The problem seems intermittent as I can sometimes send mail. It is not dependent on any particular receiving server so I don't think that I am being blocked.

I could sure use some help. I have been using Thunderbird for many years and do not want to change to another email client.

Thanks, Bill

I am in the process of transferring programs from my old computer (Dell e510, Win7 64b) to my new computer (Microflex 97B, Win10 64b). I have installed a fresh copy of Thunderbird v45.0 on the new computer, updated the one on the old computer to the same version and everything worked OK. I ran into problems while trying trying to move my profile. After researching the Knowledge Base I first tried using MozBackup to back up my profile on the old computer to a thumb drive and restoring on to my new computer from the thumb drive. My address book and folders were transferred successful, but I was unable to send mail, only receive. I contacted my ISP (Fairpoint) and reset my in going and outgoing server parameters. I sent couple of messages successfully, but was not able to send any more. I got the following error message: "...connection to Outgoing server (SMPT) mail.fairpoint.net timed out". I contacted my ISP who set up the account again and checked my server connections. They said the problem is with Thunderbird, since I was able to send mail using Fairpoint WebMail successfully. I could not find anything after poking around in Thunderbird, so I tried a fresh install of Thunderbird and used a different method to transfer my profile: replaced the default profile with one copied from the old computer via the thumb drive and re directing the file path by changing the path in profile.ini located in the Roaming\Thunderbird folder. My folders and address were transferred OK. I reset the server connections. Same error message on attempting to send mail. The problem seems intermittent as I can sometimes send mail. It is not dependent on any particular receiving server so I don't think that I am being blocked. I could sure use some help. I have been using Thunderbird for many years and do not want to change to another email client. Thanks, Bill

Modified by Matt

Chosen solution

I have only Windows defender for anti virus, and it provides very little control over what it scans, at least in Win 10. I hate it. I can only turn it off. Until I can find a good replacement, I am reluctant to leave my system totally unprotected.

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All Replies (9)

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I don't know anything about Fairpoint -- indeed I've never heard of them before -- so I looked up the server settings online and found this: http://www.fairpoint.com/residential/support/emailsupport/#Thunderbird3 I'm puzzled that the SMTP server specified in those instructions is 'smtpauth.fairpoint.net' whereas the one mentioned in your post is 'mail.fairpoint.net'. You say that you've checked that with Fairpoint, so I'm baffled as to why the server info is different. Have I got the wrong website? I'm also puzzled as to why the settings you have appear to work sometimes but not always. That's usually due to a network connection problem. Anyway it might be worth your while going back to Fairpoint support and asking them why their website says one thing about the outgoing server and their support line says another?

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I looked at the link that you provided. The reference there is for Thunderbird v1 & v2. I'm on v45 now, so it must be an old post. I talked to two different supervisors at Fairpoint and they provided the server settings that I am using. Verizon sold their franchise for New England to Fairpoint a few years ago. They have been struggling ! I have a DSL connection with them. I am not having trouble with Thunderbird on my old computer which is still up and running. Today I have had no problems sending mail. I will try another ethernet cable if the problem persists. i will also try the old system for a day and verify that the problem does not appear there. Incidentally, both computers are on a Homegroup, connected via cable to the router/modem. I will get back to you in a day or so and let you know how I am doing. Thanks for you input. Bill

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I am still having SEND email problems. I have the same version of Thunderbird running on two systems connected to a home network via ethernet cables. I have no problem with sending on the old system running on Win7 but continue to intermittently have a problem with the win 10 system. My ISP reset my router parameters. I also replaced the ethernet cable from the win 10 system, so I guess I can rule out a bad router. I'm beginning to think that the ethernet port on my Asus motherboard may be the problem. What do you think? It is a brand new system.

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Hi. I am still having intermittent time outs when I try to send, reply or forward emails. This does not occur when I use Web Mail or on my Win 7 system which shares the router/ modem. I have had multiple conversations with my ISP Tech Support and they can not find any problem on their end. They do not provide support for Tbird. I downloaded another email client (eM Client) and have the same intermittent problem with it, although it appears to share the same profile as Tbird.

I am suspicious that my attempt to transfer my Tbird profile from the Win 7 system to my new Win 10 system is the root of my problem. Poking aound in my system files I discovered that a profile file exists in two separate paths. One path leads through the Roaming folder and contains only the profile file that I copied from my Win 7 system. The other path bypasses the Roaming folder folder and contains both the latter folder and the one that was resident when I first downloaded Tbird. Profiles.ini directs to the file in the Roaming path. Could that be my problem ? Also searching through Mozilla and Microsoft support I read a discussion about profile version incompatibilities between Windows versions. (technet.microsoft.com/enius/library/jj649079.aspx) This is much too technical for me. Can anyone direct me to a simplified path out of this morass? I am considering uninstalling Tbird and starting over, but I understand that the profile is not removed during an uninstall.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Modified by Matt

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There is a profile in local... ignore it. I really do not know why it exists, only that is does.

I suspect your anti virus or firewall might have more to do with your inability to send than anything else

The term profile when used in relation to Thunderbird is very different than when used in relation to windows. Both have one, but they a like underwear, performs a similar function for everyone, but otherwise not similar.

So to start getting out of the morass as you call it. Some facts.

  • mail.farpoint.com is the registered mail exchanger for the domain farpoiont.com..
  • smtpauth.farpoint.com still exists and responds to pings on IP 185.53.177.8 so is probably a viable sending server
  • Attempts to send mail to the farpoint.com mail exchanger serverr on Port 25 failed. This would indicate that the server can not receive mail from outside the farpoint network.

Some guesses.

  • As smtpauth.farpoint.com is listed on the support page as the server name for basically every single possible application. So my guess is it is correct.
  • You are not modifying settings in Outgoing server (SMTP) when you are looking as your sever settings.

Please add the troubleshooting information to your post, please trim it. to just the account settings, crash reports and extensions parts as they are all that is really relevant. To find the Troubleshooting information:

  • Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
  • Choose Troubleshooting Information
  • Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
  • Paste this in your post.
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Thanks for your prompt reply. The links you tried are misspelled, missing the 'i' in Fa(i)rpoint. I assume this is a typo, but may have linked you to the wrong server. troubleshooting report as requested: Mail and News Accounts ID Incoming server Outgoing servers Name Connection security Authentication method Name Connection security Authentication method Default? account1 (none) Local Folders None Normal password account2 (pop3) mail.myfairpoint.net:110 None Normal password mail.myfairpoint.net:25 None Normal password true Crash Reports Report ID Submitted

All Crash Reports Extensions Name Version Enabled ID Image Zoom 0.6.3.1-signed.1-signed true {1A2D0EC4-75F5-4c91-89C4-3656F6E44B68} Lightning 4.7.1

I have only Windows Defender for my anti virus and firewall at this point.

Thanks again. Bill

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Matt This morning I successfully sent out one message followed by a failure later. I rebooted the computer and successfully sent the failed message from the draft folder. Does this help your diagnosis ? Bill

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That sounds like a third party program issue. The most common, and therefore my pet hate are anti virus programs.

Do you have something scanning email? Turn it off.

Modified by Matt

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Seçilmiş Həll

I have only Windows defender for anti virus, and it provides very little control over what it scans, at least in Win 10. I hate it. I can only turn it off. Until I can find a good replacement, I am reluctant to leave my system totally unprotected.