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cannot download emails

  • 22 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Matt

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Recently I have been unable to download or sent emails from my PC, my laptop however does download and send all mails. Both are Windows10 and running Thunderbird 45.4.0 the only difference is my PC is POP and my laptop is IMAP other than that my server settings are identical. If I reinstall Thunderbird onto my PC will I lose all details addresses etc. or is there another method of solving the issue. Regards David

Recently I have been unable to download or sent emails from my PC, my laptop however does download and send all mails. Both are Windows10 and running Thunderbird 45.4.0 the only difference is my PC is POP and my laptop is IMAP other than that my server settings are identical. If I reinstall Thunderbird onto my PC will I lose all details addresses etc. or is there another method of solving the issue. Regards David

All Replies (20)

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Thank you for you reply christ1 I can confirm the configuration is Correct I double checked with my ISP I was able to receive mails on my PC and laptop until mid last week from then None on PC but on my laptop I can receive and send.

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Do you get any error message?

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no error messages Thunderbird simply doesn't connect with server message green bar shows and nothing happens from there

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Please post your Troubleshooting Information. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button , then select Help > Troubleshooting Information. Press the Copy text to clipboard button and paste the information into your reply.

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As Requested I hope it helps

basically it seems as if my Internet connection isn't alive but it is as IO can access from browser other internet sites too thanks for your help and patience

 Application Basics
   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 45.4.0
   User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; WOW64; rv:45.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/45.4.0
   Profile Folder: Show Folder
             (Local drive)
   Application Build ID: 20160928132736
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory
 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (imap) mail.globalnet.co.uk:143, plain, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.globalnet.co.uk:587, plain, passwordCleartext, true
   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, plain, passwordCleartext
 Crash Reports
 Extensions
   Lightning, 4.7.4, true, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
 Important Modified Preferences
   Name: Value
     browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported: 1
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false
     dom.apps.reset-permissions: true
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 45.4.0
     font.internaluseonly.changed: true
     font.name.monospace.el: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-cyrillic: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-unicode: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-western: Consolas
     font.name.sans-serif.el: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-cyrillic: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-unicode: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-western: Calibri
     font.name.serif.el: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-cyrillic: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-unicode: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-western: Cambria
     font.size.fixed.el: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-cyrillic: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-unicode: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-western: 14
     font.size.variable.el: 17
     font.size.variable.x-cyrillic: 17
     font.size.variable.x-unicode: 17
     font.size.variable.x-western: 17
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mail.winsearch.firstRunDone: true
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: b525af8f-8b73-4a6e-b43e-a6e3ef06d77
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     network.predictor.cleaned-up: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1476282487
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858
     plugin.importedState: true
 Graphics
     Adapter Description: Intel(R) Iris(TM) Graphics 6100
     Vendor ID: 0x8086
     Device ID: 0x162b
     Adapter RAM: Unknown
     Adapter Drivers: igdumdim64 igd10iumd64 igd10iumd64 igd12umd64 igdumdim32 igd10iumd32 igd10iumd32 igd12umd32
     Driver Version: 10.18.15.4279
     Driver Date: 8-24-2015
     Direct2D Enabled: false
     DirectWrite Enabled: false (10.0.14393.321)
     ClearType Parameters: Gamma: 2200 Pixel Structure: R ClearType Level: 100 Enhanced Contrast: 50
     WebGL Renderer: Google Inc. -- ANGLE (Intel(R) Iris(TM) Graphics 6100 Direct3D11 vs_5_0 ps_5_0) -- OpenGL ES 2.0 (ANGLE 2.1.0.316930d51ea9)
     GPU Accelerated Windows: 0
     AzureCanvasBackend: skia
     AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0
     AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: cairo
     AzureContentBackend: cairo
 JavaScript
 Incremental GC: 1
 Accessibility
   Activated: 0
   Prevent Accessibility: 0
 Library Versions
     Expected minimum version
     Version in use
     NSPR
     4.12
     4.12
     NSS
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
     NSS Util
     3.21.1
     3.21.1
     NSS SSL
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
     NSS S/MIME
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
     3.21.1 Basic ECC
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Neither your incoming nor your outgoing server are configured for encryption. Doesn't your email provider offer encryption? Please check with your email provider about the correct server settings and post them here.

Also (again) compare the settings for the outgoing server with what's set up on your laptop computer. If they are the same you should at least be able to send.

You may also post the Troubleshooting Information for your laptop computer. Just the 'Mail and News Accounts' section will do.

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The troubleshooting details were for my Laptop which I sent in error. here are the Mail and News Accounts section for my PC

Mail and News Accounts ID Incoming server Outgoing servers Name Connection security Authentication method Name Connection security Authentication method Default? account1 (pop3) mail.globalnet.co.uk:110 plain passwordCleartext smtpmail.globalnet.co.uk:587 plain passwordCleartext true account2 (none) Local Folders plain passwordCleartext account4 (nntp) news.globalnet.co.uk:119 plain passwordCleartext smtpmail.globalnet.co.uk:587 plain passwordCleartext true account5 (nntp) news:119 plain passwordCleartext smtpmail.globalnet.co.uk:587 plain passwordCleartext true

I have checked with my provider and they assure me they are correct this is from their information page. The only difference is my PC is POP and my Laptop IMAP

              You'll need to give a few more details when you're setting up  your email application. They can be pretty confusing, so here's what to use.


                 IMAP                                                             POP

Incoming server imap.plus.net mail.plus.net Incoming port 143 110 Outgoing server relay.plus.net relay.plus.net Outgoing port 587 (recommended) or 25 587 (recommended) or 25 SSL/TLS No No SMTP Authentication Yes Yes (only needed if you're sending emails from a non-Plusnet Internet connection)*

 ****  Globalnet rather than plus.net for me  ***

they do include a link to Thunderbird for setting up as they do for other email applications

Thanks once again for your help I hope this helps and I apologise for causing confusion for you David

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SSL/TLS No

This is ridiculous. I recommend you look for a new email provider. Email providers not offering TLS today should go out of business.

Incoming server imap.plus.net

You're saying:

Globalnet rather than plus.net

I'm not exactly clear what the correct server name should be then. mail.globalnet.net?

From your Troubleshooting Information you do have: mail.globalnet.co.uk

What a mess. Did this ever work before?

Modified by christ1

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Yes it has worked trouble free for me for many many years as has Thunderbird. Globalnet was the name of the company when I began hence my email @globalnet.co.uk.

Everything works on my Laptop my Mobile and my Tablet it has only failed on my PC. Could it be the recent upgrade was in some way corrupted. My initial thought was to reinstall Thunderbird but was concerned regarding my details email history etc.

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Could it be the recent upgrade was in some way corrupted.

An update doesn't touch your account configuration, so that's highly unlikely.

My initial thought was to reinstall Thunderbird but was concerned regarding my details email history etc.

Thunderbird separates the program installation and the profile with all your data. You can reinstall the application without losing your data. However, since the problem is almost certainly in the profile, you'll be wasting your time in doing that.

Another possible cause for problems is ant-virus software. Try to start Windows in safe mode with networking enabled. - Win10 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode - Win8 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17076/windows-8-startup-settings-safe-mode - Win7 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17419/windows-7-advanced-startup-options-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7

Still in Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in safe mode. - https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode

Does the problem go away?

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Thank you for your mail. before I act on it I have received an error message as I was attempting to send an email. error message

    ox80072f06 problem with certificate mail.globalnet.co.uk 

I haven't seen this message previously

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Where does the error come from? It doesn't look like a Thunderbird error message. Is it from the server? In the latter case please contact your email provider.

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The message flashed on my desktop notification as I tried to send an email. I have asked my ISP who are sure it isn't from them, I had a lengthy conversation with them yesterday. Regarding the certificate are you aware of it and what does it do, or in this case what should it do. Once again thanks for your assistance. David

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I have done as you suggested and run both in safe mode which made no difference

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Your Globalnet account isn't configured for TLS as per your information. Therefore I really doubt the error message is from Thunderbird.

You may try to google the error and see if that brings up something.

I still don't understand why you want/need globalnet.co.uk server names when your email provider has instructions for plus.net server names. You may try the latter ones.

Also you could try to set up the account as an IMAP account on the desktop computer. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Convert_a_POP_account_to_a_IMAP_account

Make sure to create a backup of your Thunderbird profile prior to making any changes if you want to go that route. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Backing_Up_and_Restoring

Beyond that I can only repeat what I stated before: find a new email provider who offers TLS. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1143410#answer-927993

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Thank you so much for all your help. I am using the server names my ISP is telling me to use. and which I use on my laptop successfully. I am working to their instructions during telephone conversations. The alternatives don't work. I must now do as you suggest and back up my profile etc. I still am unaware of what the certificates are who instigates them and who maintains them. where can I see them and check their contents etc. I hope you can help me where / how etc. Sorry to be so ignorant. Perhaps if I understood more I could help you more especially who sent the error message and why.

I am confused that my Laptop having the same details works.

Regarding my email provider it is one of the highly regarded ones and one who has served me for probably 20 years. Thunderbird has until now also been my preferred email client and I do hope will continue to be so. christ1 I do truly appreciate all your efforts. David

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I am confused that my Laptop having the same details works.

As per your Troubleshooting Information the server names actually differ between laptop and desktop computer.

On the laptop:

OUTGOING: , smtp.globalnet.co.uk:587, plain, passwordCleartext

On the desktop:

smtpmail.globalnet.co.uk:587 plain passwordCleartext

Why is that when you say they are the same?

I still am unaware of what the certificates are who instigates them and who maintains them.

The idea is to connect to the server in a secure fashion. That includes two things:

  • encrypt the traffic to the server, including the password, which otherwise would be sent in the clear
  • authenticate the server, so that you know you're connected to the server you think you are

The latter is achieved via certificates. The cert is sent by the server to Thunderbird. Thunderbird then verifies that the scert the server sent has been issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).

Since your account isn't set up for security (i.e. TLS), there are no certificates involved. Even worse, your email provider doesn't even seem to support security, which again is ridiculous these days.

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Firstly, I must apologise for not acknowledging your last mail which was again very informative, I am beginning to understand things a lot more now and have taken note of all you have mentioned. However, I still cannot make Thunderbird work on my PC. I have had numerous telephone sessions with my ISP who have checked and double checked everything with me and have watched my account as I sent and received mail on all my email accounts. All except my Thunderbird account on my PC were successful. I have as experiments opened other email accounts both POP and IMAP and using the same settings all which work fine both on my PC and my Laptop. I must confess that the server details I sent you last were, as you discovered, incorrect I had trialled some variations and had not restored to the correct information i.e.: SMTP and not SMTPMAIL. I have had Norton check my settings, I did think that maybe that could be causing a conflict but they are confident that wasn’t the case. Making use of their assist scheme which I subscribe to, I have also had Microsoft check my system to check all was in order and they assured me all is fine. So I still have an email client on my PC which for some reason earlier this month stopped working. I have the highest regard for Mozilla Thunderbird having tried quite a number before finding the best one. I am so reluctant to give up trying to restore it to its former useful obedient self. I know you have advised me well but must ask if there is anything else I could try in desperation I don’t want to give up on Thunderbird it is the best. As for my ISP, I note all you cited nevertheless I am in a contract with them and won’t be able to make alternative arrangements for some time but as all my other mail clients work I have no reason to force them to allow me to terminate my contract and they have served me well ever since I began using the internet over 25 years ago. Once again christ1 My sincere apologies for not thanking you earlier and hoping against hope you may have further thoughts Regards David

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I think perhaps Norton is the problem here, not the solution.

IMAP works. POP does not. Nortons scans POP mail on unsecured connections. It does not scan IMAP mail.

Disable Norton's mail scanner, reboot and try again.

According to madafishes web site. http://www.madasafish.com/support/email/setup/settings/oe6_check_settings.shtml

The server name should be mail.madasafish.com

both for incoming and outgoing mail. No connection security Incoming pop on port 110

With regards to Windows 10. Have you enabled an safe family browsing or child settings on Windows 10? They use certificates to regulate controls and can mess up Thunderbird and Firefox. Outgoing SMTP on port 25.

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