Thunderbird can't lookup my email
I'm trying to set up an email account to go with a website/domain that offers support for a book I've written. I'm using mac OS X mail app and thought that using Thunderbird would be a good way to separate the two distinct email. Besides, I've always like T-bird's interface. Not any more. When I try to set up an email account, I get a (imho) stupid window asking me if I want to get one. Gee, I have one already. I click on the "setup" button and get a nice little window that I type in my Name, email and password. Done. Now T-bird "looks up" the info. It says it can't find it. I click on the "retest" button after adding in some info and adjusting the Port settings. Nothing happens. The "advanced config" button is greyed out as is the "done" button. The "Get a new account" button puts me back in the "wanna new email, pal" window and the fun just loops and loops.
There's no clear/humanly understandable way to create an account. Account settings window is blank. The "account actions" has an add email account, but that just takes me back to the inane window where I type in my name, email address and password. T-bird can't find the account and I'm back where I was.
I feel frustrated and helpless. T-bird is just too dumbed down for me to use. Unless there's some kind of way to just input the info (which I have) for the server, etc… but it's so well hidden I don't see how.
Thanks for any assistance
Michael Rhodes
Chosen solution
There was an issue with the mail servers. It's been resolved and now t-bird works.
If only the dialog was clearer about why it couldn't locate the servers. From the wording and what (little) I was able to find, it seemed like since Mozilla/Thunderbird had no knowledge of the domain (and it was set up this AM), it just cold-cocked me right on that dialog.
Thanks for your response.
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Well you have the dialog that can't find your settings. All those fields are editable. The only part that is a bit misleading is the server names defaulting to .domain.com. But you just put the fully qualified domain in there and away you go. Click retest to test the data you have entered.
If this form remains blank, that would indicate your firewall is blocking Thunderbird in it's attempts to connect to the internet.
Chosen Solution
There was an issue with the mail servers. It's been resolved and now t-bird works.
If only the dialog was clearer about why it couldn't locate the servers. From the wording and what (little) I was able to find, it seemed like since Mozilla/Thunderbird had no knowledge of the domain (and it was set up this AM), it just cold-cocked me right on that dialog.
Thanks for your response.
Actually, while there is a database for the likes of Verizon and BT, Thunderbird probes the server and the DNS record looking for it's bread crumbs. Mail servers are usually pop or imap or mail and named then as domain.com. So the search routine probes common server names and ports "looking" for a mail server. The MX record for the domain sets also the mail exchanger for the domain.
What might have cold clocked the show was that the DNS record may not have propagated, or the MX record was not complete. or it could be one of those secureserver.net jobs which have no relationship to the domain at all and use port 80 against all standards.
However, as long as it is working, all is good.