Anyone using Thunderbird?

[Trevor]

Help!!!
I've just bought a new laptop running Win 7. I tried Windows Live Mail and it was a complete disaster. Apart from the usual helpful error messages from Microsoft, importing messages from my old laptop (Vista - Windows Mail) was a complete nightmare. Duplicate message bodies, but different subject and sender, blank messages and some not imported at all. Then we received a message from a friend, but the sender and subject bore no relation to the actual email!
I decided to try Thunderbird 8. I'm receiving messages, but can't send any. I get an error message "Login to server smtp.idnet.com failed." There are 3 options 'Retry, Enter New Password and cancel.'
Retry and new password result in the same error. Cancel results in a further error ' Sending of message failed. The message could not be sent using SMTP server smtp.idnet.com for an unknown reason. Please verify that your SMTP server settings are correct and try again, or contact your network administrator.'
I'm at a loss to know what more to try.
What other email programs would anyone suggest?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Steve]

I've seen this recently Trevor so hopefully someone can remember the answer. If your using the laptop on IDNet's network can you try turning off authentication (i.e. no user/password req'd) for the smtp server as you shouldn't need it.

[Trevor]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the suggestion. I set Connection security to 'none' and Authentication method to Password, transmitted insecurely. There's no option that I can find to set password to none. The other alternatives are 'Encrypted password,' 'Kerberos/GSSAPI,' 'NTLM ' and 'TLS Certificate.'
I still get the same error.
After all the problems I've had with this and my previous issues with loss of internet connectivity, I'm thinking I may invest in some carrier pigeons! 

[Glenn]

I believe Rick suggested manually configuring Thunderbird, have you tried that?

[Trevor]

Hi Glenn,
yes, that's what I did.
I'll try again to find the original thread you and Steve seem to be referring to.

[Steve]

I've just got it to work on the Mac.

server pop/imap = securemail.idnet.com port 143

username = full email address

connection security =starttls    authentication = normal password.


SMTP  server name = smtp.idnet.com port 587

username = not specified

Authentication = no authentication

Security = startlls



I can send and receive with those settings.

[Glenn]

There used to be a bug with Thunderbird where it automatically tried to set up an email account if it was connected to the net, problem was it defaulted to an imap account and it never worked properly.

The workaround was to disconnect from the internet, delete all accounts (if any), and then set up a new account. With no connection it would give you the option to create an account, pop or imap and use the correct details. Once that's done just reconnect to the net and test.

This may not be the issue, but worth a mention.

Maybe worth a try

[dudwell]

I'll try again to find the original thread you and Steve seem to be referring to.

Take a look at this thread http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,27815.0.html

I couldn't get on with Thunderbird either!

[Simon]

I'm sure you can turn off SMTP authentication completely.  Just removing the password won't work, as it will still keep looking for it then.   In the accounts list under Tools > Mail and Account settings, there should be an SMTP setting at the bottom of the list of accounts. 

[Trevor]

Thanks all!
I combined Steve's settings with my originals and got it to work.
My setting are:
pop3.idnet.com
Port 110   (Port 143 wouldn't work)
Connection security STARTTLS    Authentication method Normal password

Server name: smtp.idnet.com
Port 587
Username Not specified
Connection Security STARTTLS

These settings work at the moment. Long may they continue to do so!

Thanks again to one and all for your help.

[Steve]

Incoming mail ports

Port 110 is for POP3 , IMAP uses 143. SSL uses port 993 i.e. securemail@idnet.com

[Technical Ben]

Is it pop3.idnet.com or mail.idnet.com?

[Steve]

Well officially the latter!

[Terryphi]

Incoming mail ports

Port 110 is for POP3 , IMAP uses 143. SSL uses port 993 i.e. securemail@idnet.com

Thunderbird defaults to port 995 for SSL and that works for me.

[Steve]

Yes 995 is the SLL port for POP mail 993 is IMAP

[Technical Ben]

It seems to not be downloading IDNet mail for me. It's been acting strange on my other accounts too. :/