Ask Me Help Desk - Email/server problem

I am having trouble getting all my email off the server. The chain: This PC with Mandrake 10 OS, NS 4.8, a hardwired ether net Belkin 4 port Cable/DSL Gateway Router, a Motorola SB4100 cable modem, Bright House cable, Road Runner, pop-server.xxxxxxxxxx.rr.com. I have NS set to check for email every 10 minutes. Every once in a while, I will go several days with little or no Email. Then when I reset things, I suddenly find 3 day old email I didn't receive. As far as I know, my outgoing mail goes through correctly. I am using 2 of the other ports, a Cisco ATA for VOIP, and an old Power Mac. Doing a get mail from either computer does not seem to extract the delayed emails. I have tried sending myself an email, and they always come right through. Tech service from Bright House and Road Runner are useless.

What I think is an unrelated problem is not getting emails from a lady at www.nzsmr.kh.edu.tw. It it possible that Road Runner's spam filters direct anything from .edu.tw to the bit bucket? A couple of hers made it through once, but most are returned. I have resorted to having her send stuff to my kids. I haven't seen the returned emails, and I am not sure if she consistently uses the right address.

Let me understand this... You are trying to read POP3 mail off rr's mail server via Netscape Mail? Coorect?

It has been awhile for me, but seems to me NS4.8 is dated, possibly NS integrated email client in that version was not stable. Just for grins, try setting up OE with "leave email on server" set - this will help you differentaite & localize the source of the problem being NS or RR. I suspect NS.

Concerning email from taiwan, check the contents of your spam folder at rr's online email webserver. If your tw email is there - you will need to manually change SPAM's block list or contact the ISP.

Good Luck...

P2E

I highly doubt the problem is NS since the old Mac with the same installation of NS 4.78 I used for years with dialup with no problems couldn't extract them either. I suppose RoadRunner may have messed around with some Microsoft Centric software creating a problem for NS. The problem went away shortly after I posted the question. Although I mention the Motorola modem, the cable company had just installed it, and I am not sure I have had the problem with it. Could be it was one more 3 Com problem?

If it comes back, I may try Kmail or something, certainly not OE. I don't have any Macrocrap trash on my computer and will not be installing any.

I have stuck with NS 4.x because all the newer mail programs have been bulldozed into using an OE like unfriendly spellcheck. The one on the PC has some issues, not working near as well as the one on the Mac. I would like to reinstall it, or another version, but can't access the NS archive anymore. Maybe I should look at Firefox and Apache.

As for the other problem, I haven't spent enough time on the RR site to realize there is a spam file. It is atrociously slow, or perhaps hostile to anything except IE. One problem with their tech service is they will not even try work with anything except Windows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by labman

I highly doubt the problem is NS since the old Mac with the same installation of NS 4.78 I used for years with dialup with no problems couldn't extract them either.

This is exactly why I recommended trying email via Dial-Up. The diff between dialup & broadband helps to ID & differentiate "network setting" (i.e., SER vs Ethernet protocol)...

I suppose RoadRunner may have messed around with some Microsoft Centric software creating a problem for NS. The problem went away shortly after I posted the question. Although I mention the Motorola modem, the cable company had just installed it, and I am not sure I have had the problem with it. Could be it was one more 3 Com problem?

If the problem is NOT intermittent, I would definitely check the Moto, 3Com & if applicable, firewall settings. (e.g., email name/pwd, pop/smtp servers, ports 110/25 open)...

If it comes back, I may try Kmail or something, certainly not OE. I don't have any Macrocrap trash on my computer and will not be installing any.

Reason for OE is not for use but for test purposes. Again, set "leave email on server" & if OE works, you are looking at a (NS) client problem. If you are adament re: OE, dload an alt email client (e.g., Thunderbird) and compare results.

I have stuck with NS 4.x because all the newer mail programs have been bulldozed into using an OE like unfriendly spellcheck. The one on the PC has some issues, not working near as well as the one on the Mac. I would like to reinstall it, or another version, but can't access the NS archive anymore. Maybe I should look at Firefox and Apache.

I familiar with & concur on on your reasoning on using NS v4.x.

As for the other problem, I haven't spent enough time on the RR site to realize there is a spam file. It is atrociously slow, or perhaps hostile to anything except IE. One problem with their tech service is they will not even try work with anything except Windows.

.

I personally don't think the TW email is getting trashed via SPAM, but it is a starting point. She should check to make sure that her emails are getting sent. Have her send 5 test emails in 5 days. Within reason, this will verify that her emails are getting out of her mail server..
You mention attriously slow? Are you speaking of the PC a/o the MAC? How do your subscribed data rates compare to an online speedtest result?

P2E

RR takes much longer to load on the PC than most other sites. I don't remember trying on the Mac.

LabMan,

Your "slow" problem sounds like spyware to me. I recommend you run a update spyware scan and check your startup files (msconfig). Although I suspect this may have little impact on your original email issue, it may help.

P2E

Quote:

Originally Posted by labman

RR takes much longer to load on the PC than most other sites. I don't remember trying on the Mac.

Labman, the only thing I think it could be is a problem with their DNS/DHCP server, maybe losing the connection, from your dynamic cable IP to their servers.
Possibly not renew the IP properly?

Don't know but worth a thought as it goes away when you renew.

I stand corrected. Labman, disregard the spyware suggestions. P2E

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curlyben

P2E, did you READ the michines spec ?!?!?!

It runs on LINUX !!!!
So that's a BIG NO to spyware.

Labman, the only thing I think it could be is a problem with their DNS/DHCP server, maybe loosing the connection, from your dynamic cable IP to their servers.
Possibly not renew the IP properly ??

Dunno but worth a thought as it goes away when you renew.