Mail Won't Retrieve From Comcast

Comcast claims it is the result of Apple security fixes. I don't know enough about it all to argue with my new friends in Bangalore. But I'm planning to keep an eye on what happens with my Comcast mail accts. after the next security update, and will post here if my Comcast Mail fix breaks down either before or after.

Actually according to comcast this is the result of the conversion of their mail system over to something called SMARTZONE. Apparently smartzone will allow them to better bundle their email into the rest of their system packages i.e. VoiceMail/Phone and the TV access. For those of who want a simple POP3 mail provider, this is clearly an issue. The reason it is sporadic is that various Comcast servers will reject your password. When it works, it is because your email client is attached to a different server, or the one you were attaching to has been fixed. There is nothing wrong with your email settings.

Aggravating. You'd think they would send us some message related to this.


Jim

Dear Jim:

I don't use the Comcast mail system for my mac, but my 75 year old mother does. Weird "Smartshit" errors starting happening this week. She finally called me today to see if I can fix it. From Comcast press releases, they started rolling this out sometime last year? It must have made our area now too. I have a Mac too dual 2.3 PowerPC G5 OS 10.4.11 but use outside mail server. I don't have the problem. I have had numerous issues relating to Comcast and Mac in the past, but not this time. Lucky me, unlucky mom.

I am going to visit this afternoon and hope for the best. I think I know the result, lengthly discussion with comcast only to have them point their finger at Mac or her computer. When something is working perfectly before and the ISP "improves" service and then when user problems occur, they blame anything but them. It is frustrating.

Somewhat connected to this thread, after I upgraded to Leopard I could not receive email on comcast (but everything else was fine). Here's the fix... they stated that the new port number for mac email is 995. So after changing 110 to 995 it all started working. I asked why and they said they are having to have a separate server for mac email. I asked if this fact/info was stated on their help pages online and they said no, they will be updating their website soon.

Note, I too have had weirdness for months (before I upgraded to leopard) with getting random notice of suddenly needing a password for comcast servers (even though it was all set up properly), but it was just an annoyance vs. stopping me from getting email. However once I upgraded to leopard it became a hard failure and would not work with port 110 at all.

Again, the fix for mac email clients is to no longer use port 110 but switch to port 995. They say this is a permanent change.

I had exactly the same problem. When using the mail application one of email addresses always generated a prompt stating "password rejected by the server mail@comcast.net". The problem was intermittent for a while and then became permanent. Talking to Comcast was a waste of time, since I could always access email through their website, they said the problem was with my computer. I checked all the settings for both email addresses and they were identical ( I was already using port 995 ), but one worked and the other did not. Eventually on the advice of Simutek ( an excellent Apple provider in Tucson, Az. - way better than the company store which is absolutely useless for technical problems ) I deleted the email account on the Comcast website and created an identical new account ( same address and password as the deleted account ). The new account works perfectly, so I think the problem is definitely with Comcast. Hopefully this will help somebody with the same problem ( and continue to work for me ), because this situation was extremely vexing.

Message was edited by: criz

Message was edited by: criz

I deleted a bunch of old mail and put some I want to keep in folders. This has helped. The password message and the smtp.comcast.net error message still comes up occasionally, but not as much.

Hi criz, and a warm welcome to the forums! 🙂

Super tip, thank you! 🙂