Intermittent access to mail

My wife and I have two computers both set up with three email accounts through BT Yahoo. We never have problems in sending mail but periodically, and now for ten consecutive days, we have trouble receiving mail into the various inboxes. The iMac G5 will always receive mail on the first account (a joint one which nobody much uses!) but will not receive any mail at all on the other two personal accounts. The iBook also receives mail on the joint account all the time but receives mail on the other two accounts in a very erratic manner which we cannot fathom at all.

I have thoroughly checked all the account settings and can find nothing wrong there. What else is there that could go wrong at this end? The fact that we are having trouble with both machines at the same time leads me to think that the BT Yahoo server could be the problem. I have emailed them but do not anticipate a swift response.

We are still able to see all our incoming mail on the BT Yahoo Mail web site but find this nowhere near as convenient. Any suggestions?

Edward Mason

iMac G5 and iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 3, 2009 1:02 PM

21 replies

edmason Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2009 2:58 PM in response to BDAqua

I have finally managed to get on the webmail site but cannot really see anything about the emails on it that could be causing problems. They are all from the usual people and nothing untoward about them. Short of deleting them all, which I don't really want to do until we are sorted out, I can't think what to do next.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 7, 2009 3:26 PM in response to edmason

I understand, but were the 2 you trashed before for this account that got three more afterwards?

Jezzah

Level 1

8 points

Mar 8, 2009 12:53 AM in response to edmason

Hi Ed - I have just the same problem with Mail which I guess was related to a software update. My settings are definitely right but none of my accounts work. I can retrieve mail from webmail and from other machines.
I have not tried deleting plists etc but it doesn't seem as though that's the answer anyway. Sorry I can't suggest new solutions but at least you're not alone with the problem!

edmason Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 8, 2009 3:29 AM in response to BDAqua

I hardly dare say it, but I think that we have cracked it. Trying again first thing this morning I found that everything worked perfectly and my inboxes, after quite some time, filled up with all the emails that were on the server. I think it was because last night I deleted from the server several emails with large attachments (up to 12.5mB) which resulted in the extra three emails getting through to the second account but no more. Then we had a power cut and I went to bed in disgust.! I have never had such large attachments before but our printer has taken to sending book proofs through to me by email.

My guess is that it is something to do with the size of the attachments and the pathetic broadband we have here out in the sticks, 0.2Mbps on average and very variable. With it being Sunday morning it is a little better so hence the achievement of finally retrieving them all. This would also explain why the repair shop managed to unlock the emails with their faster broadband. It might also explain the variable nature of the fault experienced at this end.

Is this possible? If so, I think that I am going to have a new look at my account preferences. At the moment they are set never to delete emails from the server and the box that says 'Prompt me to skip messages over ? kb is left blank. I have never quite understood why you would want to do this but I am beginning to see why it might be useful! Any thoughts or recommendations on these settings would be helpful.

Many thanks for your patient support over the past few days. My knowledge of what is going on inside the computer is very hazy but your suggestions guided me to the solution. I hope that my experience is also of some help to Jezzah.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 8, 2009 12:10 PM in response to edmason

Many ISPs & Mail Servers block eMails of >5MB or >10MB, with your speed I'd set it to not download ones over 1MB at least.

Great to hear it's going now. 🙂

Mar 9, 2009 6:45 AM in response to edmason

Hi Edmason,

Its great to find other people on the disscussion pages who have the same problem. I too have recently been having issues with mail and BT Broadband in the fact that i can't receive messages in mail from my webmail. Having read your post what steps do you think I need to take to fix the problem, you mentioned archiving files (I think you mentioned plist, whatever that is!!)deleting messages from the webmail and deleting and recreating accounts. I have a BT person ringing tonight but I don't hold much hope. If you could point me in the right direction that would be great.
Cheers

Simon

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Intermittent access to mail