Mail password problems

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Mail password problems

Hello, I've seen a couple of threads about this issue and they all seem unresolved.

I consistently have two error dialogs pop up in Mail on my MacBookPro. One where Mail is telling me my password "null" has been rejected by my mail server and a more generic message saying my password has been rejected by my mail server, in both instances I manually re-enter my password and submit, which just returns the same error message.

This has been going on for over 8 months, I've worked with my ISP's mail team - there is nothing wrong with my mail server, I'm able to access that account from webmail, PC, iPhone, iPad and a secondary Mac. I've rebuilt the mailbox on my MacBookPro, I've run keychain repair MULTIPLE times.

I've contacted Apple many times, each time they blame my ISP, my broadband provider, everyone but Apple.

Have anyone had any luck solving the issue or gotten a better response from Apple?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 7:22 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Feb 9, 2012 11:09 AM in response to bigmothra

Trouble is, there can be such a variety of causes for this, & I hasve seen a few cures, as well as many giving up without a cure.

To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

Open System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

Setup one new Mail account at least that has that problem.

Does Mail work in the new account?

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Answer 2

bigmothra Author

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Feb 9, 2012 1:30 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you, no one has suggested that before.

I created a new admin and set up one of the problem Mail accounts - I got the same error message:

"There may be a problem with the mail server or network. Verify the settings for account “xxxxx” or try again.

The server returned the error: The attempt to send data to the server “(null)” failed."

This happens frequently and consistently on this one Mail account.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Feb 9, 2012 2:51 PM in response to bigmothra

OK, is this POP or IMAP?

Who is your ISP/Mail Server?

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Answer 4

Mark_UK

Level 1

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Feb 13, 2012 8:26 AM in response to BDAqua

I know this is a persistent problem. I've got a two day old iMac and get this problem with both imap and pop accounts. There doesn't seem to be any answer at the moment.

I switched to Outlook 2011 and got the same problem. Grrr

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Feb 13, 2012 9:56 AM in response to bigmothra

Is this perchance using different locations, since it's a Laptop?

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Feb 13, 2012 9:58 AM in response to Mark_UK

Is it consistent, or does it work sometimes? Are you ever logged into a different network?

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Answer 7

bigmothra Author

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Feb 13, 2012 10:11 AM in response to BDAqua

This happens only on my laptop - this account works fine on my iPhone, iPad, Mac Mini, iBook and PC laptop.

I can login to webmail and access the mailbox with no problem as well.

It consistently fails to login. What normally happens is when Mail fails to login to the account, it takes that mail box offline. I then double click on the mail box to take it back online and allow Mail to try again at the next scheduled time (at which point it may fail or succeed it's totally random).

I do log in on different networks and it happens there as well.

When I was working with my hosting service, we reset my Airport several times, created new networks, as well as replaced my cable modem.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Feb 13, 2012 10:25 AM in response to bigmothra

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

The Interface that connects to the Internet, needs to be drug to the top of System Preferences>Network>Show:>Network Port Configurations and checked ON.

10.5.x/10.6.x instructions...

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

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Answer 9

owllight

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2012 4:14 PM in response to BDAqua

Interesting. I'll try it. Also, anyone noticed patterns?

It happens more often when waking from sleep or when logging in after an absence of several hours. This is not to say it does not "forget" my password other times, just that it seems to happen regularly under these circumstances.

Also, has anyone just ignored the "Password for Account" window when it pops up, canceled it, and then clicked "Get Mail". This generally works for me.

Which seems to indicate that the password is correct and is apparently available to iCloud or the system software except for random fail.

I use iPhone 4S and iPad2 also and do not have the problem there. Nor do I have a problem accessing my mail at the iCloud web site. Only on my iMac 10.7.3 is there this difficulty. Interesting puzzle.

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Answer 10

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Apr 18, 2012 5:40 PM in response to bigmothra

Launch your keychain access in Utilities & see if you have multiple entries for this account's passwords.

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