Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Suddenly cannot send email through any SMTP server

OK, here is the thing...


Mac G5 Dual 1.8
OSX 10.4.8
Everything EXCEPT the latest Security update (the one for quicktime only)

No changes made, no new software installed, no settings changed...

I put it to sleep at night... woke it up the next morning.

Suceesfully RETRIEVED all my email... made and clicked 'send' on a response to one and it displayed the message that the server mail.xxxx.com could not be used to send. The hosting company says they can successfully send from my test account and that the server is fine.

OK, I use several domains for email and the POP/SMTP servers have always been great with this company. But this is just weird....

I can receive my messages... but mail (and entourage I later found) cannot send SMTP output to my servers. And, I cannot Telnet to any SMTP server.

I have rebooted, turned off the firewall, checked my wireless configuration, (OK), Reset PRAM and NVRAM all to no avail... Can anyone point me in the right direction? This is a REAL hair-puller

Thanks for any help
Steed

G5 Dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jan 24, 2007 6:30 AM

Reply
426 replies

Jan 24, 2007 7:29 PM in response to Sherman Homan

Got a Plan F?

I did that yesterday.

Is there a way to delete settings that are used by the system for email connections so that OSX has to rebuild them... I have seen some instances where some configuration files can be deleted and rebuilt which can solve weird problems like this...Keep in mind that Entourage has the same problem too.

Just spit-balling one that one though

Jan 24, 2007 10:20 PM in response to steedvlx600

I think it would be a good idea to outlie exactly what I have done so far... leaving out the obvious stuff like checking the mail account configuration and making sure the mail servers themselves were operating OK.

1) WIped and Reset my DSL modem
2) Wiped and reset my Airmac Extreme router
3) Checked with my ISP to make sure they are not blocking Port 25 (they are not)
4)Checked to see if other mail apps have the same problem... they all do.
5) created a new test account on the mail server AND my machine to see if that worked... it didn't
6) Reset PRAM/NVRAM using the four finger salute
7) Tried and alternate port suggested by my ISP (Port587) no go
8) turned off all firewall activity
9) deleted little snitch
10) tried to find ANY system logs which would shed some light... can't find them
11) rebooted the machine at least a hundred times
12) Checked the network configuration again and made a new connection. does the same thing

Please there has to be a simple solution to this. I can't see trying a complete OS re-install...

I live in Okinawa... So, a genius bar is out of the question. :/

Jan 25, 2007 4:52 AM in response to steedvlx600

I have now been through the process of deleting all of the mail preferences from the library/preferences/mail/ folder.

I have rebuilt the entire account list and still cannot send mail. I have read several articles in the support section and have followed their instructions to the letter. no change.

I can also see that there is a recent rash of people having the same problem. Does anyone have any insight to offer on this issue?

So far, I cannot see any of these issues have been resolved. I am beginning to believe it is OS-based somehow. But, I don't have the experience to back up that belief.

Please help if you can. This entire network has been cleaned out, reset, reconfigured, defragged, re-plist'ed and everything else.



G5 Dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Jan 25, 2007 5:38 PM in response to steedvlx600

In some cases, especially with the SMTP provided by an ISP, the SMTP can be authenticated by SMTP after POP3 method (or perhaps by the actual address of the modem), which if the case, requires that the Authentication on the Outgoing Server be set to None, and no Password entered. This is because the SMTP is being authenticated by other means, and a second, redundant attempt causes failure. You might try that with the SMTP from your ISP, next.

Of course for any of this to work, we would have to assume some change had been made to using their SMTP, and that in turn was impacting the relay from the other SMTP you have been expecting to use.

Ernie

Suddenly cannot send email through any SMTP server

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.