Hello. I thought I'd post the/a solution to my btconnect.com SMTP out going mail server problems.
Just recently I have be unable to send mail via Outlook (using XP Pro Microsoft OS). I had not (deliberately) changed any settings or my firewall program/supplier but all of a sudden receiving mail was fine but sending mail was impossible.
I googled the problem and found this seemed to be a common fault. I searched BT's website and saw numerous references to the problem.
I think I tried just about every solution offered BUT NOTHING WORKED, and I mean nothing!!
For example I tried:
- Outlook Express
- Thunderbird
- Windows Mail (from Windows Live)
- BT's Email configuration and one click fixes pages/programs
- smtp.btconnect with or without authentication
- mail.btconnect with or without authentication
- I changed ports
- I changed time-outs
- ect,ect,ect........
I tried every single variation of a theme I could find (even the various ones by SPANK).
NOTHING WORKED
After getting very annoyed & frustrated I approached the problem rationally.
Even though my btconnect.com account was set up years ago and I have been through many ISPs since BT, my email accounts have always worked fine.
However, I have recently changed my ISP again, this time to O2.
I figured that this was the problem - I DO NOT definitively know if it is – but I thought it was a good starting point. [NOTE, at first (with O2) my email, sending and receiving worked fine].
When you set up an account with O2 they give you an email address by default, I'm certain this is the case for any ISP.
I have never used my O2 email account because even all my O2 details get sent to my btconnect.com account.
However, I have now setup my Outlook email program using a combination of the two accounts and everything now works fine.
My incoming mail server is - pop3.btconnect.com
My outgoing mail server is – mail.o2.co.uk (if you have a different ISP than O2, google your ISP to find out their outgoing mail server address)
Then set up your Incoming Mail Server Account Name as youremailaddress@btconnect.com and enter your Password and check the Remember Password box
In the Out Going Mail Server section check the My server requires authentication box and click Settings....
In the setting screen, by default it uses Use same setting as my incoming mail server.
DO NOT USE THIS
Click Log on using and the greyed out boxes will become white.
Enter your new ISP email details.
i.e.
Account Name: youremailaddress@o2.co.uk
Password: XXXXXX (your O2 password when you set up your ISP service)
Then check Remember Password.
DO NOT check Log on using Secure Password Authentication.
Click OK, then click APPLY and then Close /or/ OK
People who receive your email will still see your btconnect.com email address, all you are doing is using your new ISP servers to send your btconnect.com email, a bit like Royal Mail still delivering mail sent by other postal companies.
I don't know if BT have deliberately stopped hosting/serving mail sent via another ISPs networks but I guess BT are a business and not a charity/public service provider so it would make sense if they have, from a 'capitalist' business perspective that is.
I hope this works for others, and a special mention to SPANK, ALASTAIR, DAVE and all the others who seem to be prolific posters and helpers of others. YOU motivated me to write this post even though my problem is now solved.
Best wishes, Wigmore of the Medway Massive.
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