Computer question....
 

This may be obscure - but any help is much appreciated.

We bought a couple new Apples for the oldies and had them installed today. Mom's works perfectly. Dad's works perfectly, EXCEPT he is unable to SEND e-mails (though he can receive them).

All ISP protocols have been entered correctly and confirmed (numerous times). Both computers run off a wireless (Lynksys) router. I'm assuming the router is not the problem because one computer works perfectly - and even the one that cannot send e-mails can receive them.

Even weirder, I can send e-mails on Dad's machine by doing this via the ISP's webmail feature - but not directly.

The ISP tech support guys are baffled - and I am at my wits end.

Can any of you guys point me in the right direction?

Even though its been checked and rechecked... Any off chance that the option to use outgoing server authentication is not checked (or vice versa)?

It's not weird that you can send via webmail... The handshakes are handled differently.

Yup, seems like an SMTP server setting!

I have checked and re-checked these protocols all evening. I am as close to certain as I can be that there are no errors in these. I have also compared them to the working computer, and they are identical except for names and passwords.

Are both machines using the same mail service provider?

Yes. Same ISP. Same router. Same settings - except for user names and passwords.

For the heck if it, maybe try the working mail account info on the machine that can't send mail, and vice-versa.

FWIW.

I was thinking of that too. Have you checked for lint in the smtp port?

Also, are you using Apple's Mail.app?

If so, have you gone into the advanced SMTP settings? There are four different authentication protocols and a place to set a server port number and enable/disable SSL.

It may just need a port cleaning and some socket lube.

I'll try this tomorrow. (I'm at home now.) What would this tell me if it works? Or doesn't?

It could mean the password and/or username for the SMTP server (send mail part) on the machine that is now not working is wrong.

at the risk of appearing a complete idiot - what/where is the smtp port?

but I double and triple checked these with the ISP tech support.

I think Dave is pulling your proxy. :)

It's still Friday. :D:p

How about the above?

edit: Make sure the advanced settings are identical on both machines. If they are, I am stumped.

Stomachmonkey is an expert on the Mac stuff, so maybe he'll chime in!

feck me, I think I could use a port cleaning and some socket lube.

Yes. I've been there. Talked it through with the tech support guy three times. He tells me its all kosher.

Try a hail mary; restart the machine and see what happens.

I am at the end of the road for my knowledge base.

Good luck!

I have not compared the advanced settings on both machines - but will do so first thing tomorrow.

These advanced settings in Mail.app:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1214634355.jpg

If you are receiving email, then this box is probably clicked, but if you have more than one account, one account could be receiving email, but the account set-up with the SMTP server may not be enabled. It's a longshot guess, but I thought I would post anyway:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1214634516.jpg

Morning.

Kurt and Dave have offered some good advice here.

Really just sounds like some user info is not entered correctly.

As has been suggested try to set up Dads account on Moms machine. Just add a new accoutn, leave moms untouched.

Lets eliminate the typo possibility

I will do this this morning and report back.

Many thanks for the advice.

Hah,

Just sent u PM with cell number.

You are a gentleman.

Mark

Once on my mac I was having a heckuva time sending emails, and went to the website of my ISP (earthlink) for help. There was a support document that described -step by step- what to enter in the advanced ISP settings (different port #, etc) to make it work. Maybe look to your ISP and see if there's something similar. :confused:

Impossible. Macs are perfect always.

Was just getting ready to say the same thing! :)

They're just computers, dudes. :)

Of course, Mark's problems sound like human error.

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They are, but unfortunately they are forced to interact with inferior hardware and Operating Systems.

Kinda like trying to have an intelligent exchange with Snowman;)

So...in case you guys are still out there...

I cannot set up dad's account on mom's machine. But I can set up mom's account on dad's machine.

But because I can send and receive emails from dad's machine via ISP Webmail - I'm thinking the user names, password etc must all be correct.

The advanced mail settings - and all other settings in both computers are identical (except for user name and password).

Also, when trying to send mails from dad's machine, I do not get error messages - but the computer just hangs with the little wheel spinning endlessly.

Now I'm a complete Luddite, but all of this suggests to me the problem is not with SMTP settings - but rather a software glitch.

So I've decided to reinstall OSX and apps , and set up the SMTP protocols all over again, reboot and pray. But this could take awhile.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

You can call me

And we were always told that Mac's were simple "plug it in and it works" sort of computers!

I love this thread!

Joe
(typed on my PC)

Just spoke to Mark.

He now has 2 accounts set up on one machine. Both for the same ISP. 1 account can send and receive, the other only receives.

He reinstalled the OS.

He has been using POP as a protocol. Suggested he also try an IMAP account.

My guess at this point is a corrupt email account on the ISP's server.

Have the ISP delete and set it up again?

I just set up a mail account on my server for him to test with.

If that works AND his moms account works but not his dads then its gotta be a corrupt mailbox.

Thank you to everyone for your help - particularly Scott. I very much appreciate it.

I wish I had the last 12 hours of my life back though - but everything got sorted out in the end.

After having a series of ISP tech support guys telling me that either I had the SMTP settings wrong, or there was a software problem that I needed to take up with Apple, I finally got hold of a tech support guy - who as Scott suggested - checked whether my dad's email account might be corrupt on their server - and it was!

Joe: you also got this right.

Long story short, the ISP deleted the old account and we set it up again and everything now works just fine.

It's a long weekend here, and sensible advice is very thin on the ground. It speaks volumes for this little community (PPOT) that I was able to sort out this very annoying problem by seeking advice from the people on this board. Thank you again!

Scott - I owe you.

Cheers, Mark

PS: And I'm sorry to have to disappoint those of you who thought this was a Mac problem. ;-)

Only 12 hrs & the Mac is working "perfectly!" Man that's easy!

Dottore wrote

There goes that comprehension thing again.

Let me translate that for you.

The problem had NOTHING to do with the Mac.