Is there still a problem with Yahoo's SMTP server?

Outlook Express: Route Hotmail email through a different SMTP server

• I can get my Hotmail email via Outlook Express by choosing an HTTP mail server during setup. However, I need to route all of my outgoing mail from my Hotmail account through a different SMTP server. I have had some success with this but need the final steps. In the Registry Editor under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Account Manager\Accounts I found the settings for the HTTP mail server. (The HTTP mail server handles both incoming and outgoing) I added a new string value and called it SMTP Server and then as the data value I put my SMTP server name and it works, Outlook now sends all outgoing mail through that server. The problem is that Outlook also throws an error even though the email was successfully sent. I'm assuming it is getting confused by the SMTP Server value since it is not expecting it to be there but it uses it anyway. Does anyone have a better way to do this or do you know of a way to get rid of the error? I have tested this on Win2k and XP and it works on both. Thanks.

• Answer:

  Hello, My university doesn't allow any outgoing mail except through their SMTP port. (i.e. they block all outgoing port 25 connections except through their own mail servers) so I'm in the same boat you are for Hotmail through Outlook Express. The easiest solution is to create a second account with your SMTP server as the outgoing and leave blank or make garbage your incoming POP3 or IMAP server. Then, once this account's created, go to Tools-->Accounts and select this new outgoing only account. Click on Properties on the right, and fill in the E-mail address and Reply to address as your hotmail address. Click on the Servers tab at the top and make sure the POP3 and SMTP are what you want them to be. Then go back to the Tools-->Accounts screen and select it once more, click Set as Default and you're set. This allows you to use your Create Mail button as the default SMTP sending account and whenever you click on a mailto: link on a webpage but allows you to check your hotmail.com account by clicking on the left folder tree as normal. The only problem might have is you have to remember to turn off "Include this account when receiving mail or synchronizing" or it will check your blank/garbage POP3 server every time you have a scheduled e-mail check. This is the EASIEST way to get SMTP outgoing functionality as your default account without registry editing / custom config files and it satisfies your question. Thank you for the opportunity to answer your question, if you require more information, please clarify the question, or if you find this answer satisfactory, please feel free to rate it. Thank you! skermit-ga