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

Problem with setting up Outlook Express

• I am constantly getting an error 550 and 551 when I am trying to send an e-mail. I have checked and double checked again the information about the pop3 account and the smtp account, and I am sure they are correct. It seems to happen with all my various accounts. Here is the full description of the error : The message could not be sent because one of the recipients was rejected by the server. The rejected e-mail was '[email protected]'. Subject 'test12', account 'pop.runbox.com', Server : smtp.runbox.com, protocol: smtp, server response: '550 relay not permitted', Port: 25, Secure (SSL); No, Server Error : 550, Error Number: 0x800CCC79. I'm currently connecting via adsl through a portal call wayport from my hotel in Dublin, Ireland. I thought the problem may have been with the wayport connection. I then decide to setup a local account with an irish provider called iol.ie and used a dial-up modem instead of adsl. It should have worked with both runbox.com and bigpond.net.au, but it still did not. The weird thing is that if I use the pop3 and smtp information from iol.ie, all works well. The errror above does not always come up as 550. It sometimes comes up as 551. This could be because I may have switch from adsl to a dial-up modem. At the end of the day, the description as the same for both. Can you tell me why this is occuring for runbox.com and bigpond.net.au and not for iol.ie whether it is via dial up (56k) or via adsl? (Especially if one is sure about the pop3 and smtp settings!) Thanks from: Roger R

• Answer:

  Hello again Roger, The problem could be in two places, but strongly points to an authentication problem with the SMTP server. Some providers have switched how they operate so that in order to use their SMTP server, they must first know that you are a bonafide user of their service. They way they know this is by you "popping" your incoming email before you attempt to send email. Outlook Express will most often attempt to send email BEFORE it pops you incoming email and your provider will "assume" you are trying to use their SMTP server as an unauthorized user. This is one way they attempt to minimize SPAM going through their servers. 123m.com has an article on this which is typical of providers that have implemented user authentication: http://www.123m.com/smtp.asp "SMTP Authentication changes Tech Document - T123m01101 Effective Thursday, December 20, 2001 at 12:01AM CST, 123m.com activated User Authentication on our SMTP server(s). What this means, is that you will need to have your POP3 client software configured to log into the SMTP Server prior to sending mail. (Just as you log in to retrieve your mail now, you will now be required to login to send mail.) This is easily accomplished by going into your account set-up in your POP3 client (Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, PocoMail, etc.) and checking "My Server Requires Authentication" under the Outgoing Mail Server information. If an option exists, make sure you check "Use the same settings as my incoming mail server" If you did not make the changes after December 20, 2001 at 12:01AM CST, you will not be able to send mail. You will receive an SMTP Server Error 550. Sample Error 550 Message: The message could not be sent because one of the recipients was rejected by the server. The rejected e-mail address was '[email protected]'. Subject 'Test', Account: '[email protected]', Server: 'smtp.123m.com', Protocol: SMTP, Server Response: '550 Relaying is prohibited', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 550, Error Number: 0x800CCC79 If you are currently using another ISP's SMTP Server, no changes are necessary. Your incoming mail will not be affected..." This is most likely the problem, Roger. However, the other possibility, if I read your question correctly, is that only some of the addresses you are trying to send to exhibit this problem and only when you use the SMTP server from your ADSL account. The same addresses work properly when you send from your new account. If I am accurate with this description, then it is very possible that the server you are trying to send mail to has blocked your ADSL server as what they believe to be a known relayer of SPAM and have "black listed" any incoming email from your provider. The best way to verify this would be to email the provider that may be bouncing your email to ask if your provider is being blocked. Again, if I understand your question accurately, bigpond.net.au is the address that is bouncing your email and your provider that is giving you trouble is runbox.com. If that is correct, email bigpond at this page and ask if runbox is being blacklisted as a SPAM relayer: http://www.telstra.com.au/contact/email.cfm Do let me know if this answers your question and solves your problem. If it persists, please do let me know Roger and I will be happy to continue to find your answer. I do think that the first solution for authentication should work for you. If not, please do clarify as to whether it is just one or two recipients that give you the error or all from the SMTP server on your ADSL account. Search Strategy: 550, Error Number: 0x800CCC79 Best Regards, -=clouseau=-