Member Avatar for rrssss

Hello Daniweb forum,

Last night my brother sent me an email with an attachment (about a megabyte in size) and it downloaded fine but with the following message:

The server responded with an error. Account: 'pop.nuvox.net', Server: 'pop.nuvox.net', Protocol: POP3, Server Response: '-ERR Client timeout. Exiting without update.', Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800CCC90

I am using Outlook Express version 6 and am running Windows XP sp2.

So each time I would click on "check mail", his same email would download all over again, along with me getting that error message. Since I have a dial up connection, it was frustrating for me to have to wait each time for the attachment to download all over again.

But then I immediately re-booted into Linux Mandriva (I have a triple boot configuration), the problem didn't show up in Mandriva's email program, Thunderbird. So Thunderbird did like it was supposed to do and deleted my brother's email from the server so I would not keep re-downloading it over and over again. I never got an error message either with Linux's Thunderbird email program.

My question would be, what happened to Outlook Express? Since everything worked fine in Linux, it makes me think the problem was with Outlook Express and not with my email server.

And I made sure there was no check mark in Outlook Express's settings where it asks if I wish to keep the email on the server.

I would really appreciate your expertise in this matter.

Sincerely,
Roy

  • 3 Contributors
  • 8 Replies
  • 197 Views
  • 2 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by rrssss

Dani AI

Generated

Short answer: Outlook Express hit a POP3 session timeout before the server could commit the deletion, so the message stayed on the maildrop and OE tried to fetch it again. Under POP3 the server only removes messages marked deleted when the client cleanly ends the transaction (QUIT → UPDATE); if the session ends abnormally no update occurs. Clients also use the POP3 UIDL/history to avoid redownloading messages, which explains why Thunderbird behaved differently. (rfc-editor.org)

What to check first (likely fixes for a dial‑up user): increase OE’s server timeout, and test with your AV/email‑scanner disabled. Large attachments plus a short client timeout let the server drop the session before OE can send the final delete/QUIT; OE exposes a “Server Timeouts” slider in the account Advanced properties you can move to a longer setting. Also, some antivirus or POP‑proxy scanners delay delivery (or act as a local POP proxy) and can cause timeouts or duplicate downloads — temporarily disable mail scanning to see if the problem stops. (support.bluetie.com)

Practical steps to stop the loop and prevent it next time: delete the offending message directly on the server (webmail) or with the working Thunderbird instance so OE has nothing to re-fetch; increase OE’s Server Timeouts and retry; temporarily turn off AV email scanning or add an exception for OE; if duplicates persist recreate the mail profile/account (resets the client’s POP state/UIDL) or stay with Thunderbird which handles interrupted sessions more robustly. If none of that helps, contact your ISP with the exact server response and timestamps so they can check server‑side timeouts/logs. These steps tie back to ’s point about server‑side/leave‑on‑server settings and ’s advice to involve the ISP. (bowhosts.com)

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for jbennet

In the email client there is an option in the config to leave the messages on the server (i set up my PDA to do this so i can read them on the go, but keep copies at home)

Member Avatar for dcc

Call your ISP, let them sort it out.

Member Avatar for jbennet

its an ouytlook option

Member Avatar for rrssss

Hello again forum,

I downloaded and installed the Thunderbird email program written for Windows instead of Linux and the problem went away. But I still get a similar error message from Thunderbird saying the server failed to delete the message. But at least I don't get the same email again when I kept clicking on "send/receive" so it must be deleting the email in spite of the message.

Roy

Member Avatar for jbennet

are you using POP or IMAP

Member Avatar for rrssss

Thanks, I am using POP

Roy

Member Avatar for jbennet

does your server use authentication or not?

Member Avatar for rrssss

There is no check mark where it says "use secure authentication".

There is no check mark where it says "use secure connection".

Roy

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.