OLEXP: Error Finding POP3 or SMTP Servers When You Send or Receive E-mail Messages

Article ID: 274456 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q274456
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
257824
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257824/EN-US/ )
OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express
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SYMPTOMS

When you try to send or receive e-mail messages in Outlook Express, you may receive an error message that your Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) host could not be found (error code 0x800CCC0D).
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CAUSE

This behavior can occur when POP3 or SMTP server account information is incorrect on your computer. If your account information is correct, behavior can be caused by the connection to your Internet service provider because the e-mail servers may be unavailable for reasons such as maintenance.
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RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, verify that you are using the correct account settings for your assigned e-mail servers. You can obtain the server information from your ISP or local area network (LAN) administrator. To verify the settings for your Internet E-mail account:
  1. Start Outlook.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.

    NOTE: If Accounts does not appear on your Tools menu, then you are not using Outlook Express 5.
  3. On the Mail tab, click the name of your e-mail account, and then click Properties.
  4. On the General tab, verify that your e-mail address is correct.
  5. On the Servers tab, verify that the e-mail server information is correct for both the incoming mail (POP3) and outgoing mail (SMTP) servers. Verify that both servers have the correct settings for your password and account name. Ask your ISP if your server requires you to log on by using a secure password authentication and if your outgoing mail server requires authentication.
  6. On the Connection tab, verify that the connection that you use is correct. For example, you may connect through a LAN or through a dial-up connection. Without a valid connection, your e-mail program cannot communicate with the e-mail servers.
  7. On the Advanced tab, verify that your server ports are correct. POP3 servers use port 110 and SMTP servers use port 25. Verify that these ports are correct. For more information, contact your ISP.
  8. Click OK, and then click Close to save any changes.

How to Ping the E-mail Servers

When you use the Ping command to ping the e-mail server, you can determine if you have a valid Internet or LAN connection between your e-mail program and the server. If the Ping command works, you are connected to the server. If the Ping command does not work, your network administrator or ISP may have blocked ping replies from the server and you may be connected. To ping your server:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt. In Microsoft Windows 2000, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
  2. At the command prompt, type ping, press the SPACEBAR, and then type your server name. For example, if your server is "pop3.email.msn.com" (without quotation marks), type ping pop3.email.msn.com, and then press ENTER.
The Ping command sends a communications packet to the server and then waits for a return packet, which indicates that the server received the packet. The Ping command sends three packets, and then displays the results. You either receive return packets or a time-out occurs without a reply.

When to Contact Your ISP

If the Ping command does not work, contact your ISP or LAN administrator to verify that there is not a problem with the e-mail servers or that they are not undergoing maintenance.
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MORE INFORMATION

This behavior can also occur if you have a firewall configured in such a manner that it prevents communications with your e-mail server. Some firewall software, such as ZoneAlarm, allow you to restrict outbound as well as inbound communications between your programs and the Internet. In such cases, you should refer to your firewall software documentation about how to enable Outlook communications with your e-mail server.
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Properties

Article ID: 274456 - Last Review: May 7, 2007 - Revision: 3.2
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.01 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Keywords: 
kbprb KB274456
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