Problems getting mail

[Bacardi]

Wonder if any one has some words of wisdom with this problem. I'm on holiday in the States and my Uncle is having trouble collecting his email with outlook express on a PC running ME.He has a broadband connection. It starts ok loading 1 of 35 messages but when it gets to 2 I get this message:

A time-out occurred while communicating with the server. Account: 'mail.comcast.net', Server: 'mail.comcast.net', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC19A time-out occurred while communicating with the server. Account: 'mail.comcast.net', Server: 'mail.comcast.net', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC19

Tried moveing the server time out slider to the max 5 mins, but still no joy. It just downloads the first same message, which is spam. The app sends email OK and I have created a new account for my own email address which works fine. I have also plugged in my Apple powerbook and made a new account with my Uncles settings and it downloads all the mail just fine. The mails are 50/50 spam and regular email but nothing 'big' which may cause problems.

I'm guessing it's a server problem but I'm not familiar with Outlook or PCs so maybe I'm missing something? Any thought from the boffins out there appreciated.

[PetrolTed]

Chances are it's a malformed message on the server. If the provider has a web interface to the mail box use that to delete the message and I suspect all will be fine.

[Bacardi]

Ted, You're a star!

I had tried a program I found called Pop Peeker that seemed to do a similar job to a mac program called Pop Monitor which I had used in the past but that didn't work either. I had been trying various self diagnostics on Comcast's website to no avail. Just looked at the site again and , there staring me in the face under 'Toolbox" is 'Mail' 'Doh'

Managed to delete the spam and everything works fine again.(well apart from my Uncle telling me his printer does't work now! Bloody PCs)

Thanks again Ted, now I can get back to my hoilday
Long Live PH

[Robertuk]

you can use this website to access your email:

www.mail2web2.com

just type in your username/server and password.

very usefull for deleting large messages.

SPAM TIP: remove display images in hotmail->options.
This prevents spammers from knowing you have viewed the images (and therefore knowing your account is live).
you can preview the message and then view the images if you trust the sender !
Enjoy !