Strange problem with e-mail attachments

[yalamo]

Lately, I have a problem trying to send e-mail attachments.

If I send an a plain e-mail message there is no problem. But if I have an attached file (so far I've tried .jpg or .gif, and they're about 200 kB) it very often it won't send. I've tried this using both my ISP with Thunderbird, and from my G-mail account. Sometimes it will go through, but usually it doesn't.

When I send it from G-mail, it says "Still Working" for about 10 minutes till I give up and stop it. When I send from Thunderbird, I get an error message "Sending of message failed. This message could not be sent because connecting to the SMPT server ... failed. This server may be unavailable or is refusing SMPT connections..." But if I send the same message without an attachment, it goes through without any problems.

I tried using a couple of the internet speed testing services, testing upload speed, and it works, and gives me an upload speed of about 20 kB/s, which is what I would expect from my internet connection.

So as far as I can tell, it's only a problem when I send an e-mail attachment. Anybody have any ideas what's going on?

 

[linney]

Have you tried your ISP Help Desk to see if there is a problem at their end?

Can you send these attachments from within "Safe Mode with Networking" to check if some security program on your own machine is responsible for the fault. What firewalling to you use?

 

[tlcscousin]

Try a speedtest at a site like

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest

check and see what upload speeds you have. If they are really low that can be what is causing your issue.
Another thing with sending attachments can be caused by anti-virus programs scanning outgoing email and slowing the sending down so much it times out.

 

[yalamo]

Thanks for the replies.

This morning, after I shut down the PC for the night, I tried sending an e-mail with attachment from my ISP account to my G-mail account, and vice-versa, and both worked fine! Of course this doesn't mean they'll work in two hours or two days, since I have no idea what happened.

Linney - how do I get to "Safe Mode with Networking"? I spoke to my ISP a few days ago, and they said everything was OK at their end. The only firewall I have is the Microsoft Win XP firewall. (I don't have any viruses - at least not according to Norton, Windows Defender, and AVG Anti-Spyware.)

ticscousin - I tried your speed test link this morning and everything was OK (but then so was the e-mail with attachments). I don't think I have anything scanning my outgoing e-mail.

 

[Sympology]

Some versions of Noton have firewalls. Does yours?

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[yalamo]

Sympology - no. Like I said, only the MS Firewall.

But I just tried sending an e-mail with attachment. First 2 times, it didn't go through (stopping at 40%, and then 98%). Then it went through. So I guess I still have the problem.

Again, Linney - how do I get to "Safe Mode with Networking"?

 

[linney]

Press F8 on the keyboard (probably a couple of times) during the early part of the bootup process before Windows starts loading normally.

What are the Safe Mode options? When should I use them

http://www.petri.co.il/safe_mode_in_windows_2000_xp_2003.htm

 

[BadBigBen]

How e-mail message formats affect Internet e-mail messages in Outlook

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290809

another thing to try, create another Profile (another user) and see if you can send attachments... if that is the case, then your Profile may be corrupt...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."