On.On May 21, 2010 three emails came through OK including a large one (#3) with several attachments, then the following error messages appeared: Message number 4 could not be retrieved. Account: 'AT&T Worldnet E-Mail', Server: 'postoffice.worldnet.att.net', Protocol: POP3, Server Response: '-ERR popgate inactivity timeout', Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 0x800CCC90, Error Number: 0x800420CD Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible causes for this include server problems, network problems, or a long period of inactivity. Account: 'AT&T Worldnet E-Mail', Server: 'postoffice.worldnet.att.net', Protocol: POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Error Number: 0x800CCC0F Even though these messages indicate “inactivity timeout” and “termination”, my internet connection was still online. Later that day and every subsequent time I sign into Outlook Express all three messages keep coming through again, and again, and again, and the same error messages come up each time. Message #3 does take about 10 minutes to download since I don’t have DSL but my settings are for shut-down at 20 minutes of inactivity so I would like to believe that isn’t contributing to this problem. In the meantime, I’m using AT&T Mail for receiving and sending emails although I prefer Outlook Express. Is it possible this problem may be due to “Message number 4” being corrupted as I saw in AT&T Mail two very strange messages (#4 & #5) on May 21 that were caught by the SPAM filter and I promptly deleted them without opening. I’m not having any other problems with my computer so don’t suspect a virus. I’m hoping this can be resolved by somehow deleting Messages #4 & #5 from May 21 so that all subsequent messages can finally come through to Outlook Express.

Yes, this issue can indeed be caused by malformed messages on the server. Log on to your web based mailbox and delete the message from there and then try to Send/Receive on Outlook Express again.Note that this forum discusses Microsoft Outlook (from the Office Suite) and not Outlook Express (belonging to Internet Explorer).Here is the link for the right forumhttp://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.outlookexpress.generalRobert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]Outlook guides and more: HowTo-Outlook.comOutlook Quick Tips: MSOutlook.info

Thanks for your reply. I already deleted the suspect messages from my AT&T mailbox several days ago and have tried numerous times since then to Send/Receive on Outlook Express but can't get past the error messages. I followed your suggestion and have also posted my question on the Outlook Express forum.kasv

1: Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs, slows down sending and receiving, and causes a multitude of problems such as time-outs, account setting changes and has even been responsible for loss of messages. Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3 Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your emailhttp://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htmNote that for some AV programs, it may be necessary to uninstall the program and reinstall in Custom Mode and uncheck e-mail scanning when the option arises. 2: Tools | Accounts | Mail | Properties | Advanced - Uncheck: Leave a copy of messages on the server.3: Tools | Options | Read. Uncheck: Send and receive messages at startup & Check for messages every XX minutes.4: Do a manual Send/Receive. If it works, recheck: Check for mail every XX minutes, but make it 10 minutes minimum.5: If they didn't download, read and delete all messages on your server. Send a test message to yourself now.6: If still no joy, create a new Inbox.Move all messages to a local folder you create and then delete the Inbox as follows.Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.With OE closed, find the Inbox.dbx and delete it. A new Inbox will be created automatically when you open OE.General precautions for Outlook Express:Do not archive mail in the Inbox or Sent Items. Create your own user defined folders and move the messages you wish to save to them. Empty Deleted Items folder daily. Although dbx files have a theoretical capacity of 2GB, I recommend about a 300MB max for less chance of corruption.Information about the maximum file size of the .dbx files that are used by Outlook Express:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=903095After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while working *offline* and do it often.Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until the compacting is completed.Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3And backup often.Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB):http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx Bruce Hagen ~ MS-MVP [Mail]