Is Spectrum also your email service provider?

Hi Stan,

Thanks for stepping in! Yes, Spectrum is my internet provider, but I don't use them for email. I only use Thunderbird ~ it's the best!

I just don't get what's going on. . . it's driving me crazy! I enter the password as shown in Thunderbird, even tried changing it twice, closing out and shutting down. Box requesting password pops up and it's not happy with the password I enter. Grrrr!

in the past 25+ yrs I never had to enter a password.

I even tried, "forgot password," but because I can't receive emails due to password request, I cannot get the link to proceed in that direction.

Let's be clear about something. The "forgot password" facility should NOT be sending the password reset link to the same email account whose password you want to change. Instead, it should be sending it to a different email (recovery email) that you have access to, otherwise it would be a dead end. So, the question remains, can you log in to Spectrum webmail?

You say: Yes, Spectrum is my internet provider, but I don't use them for email. Do you use an email address which spectrum now looks after on their servers? I ask because you have not said anything about what server name is used for email, but you mention 'Time Warner'. What comes after the @ in the email address?

Do you use :

• Charter.net
• Brighthouse.com, bak.rr.com, bham.rr.com, cfl.rr.com, emore.rr.com, eufala.rr.com, indy.rr.com, mi.rr.com, panhandle.rr.com, tampabay.rr.com
• TWC.com and any domain ending in .rr.com not covered above

Please clarify. You are providing some conflicting information - you say you tried to use the 'forgotten password ' link - is that because you cannot logon to webmail account ?

But you also say: Through the help of this forum again, I found out how to simply change it which I did all to no avail.

Does that mean you did log on to webmail account and change the password? You do not create a new password in Thunderbird, it has to be done via the webmail account - you can only update the stored password in Thunderbird after resetting it in the webmail account.

Q: Are you using a POP or IMAP mail account ?

To Toad-Hall: Yeah! so glad you're here to save the day. I can't get anyone to help me solve this issue. I tried calling my internet provider and they said since I'm using a 3rd party (Thunderbird) they can't help.

Please help me step-by-step. Here's the answer to your questions.

1. I don't even know how to get to "webmail." Please advise how to get there. 2. To answer your question, what comes after my email address is @wi.rr.com 3. Not sure if I'm using POP or IMAP, but I believe it is IMAP.

Yay! Toad-Hall is here to save the day!!!! Thank you in advance for stepping in.

Here's the answers to your questions: 1. I use an email which Spectrum (previously Time Warner) provides. @wi.rr.com

2. When I say I changed my password through the help of this forum, it's because of the problem I'm having and all of a sudden Thunderbird is asking for a password, which I have NEVER been asked in 25+ yrs. I went into thunderbird to find my existing password, entered it, but it STILL will not accept it? I get the message, "Login to server mail.twc.com with username "***@wi.rr.com failed. I tried changing the password, with no luck and it still will not accept it.

3. How do I get to webmail?

4. When I went into the manual configuration screen for incoming/outgoing info is wrong. For Outgoing it shows hostname as mobile.charter.net, but. . . should be mail.twc.com for Port 993 and SSL/TLS. When I also try to change the outgoing server to mail.twc.com, Port 587 SSL/TLS it will not take it???

I'm just so confused as to why as of a few days ago Thunderbird is asking for a password, and no. 2, why it won't take the new password entered. A few minutes ago I went to look at the new password I created and it's gone, blank, time warner account not there?

I've aged 10 yrs over this and pulling out my hair and need to get my emails and sent out.

I here you're the best and can help me with this.

How to tell if setup is POP or IMAP:

• Right click on account name folder in Folder Pane and select 'SEttings'

It opens the 'Account settings' in a new tab

• Select 'Server Settings' and look top right - it will say 'Server Type' and tell you if POP or IMAP.

Whilst in the Account Settings - check your account server settings. The correct server settings for @wi.rr.com email address should be:

• Incoming Email Server: mail.twc.com
• If IMAP use Port: 993
• IF POP use Port: 995
• Connection Security: SSL/TLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• User Name = full @wi.rr.com email address

• Outgoing Server (SMTP): mail.twc.com
• Port: 587
• Connection Security: STARTTLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• User Name = full @wi.rr.com email address

If you alter anything then restart Thunderbird to ensure it is using the updated settings. Confirm these server settings are all set up correctly.

re : I went into thunderbird to find my existing password

This is where Thunderbird stores passwords:

• Menu app icon > Preferences > Privacy & Security
• 'Passwords' section.
• click on 'Saved Passwords ' button
• Click on 'Show Passwords' button

On first occasion - I presume you could see the stored password. Do you remember that original password ? If yes, make a note of it.

re: why it won't take the new password entered. A few minutes ago I went to look at the new password I created and it's gone, blank, time warner account not there? You cannot just type in a new password because you can only create new passwords via the webmail account and you did not access the webmail account and did not create/update/modify the password. This password area in Thunderbird is just a store of the password you create in webmail account. You can update the stored password by editing it, but that new password must have already been created/updated in the webmail account first. Clearly, you set it all up many years ago, Thunderbird stored the password and you never needed to enter it again.

It sounds like when you entered a password at prompt you forgot to select the checkbox to remember it, so password manager did not store it and the old one was removed.

The first thing you need to get sorted is access to your webmail account. There is good information at this link:

• https://www.roadrunneremails.org/#!

This is the link where you logon to webmail account which is now via Spectrum. It would be a good idea to bookmark it for future reference.

• https://webmail.spectrum.net/mail/auth

Enter the ***@wi.rr.com email address Enter the original password you found stored in Thunderbird before you tried 'new' passwords. Select 'checkbox 'I'm not a robot' and click on 'Sign In'

If you get access then that is good, it means that password is OK. If you do not get access then try again but this time after entering email address - click on the 'Forgot Email Password' button.

Roadrunner info says: If you have forgotten the password you use for Roadrunner email login purposes, you can complete a password reset through the service. This can be accessed from the main login page, by clicking on the link labelled ‘Forgot Email Password?’, which is found underneath the main login form.

In order to recover your password, you will need to provide information to confirm your identity. This could, for example, include your username and your ZIP code, or your account number and security code. There are multiple options available to choose from. Once you have entered the information, click ‘Next’ and follow the instructions.

Once you regain access to your account, select a new, memorable password for future use.

When you have got access to webmail and new password set up, I suggest you logout of webmail account, wait a few moments and then try to login to webmail again using the new password as a test new password is working. It should get you access ok.

This will be the new password you use in Thunderbird.

If Thunderbird is running - exit and restart. At the prompt you need to do 3 things in the order stated:

1. enter that new password you set up in webmail account
2. select the small checkbox to allow Password Manager to remember the password
3. click on OK.

Thank YOU Toad-hall for helping me. It's so true, are are the best and so dedicated and I know with your help we'll solve it. To answer your first question, it is IMAP. However, when I went to check and make any corrections this is what happens to the Outgoing. I also confirmed with Spectrum and they confirmed the port numbers you provided are spot on.

Outgoing Server (SMTP): mail.twc.com Port: 587 (I make sure it's 587 and STARTTLS it automatically changes to some 467 number; very strange and frustrating. I'm at work now and can't check it at home :-/ Connection Security: STARTTLS Authentication Method: Normal Password User Name = full @wi.rr.com email address If you alter anything then restart Thunderbird to ensure it is using the updated settings. Confirm these server settings are all set up correctly.

I tried to go into the webmail account, entering the first email I ever saw which didn't take and then the new one I created and it wouldn't take either. So, I clicked on forgot password, but of course it's asking for some MAC numbers, which according to the site indicates it should be on the modem. Ugh! I will look as soon as I get home. Why MAC number? Who knows if that will even work.

If you could check my messages frequently I would "love ya forever" and be so grateful because I really need to get into my emails for WORK and home.

I'm still trying to understand WHY out of the blue, I was asked for a password to begin with; it 25+ years it never has. And why, per info above will it not let me put in the correct numbers for outgoing? I'll try again when I get home. If I recall, to get to that screen I had to click on NEW, edit current account. I've done so many things I don't remember where to go anymore or how I did it. Stay tuned. . .

If you do not know password and cannot log on to webmail then Thunderbird cannot logon either. Hence why the first hurdle is to get logged on to webmail account.

MAC Address - try this to locate it on computer: In Search type 'Settings' and select Settings app Select 'Network & Internet' Select 'Status' It will say omething like 'you are connected to the Internet and it will say either Ethernet or Wifi Click on the 'Properties' button Scroll down to locate Physical address (MAC) it will be six pairs of letter/numbers

According to https://www.spectrum.net/support/manage-account/retrieve-username-or-password no MAC is asked for when using the forgot password facility.

Thank you Toad-Hall and Stans for your help in trying to resolve this very frustrating issues. Problem solved through absolutely no help by Spectrum, and I spoke to several individuals. Of course they were reluctant to help and gave me a bunch of crazy reasons for the cause of the problem.

No 1 they told me it's not Spectrum causing the issue, its because I'm using a 3rd party for my email. No 2, and this was the craziest excuse ever, I was told they are automatically shutting down anyone with a wi.rr.com email address. What? I found this hard to believe, especially w/o reaching out to anyone and letting them know and leaving everyone in the dark and losing their emails! Of course I didn't believe that story. They said everyone needs to use a spectrum.net email address. I spoke with a friend who uses Spectrum as well and she said the same, it's crazy and they have not been told of anything of the sorts.

No. 3, they said my account with my email address doesn't exist. I told her, "how the heck am I receiving your paperless bill every month with that email address if it doesn't exist."

After getting nowhere, believe or not, I found my very old, original paperwork from 2004 (thank goodness I save everything) when they set up services in my new home (using the same email address) and I wrote down an email password! While I had her on the phone, I entered it an "whalla" it took it and email is working and I have access!

The bad news, she said she put in a ticket to find my account and that email address and why it's not connected with my account of which I asked her to cancel the ticket because I'm sure whoever hands it lands in will mess up everything and cancel and/or try to recreate another account and I'll lose access to my email AGAIN. She still had no reason why I was asked for password to get into my email. For that part, I'm not sure if this was a new change w/Thunderbird, etc.

With that said, I'm documenting all my email address and info in preparation.

I've not heard of anyone getting rid of any rr.com email address unless the person is moving away from using Spectrum as ISP.

There has been a few reports of an issue with spectrum, but in specific areas. https://downdetector.com/status/spectrum/

It would be a good idea to create an email address with Spectrum if you intend to stay with them as ISP or even get a free one with eg: gmail which would stay with you no matter what ISP you use. It takes a while to gradually move over to another email address, but it is a good idea to have a spare one you can use. I have one with my ISP and also a gmail address which is totally independent of what ever ISP I choose to use. I've had my ISP one for a long time and I'm rather attached to it, so I undrestand how you feel on that score, but if it goes down for any reason, I'm stuck. So I've split the uses eg: personal and purchasing/forums between the two as it gets me used to another email address.

Yes, I created an email address with Spectrum as well and put my contacts in there. Always best to be smart and well prepared.

Thanks again for all your help. You're the best!!! :)