TBird won't send to ATT
Over the past month I have experienced increasing problems sending emails to my ISP. Before that I used Thunderbird for years without difficulty.
When I press SEND, it says Connected to outbound.att.net and then makes no progress for over a minute. The only way I've found to get messages out recently is to repeatedly close that popup, which terminates with the message "Sending of the message failed." After repeated attempts, the email will be successfully uploaded in under a second, which is normal on this device. I've made no changes that I know of. There is one addon I don't recognize: Lightning 4.7.5 -- I gather you installed that one but I've never used it. There is also Adblock Plus 2.8.2. The Thunderbird version is 45.5.0. I have no difficulty sending or receiving email using the ATT webmail portal.
I suspect a recent update may have caused this problem. The troubleshooting output is follows:
Application Basics Name Thunderbird Version 45.5.0 User Agent Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:45.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/45.5.0 Profile Folder Show Folder (Local drive) Application Build ID 20161117035322 Enabled Plugins about:plugins Build Configuration about:buildconfig Memory Use about:memory Mail and News Accounts ID Incoming server Outgoing servers Name Connection security Authentication method Name Connection security Authentication method Default ? account2 (none) Local Folders plain passwordCleartext account3 (pop3) inboun d.att.ne t:995 SSL passwordCleartext outbound.att.net: 465 SSL passwordCleartext true Crash Reports Report ID Submitted bp-95ae2a5d-947f-49a1-9bd2-494542160204 2/3/2016 Extensions Name Version Enabled ID Adblock Plus 2.8.2 true {d10d0bf8-f5b5-c8b4-a8b2-2b9879e08c5d} Lightning 4.7.5 true {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103} Important Modified Preferences Name Value accessibility.lastLoadDate 1480416474 accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar 0 browser.cache.disk.capacity 102400 browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported 1 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run false Name Value browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max false dom.apps.reset-permissions true extensions.lastAppVersion 45.5.0 font.name.monospace.el Consolas font.name.monospace.tr Consolas font.name.monospace.x-baltic Consolas font.name.monospace.x-central-euro Consolas font.name.monospace.x-cyrillic Consolas font.name.monospace.x-unicode Consolas font.name.monospace.x-western Consolas font.name.sans-serif.el Calibri font.name.sans-serif.tr Calibri font.name.sans-serif.x-baltic Calibri font.name.sans-serif.x-central-euro Calibri font.name.sans-serif.x-cyrillic Calibri font.name.sans-serif.x-unicode Calibri font.name.sans-serif.x-western Calibri font.name.serif.el Cambria font.name.serif.tr Cambria font.name.serif.x-baltic Cambria font.name.serif.x-central-euro Cambria font.name.serif.x-cyrillic Cambria font.name.serif.x-unicode Cambria font.name.serif.x-western Cambria font.size.fixed.el 14 font.size.fixed.tr 14 font.size.fixed.x-baltic 14 font.size.fixed.x-central-euro 14 font.size.fixed.x-cyrillic 14 font.size.fixed.x-unicode 14 font.size.fixed.x-western 16 font.size.variable.el 17 font.size.variable.tr 17 font.size.variable.x-baltic 17 font.size.variable.x-central-euro 17 font.size.variable.x-cyrillic 17 font.size.variable.x-unicode 17 font.size.variable.x-western 18 gfx.direct3d.last_used_feature_level_idx 0 mail.openMessageBehavior.version 1 mail.winsearch.enable true mail.winsearch.firstRunDone true Name Value mail.winsearch.global_reindex_time 1298925587 mailnews.database.global.datastore.id af9b8c1d-dfa5-4c01-ac52- 2ce1a3c207d network.cookie.lifetimePolicy 2 network.cookie.prefsMigrated true network.predictor.cleaned-up true places.database.lastMaintenance 1480085898 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages 104858 places.history.expiration.transient_optimal_database_size 167772160 plugin.importedState true plugin.state.npatgpc 0 plugin.state.npnv3dv 0 plugin.state.npnv3dvstreaming 0 plugin.state.nppdf 0 plugin.state.nppl 0 plugin.state.npqtplugin 0 plugin.state.nprpchromebrowserrecordext 0 plugin.state.nprphtml5videoshim 0 plugin.state.nprpplugin 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_bgcolor false print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_bgimages false print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_colorspace print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_command print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_downloadfonts false print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_duplex 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_edge_bottom 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_edge_left 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_edge_right 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_edge_top 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_evenpages true print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_footercenter print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_footerleft &PT print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_footerright &D print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_headercenter print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_headerleft &T print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_headerright &U print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_in_color true print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_margin_bottom 0.5 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_margin_left 0.5 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_margin_right 0.5 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_margin_top 0.5 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_oddpages true print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_orientation 0 Name Value print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_page_delay 50 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_data 1 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_height 11.00 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_name print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_size_type 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_size_unit 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_paper_width 8.50 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_plex_name print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_resolution 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_resolution_name print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_reversed false print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_scaling 1.00 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_shrink_to_fit true print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_to_file false print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_unwriteable_ma rgin_bottom 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_unwriteable_ma rgin_left 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_unwriteable_ma rgin_right 0 print.printer_Dell_Laser_Printer_1720_XL.print_unwriteable_ma rgin_top 0 privacy.donottrackheader.enabled true security.default_personal_cert Select Automatically Graphics Adapter Description NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Vendor ID 0x10de Device ID 0x13c0 Adapter RAM 4095 Adapter Drivers nvd3dumx,nvwgf2umx,nvwgf2umx nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um Driver Version 21.21.13.7290 Driver Date 9-16-2016 Direct2D Enabled false DirectWrite Enabled false (6.2.9200.21976) ClearType Parameters ClearType parameters not found WebGL Renderer Google Inc. -- ANGLE (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Direct3D11 vs_5_0 ps_5_0) -- OpenGL ES 2.0 (ANGLE 2.1.0.316930d51ea9) GPU Accelerated Windows 0 AzureCanvasBackend skia AzureSkiaAccelerated 0 AzureFallbackCanvasBackend cairo AzureContentBackend cairo JavaScript Incremental GC 1 Accessibility Activated 1 Prevent Accessibility 0 Library Versions Expected minimum version Version in use NSPR 4.12 4.12 NSS 3.21.3 Basic ECC 3.21.3 Basic ECC NSS Util 3.21.3 3.21.3 NSS SSL 3.21.3 Basic ECC 3.21.3 Basic ECC NSS S/MIME 3.21.3 Basic ECC 3.21.3 Basic ECC
Chosen solution
ATT has two different settings for outgoing mail listed here: https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/dsl-high-speed/KM1010523
In Thunderbird Account Settings, select "Outgoing Server (SMTP), and edit the setting on the right side. Try both settings ATT suggests. For both, use SSL:
Server name: outbound.att.net Port: 465
Server name: smtp.mail.att.net Port: 465 or 587
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (12)
Some things to try. Test sending with each one.
1. Start Thunderbird in safe mode. To do this, hold down the Shift key when you double-click the Thunderbird shortcut. This will start Thunderbird without any add-ons running. By the way, Lightning is the add-on for the calendar in Thunderbird. You can remove it if you don't use the calendar.
2. Make sure that your anti-virus program is working properly and up-to-date. Then temporarily disable the anti-virus for testing sending an e-mail.
3. Double-check the e-mail server settings in Thunderbird with ATT e-mail server settings. While you are at it, you might as well check both incoming and outgoing settings. Thunderbird menu: Tools: Account Settings: - For incoming e-mail: Select "Server Settings" on the left side under your e-mail account, and the settings are on the right side. - For outgoing e-mail: Select "Outgoing Server (SMTP)" on the left side, then select the server you want on the right side. Click the "Edit" button to change the settings.
Tried #1, #2, and #3 with no apparent benefit.
Try testing a new Thunderbird Profile to see if the same thing happens.
Hold down the Windows key and press R.
In the run box, type:
thunderbird.exe -p
This will start the Profile Manager for Thunderbird. Click the "Create Profile" button.
Type in a new profile name. Don't name it "default" or "Default User". Use your imagination.
You can let the Profile Manager create the new profile in the default location, or you can click the "Choose Folder" button to choose where to set up the new profile. I personally put my profile folders where I want them, so it is easier for me to back them up.
After you click "Finish" select the new profile in Profile Manager, un-check "Use the selected profile without asking at startup". Then click "Start Thunderbird".
Thunderbird will now start with nothing set yet in the new profile. Configure your e-mail account, then test sending an e-mail.
You can go back to your original Thunderbird Profile by quitting Thunderbird, and running it again. The Profile Manager will ask you which profile you want to use.
Chosen Solution
ATT has two different settings for outgoing mail listed here: https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/dsl-high-speed/KM1010523
In Thunderbird Account Settings, select "Outgoing Server (SMTP), and edit the setting on the right side. Try both settings ATT suggests. For both, use SSL:
Server name: outbound.att.net Port: 465
Server name: smtp.mail.att.net Port: 465 or 587
I tried using the alternative setting for the outgoing mail server but it still hangs sometimes and works at other times, just like before. When I get sufficiently annoyed to do more work, I'll try the other suggestions.
The other person with this problem says they have success with smtp.mail.att.net port 465.
So far, smtp.mail.att.net is working well on port 587... there was just an update to 45.5.1 so that may also be helping. I'll try the other port if this one stops working. Thanks for hanging in with me!
I've tried everything on this list and still having the same problem: Tbird intermittently can't send to ATT.net; this happens on my Win7Pro system and my wife's WinX.
I'm sorry. I don't have any other ideas to help you.
Given the problems that other people are having with ATT, I'm tempted to blame them.
I posted my problem on the ATT.net forums a week ago and also searched their forums for comments about similar situations. There has been no answer to my post although it has been read by a couple of dozen folks. Notably absent from ATT forums is a rash of recent complaints from Thunderbird users. Yet my wife and I, with our separate systems, are having similar problems in the same recent time frame. I'm tempted to start looking for another email client, but unsure whether the devs at Thunderbird are really aware that some of us are very dissatisfied because of being unable to reliably send emails to ATT.net. Blaming it on the other guy is NOT a solution!
Go ahead and try another e-mail client and see if it works better. I would be interested to find out from you if it does.
That's the only sure-fire way to know if your issue is with Thunderbird or ATT.
I have 3 current Win7 machines experiencing this send failure 3 out of 4 tries. I also have a small Win7 Starter "back level" machine for travel sitting in a drawer. I tried it yesterday and it also has the send problem with 45.4.0 and without November Win updates. I believe the problem is not 45.5.0, 45.5.1, or latest Win updates. Also I see the problem with outbound.att.net and smtp.mail.att.net