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Error message: "could not connect to server localhost; the connection was refused"

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by bob stewart

bob stewart
bob stewart
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I have Thunderbird on three different computers and on one of them I receive my two email accounts fine. On the other two, I can receive att mail, but not the other. I get the message "could not connect to server localhost; the connection was refused" . I have tried turning off AV & firewall, but it didn't change. All the settings on the accounts are the same on all three computers. 

  Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I have Thunderbird on three different computers and on one of them I receive my two email accounts fine. On the other two, I can receive att mail, but not the other. I get the message "could not connect to server localhost; the connection was refused" . I have tried turning off AV & firewall, but it didn't change. All the settings on the accounts are the same on all three computers. Any suggestions? Thanks!

All Replies (4)

Matt
Matt
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Localhost, or IP 127.0.0.1 is your network adapters loopback address. The only software that as a matter of course uses it (Other than Thunderbird in debug mode) are anti virus programs and their insidious proxies to scan mail.

Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX

If things work in that mode I would guess that your anti virus is lying to you about being stopped. Or it stopped and did not remove it's outgoing block of using the loopback address.

bob stewart
bob stewart Question owner
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Hi Matt- 

Thanks for answering, but safe mode didn't work for the one account again.
 Can I bypass or change the localhost  connection?

Bob

Matt
Matt
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I would suggest you try disabling the email scanning in your anti virus product. hopefully that will bypass the use of localhost.

bob stewart
bob stewart Question owner
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I also tried to disable the anti-virus and that didn't help either.