It's terrible that this provider does not support encryption to conceal your login information. What are they thinking?

Does this apply to you?

If your email address was created after May 9th 2013, you automatically have SMTP authentication and can use the steps below to set up your email program.

Note: If your email address was created before May 9th 2013, but you wish to have SMTP authentication, contact the Bell Aliant helpdesk (1-888-214-7896) to have your email accounts updated to SMTP Authentication.

I spent a long time with a guy at Bell Aliant and he told me that this new (smtpa) replacing the smtp was authenticated, that's what the 'a' added to smtp stands for. The old system worked for many years and my email address is many many yrs old.

I can't actually test this, but based on their documentation, I think your SMTP settings would look like the attached in Thunderbird, with your real email address, of course.

There are various articles online describing how to test whether you can reach an SMTP server using the telnet utility. I don't have deep knowledge in this area. However, I think it's worth trying the first couple of steps to see whether your connection is blocked or allowed.

On Windows 7, you first have to enable the telnet client through the Control Panel, Programs and Features. (screen shot)

Then you can open a command window (Start menu > cmd.exe in the search box).

Then you can try to connect to the server by typing the following and pressing Enter:

telnet smtpa.bellaliant.net 2225

If that connection is not blocked, the server should respond as shown in the third screen shot. Can you connect?

I feel stupid but how do you get a screen shot, I just get a list of installed programs?

It sounds like you might have opened Uninstall a Program. Try to find "Turn Windows Features On and Off". If you do not have administrative permission, this may be hidden.

For screen shots, I usually use the PrintScreen key for the entire screen, or Alt+PrintScreen for the currently active window/dialog. Then paste into Paint (I have it pinned to the Start menu, so I forget exactly what it's under, but try Accessories) and save as a PNG file.

I got to the small black screen but can't change the C:\users\ alex> and the quit doesn't work?

Actually, you don't need to change the C:\users\alex. You can just type the telnet command right there.

Or if you prefer, you can go up a level to C:\users by using the change directory command and the .. (indicating parent directory):

cd ..

(If you never used MS-DOS, I realize this is complete gibberish...)

I got the black screen and it came up exactly like yours.

still not sending.

(pop3) pop.bellaliant.net:110 None Normal password smpta.bellaliant.net:2225 None Normal password

These settings are corr4ect, as far as your providers web site indicates.

Now boot your computer in safe mode with networking Microsoft have instructions here for windows 7 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7

Can you send?

I'm sure I can start in safe mode...what is it you want me to send?

From the Troubleshooting Information your server is wrong:

smpta.bellaliant.net:2225

It should be:

smtpa.bellaliant.net:2225

That seems to have done the trick. The smtp has been changed so many time (by me) that I clearly entered it wrong the last time. I hit the 'Mark it Solved' button but got an error message....I'm sick of error messages so I went this route to thank you. hopefully I'm back with full Thunderbird as Gmail drives me crazy. Thx again.