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failure to connect to POP3 mail server and failure to download emails

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by Aren

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I'm using latest version Thunderbird 78.10 and for the last 3 days have been unable to download my mail from my domain POP3 server. As soon as TB attempts to download mail I get the message: "Connection to server pop3.mydomain was reset". No mail is downloaded to TB. I’ve checked my domain webmail Inbox and all the mail is sitting there, but I can’t download them to my TB mail program. This problem does not occur with the Outlook mail program on my other computer, nor on my iPhone. All my mail downloads normally in those other mail programs. I've tried all the TB fixes suggested in the forums, but none of them have solved the problem: - I’ve uninstalled ESET anti-virus on my computer; - I’ve reduced the security.tls.version.min value from 3 to 1 in Config Editor under Options; - My Connection Security Setting is NONE; - My ISP email host technicians have uninstalled and re-installed my email address. Despite all this Thunderbird version 78.10 refuses to download my mail. My ISP email technicians tell me that this problem is unique to Thunderbird. Does anyone have any idea how I can get Thunderbird 78.10 to download my mail?

I'm using latest version Thunderbird 78.10 and for the last 3 days have been unable to download my mail from my domain POP3 server. As soon as TB attempts to download mail I get the message: "Connection to server pop3.mydomain was reset". No mail is downloaded to TB. I’ve checked my domain webmail Inbox and all the mail is sitting there, but I can’t download them to my TB mail program. This problem does not occur with the Outlook mail program on my other computer, nor on my iPhone. All my mail downloads normally in those other mail programs. I've tried all the TB fixes suggested in the forums, but none of them have solved the problem: - I’ve uninstalled ESET anti-virus on my computer; - I’ve reduced the security.tls.version.min value from 3 to 1 in Config Editor under Options; - My Connection Security Setting is NONE; - My ISP email host technicians have uninstalled and re-installed my email address. Despite all this Thunderbird version 78.10 refuses to download my mail. My ISP email technicians tell me that this problem is unique to Thunderbird. Does anyone have any idea how I can get Thunderbird 78.10 to download my mail?
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Hi Matt, I really appreciate your reply. You have pointed to the exact area (ESET) which I suspected was the root of the problem. In fact I had this identical problem twice before: on March 4, 2021 and again on April 7, 2021.

In March I followed the protocol outlined here: https://forum.eset.com/topic/26355-thunderbird-7843-email-fetching-problem/

This did not immediately solve the problem, but about 15 minutes later the problem resolved spontaneously.

In early April I followed the protocol outlined by your blogspot, and again it did not solve immediately, but resolved by itself the next day (!?).

On this round, April 20, I contacted ESET engineers directly through their Australia / New Zealand reseller, ChilliSoft. Their engineer said they were aware of the previous issues, and claimed that the issue had been resolved.

Using TeamViewer the engineer accessed my computer and uninstalled ESET completely from my computer. We then tried to download email in Thunderbird, but exactly the same blocking message appeared "Connection to server pop3.connect.com.fj was reset". The ESET engineer said that this proves that ESET is not the problem. He said that this is a Thunderbird issue, due to a failure to "shake hands" with my domain mail server.

I've since spoken to my domain mail engineers, and they point out that my wife, using exactly the same domain email address is able to download mail to her computer's Outlook mail program. She is using POP3 server setting in Outlook and also has an ESET licence installed and she is not having any issues.

I like the functionality of Thunderbird, but there is definitely an issue arising from their latest version 78. I wish I could figure out the trigger causing the blockage, so I can make adjustments. It's either my domain mail server settings, or perhaps there is still some lingering ESET trigger in the background (if that is possible).

BTW, did you get the same error message: "Connection to server pop3.domain-name was reset" ? I haven't seen this error message in any T-Bird forums.

Modified by Aren

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what is the domain you are connecting to? Specifically the mail domain. Some domains that are priced to be competitive do not have a mail server but tell you to use a third party domain name and SSL/TLS connection security that is not correctly configured usually. SO having the domains and server names being used are very important.

You appear to be posting from a windows 7 computer. Is that the one with the issue? Is your wife on the same operating system? or a later version, or even apple or Linux What version of outlook are we talking about?

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Hi Matt, I live in Fiji and am using the mail domain that was the first to commence operation in Fiji when Internet first reached our shore: connect.com.fj This mail service is provided by Connect Fiji Limited, a subsidiary of Telecom Fiji Limited.

On the other hand, our Internet Service Provider is Vodafone Fiji Limited. In our small town Vodafone provide us with good high-speed wireless connectivity (via our Office router) whereas Telecom can only provide us internet connectivity via copper cable.

My wife and I both access the same email address via the same Office router (from Vodafone ISP). She and I both have similar Lenovo PC's, and both our PC's are operating Windows 7 Professional, Service Pack 1. Her version is 6.1.7601. My version is not displayed., but is probably the same. I notice that they are both 64-bit OS.

She is using MS Outlook 2013 (ver 15.0.5337.1000) 32-bit. Her Outlook is using POP3 Incoming Server protocol via Port 110, and NO encrypted connections. Incoming Mail Server: pop3.connect.com.fj

Her mail settings all look pretty well identical to mine, except that I'm using Thunderbird (32-bit)..... I can send you a Screenshot of our respective PC mail settings if that will help you.

Both our computers share the same ESET (2-user) licence, and we are both using identical ESET Internet Security (ver 14.0.22.0). Her mail downloads smoothly. Mine hasn't come down since April 20. Frustration !

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Hi Matt, Any suggestions ? Despite trying several fixes, my Thunderbird is still not downloading email. I've now got 343 emails waiting. Surely I'm not the only user being plagued by this connection reset issue ?