I suggest you update to the current version, then you can follow instructions written for the realeae to find the config editor and explain what to do to use it. How ever the config editor has been located in options/preferences for more than a decade now. I do not have a version 78 to look at exactly where. I think it had the search option so just search for config in options.

However why do you "suspect" it is TLS that is the problem? A simple check on the server will confirm if it supports current encryption protocols. Setting the authentication security to none will provide some level of confirmation in that you will be able to connect. However that is not really describing what the real problem is.

I suggest you test the mail server using this site https://www.immuniweb.com/ssl/ to determine it's status as secure. Changing TLS supported versions without confirmed need is NOT a good idea. Personally I would prefer to use none and know I had none than something I knew was broken at a basic level and would probably let me down and can not be relied upon.

Good of you to get in touch, Matt, but is there a version 78 user out there, please, who may be in a better position to advise? I have now found the config.editor, and in accordance with the instruction given in the help article changed the value of security.tls.version.min to 1, but when I try to send mail, upon entering my server password I am still told "login failed". Last time I had a new PC, I had similar problem, solved it by installing Mail for Windows, which did send mail, and copying the outgoing mail settings from there to Thunderbird, but this time that has not worked (Mail for Windows not satisfactory because it sends and receives messages, but fails to keep copies of sent messages, or store or archive received messages). I have been in touch with Plusnet help desk, with their advice I have checked that the settings that I am trying to use agree with what they recommend and those listed on Mozilla web site. Has anybody any idea how to get Thunderbird to send mail from my PC via Plusnet server, please?

This is not one of those internet forums where you post something and wait 6 months in the hope someone like you comes along. This topic will drift into oblivion in about 2 days and only appear when folks are searching answers to their own problems.

I tried to tell you changing the value would probably not work, I provided you a link to confirm if it was the issue. However you proceeded as if it was and proved that the TLS version was not the issue. Now I have a provider I will undertake the test to see if there are issue. The use of a relay server leaves my just a little concerned.I hope to reset it. So can we move onto the normal basic troubleshooting process.

1. Long experience has taught us that most issues post update have nothing to do with Thunderbird and everything to do with third party software. Most usually anti virus products. Most commonly mentioned are McAfee, Bitdefender and Norton. But they are not alone.

But before launching into that. Could you please do the following?

1. Open the menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information, then click Copy text to Clipboard.
2. Go to https://pastebin.com, paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page, use the Create New Paste button to create a page containing your info, then copy the resulting URL (address) of the page created.
3. Open a reply to this post, and paste the link to your troubleshooting information you just copied.

Also try the following as safe mode removes many of the connectivity issues that come after an update.ry one of the following:

• Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
• 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 safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.

Hello Matt and thanks again for your hard work. Sorry for the delay in replying, simply because despite current situation I was able to visit family and friends for Christmas, so only now able to try out your ideas. For the record, the reason for pursuing the TLS thing was that an article in the Mozilla help pages specifically advised me to do so, if I had been able at that stage to find the config editor and the change had worked, I would have had no need to bother you at all! Safe modes in both Thunderbird and Windows 10 made no difference, and I have pasted the information you requested. I think you may well be correct that the problem lies with the server (one reason why before getting in touch with you, I spoke to somebody at Plusnet), which is old and does not even offer encryption. I wish you success with trying to help now, thanks again.

Matt, guess which idiot forgot to paste the link, shut down his computer before realising and had to do it again ............ here it is: - https://pastebin.com/ZF1UQnwQ

Matt, guess which idiot forgot to paste the link, shut down his computer before realising and had to do it again ............ here it is: - https://pastebin.com/ZF1UQnwQ

I'm not seeing anything at that link. It says: This page is no longer available. It has either expired, been removed by its creator, or removed by one of the Pastebin staff.

Plusnet In Help > Troubleshooting Infomation 'Mail and News Accounts' copy all that section and post info in this forum.

re : I have now found the config.editor, and in accordance with the instruction given in the help article changed the value of security.tls.version.min to 1, but when I try to send mail, upon entering my server password I am still told "login failed".

I'm assuming you did restart Thunderbird after making the change.

As this seems to be a sending issue - check the Outgoing Server SMTP settings.

• server name : relay.plus.net
• Port : 587
• Connection Security: STARTTLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password

The info you post will tell us if you have more than one email address. If yes, then it is possible you are not sending using the correct smtp server. Account A may be using Account B when sending and so will fail because server does not all accept it.

Thank you Toad-Hall for getting involved, I hope not too confusing!! I have reposted what Matt asked for at https://pastebin.com/tQcJ0Bjx , default expiry option is "never", this time have selected "1 week" just in case that helps. I wish I could remember all that occurred last time I had this problem with a new PC, not surprising that after more than 4 years I cannot! I do remember being advised to try using relay.plus.net rather than smtp.plus.net or smtp.care4free.net, as far as I recall somebody at Plusnet told me that all three relate to the same server and should work. Mail for Windows, which is sending mail, is using smtp.plus.net and port 25, but I have tried those settings in Thunderbird, with Connection Security at both None and StartTLS, but in all cases and using the settings you suggest, even after restarting Thunderbird, I am told Login failed, cannot authenticate to server. My Plusnet username is pianist-kent, and the address from which I send mail is pianist-kent@care4free.net; if you believe you see any other account, please ignore it because it does not actually exist. I cannot (at present at least) find in Plusnet Help any section called "Troubleshooting Information" i hope some of that is helpful!

re :I cannot (at present at least) find in Plusnet Help any section called "Troubleshooting Information"

Sorry for confusion :) I'm talking about in Thunderbird.

Got it! Here it is, I have tidied up the section about outgoing server so that you can read it: -

Mail and News Accounts ID Incoming server Name Connection security Authentication method account1 (pop3) pop3.care4free.net:110 None Normal password account2 (none) Local Folders None Normal password

Outgoing servers

Name Connection security Authentication method Default? smtp.plus.net:25 None Normal password true

ok I forgot about this handy new sending log creation, despite writing a blog post about it. Please try it and post the log. Then we might start getting somewhere. https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2021/10/logging-mail-sending-in-thunderbird.html

Thank you Matt. This is what appeared in the Error Console after I followed the instructions [NB appears to have been a change since the web page was written: when I right clicked Console window the menu did not include "All", but I discovered that right clicking again brought a menu including "Select All", after which I could copy and paste].

I really hope this helps! Good luck.

Layout was forced before the page was fully loaded. If stylesheets are not yet loaded this may cause a flash of unstyled content. contentAreaClick.js:95:6 window.controllers/Controllers is deprecated. Do not use it for UA detection. blank mailnews.smtp: Sending message <2145ed34-eed1-5ef1-973a-bb54e557ca4d@care4free.net> SmtpService.jsm:84:18 mailnews.smtp: Connecting to smtp://smtp.plus.net:25 SmtpClient.jsm:121:17 mailnews.smtp: Connected SmtpClient.jsm:386:17 mailnews.smtp: S: 220 avasout-ptp-004 smtp relay.plus.net

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: C: EHLO [192.168.1.193] SmtpClient.jsm:578:19 mailnews.smtp: S: 250-avasout-ptp-004 hello [86.186.106.128], pleased to meet you

250-HELP

250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN

250-SIZE 104857600

250-PIPELINING

250-8BITMIME

250-STARTTLS

250 OK

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: Possible auth methods: PLAIN,LOGIN SmtpClient.jsm:898:17 mailnews.smtp: Maximum allowed message size: 104857600 SmtpClient.jsm:904:19 mailnews.smtp: Current auth method: PLAIN SmtpClient.jsm:616:17 mailnews.smtp: Authentication via AUTH PLAIN SmtpClient.jsm:631:21 mailnews.smtp: C: Logging suppressed (it probably contained auth information) SmtpClient.jsm:574:19 mailnews.smtp: S: 535 ...authentication rejected

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: Command failed: 535 ...authentication rejected; currentAction=_actionAUTHComplete SmtpClient.jsm:503:19 mailnews.smtp: Authentication failed: ...authentication rejected SmtpClient.jsm:701:17 mailnews.smtp: Current auth method: LOGIN SmtpClient.jsm:616:17 mailnews.smtp: Authentication via AUTH LOGIN SmtpClient.jsm:624:21 mailnews.smtp: C: AUTH LOGIN SmtpClient.jsm:578:19 mailnews.smtp: S: 334 VXNlcm5hbWU6

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: AUTH LOGIN USER SmtpClient.jsm:960:17 mailnews.smtp: C: Logging suppressed (it probably contained auth information) SmtpClient.jsm:574:19 mailnews.smtp: S: 334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: AUTH LOGIN PASS SmtpClient.jsm:975:17 mailnews.smtp: C: Logging suppressed (it probably contained auth information) SmtpClient.jsm:574:19 mailnews.smtp: S: 535 ...authentication rejected

SmtpClient.jsm:412:17 mailnews.smtp: Command failed: 535 ...authentication rejected; currentAction=_actionAUTHComplete SmtpClient.jsm:503:19 mailnews.smtp: Authentication failed: ...authentication rejected SmtpClient.jsm:701:17 mailnews.smtp: Authentication failed: ...authentication rejected SmtpClient.jsm:742:19 mailnews.send: Sending failed; Unable to authenticate to Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp.plus.net. Please check the password and verify the 'Authentication method' in 'Account Settings | Outgoing server (SMTP)'., exitCode=2153066805, originalMsgURI=mailbox-message://pianist-kent@pop3.care4free.net/Drafts#1 MessageSend.jsm:330:27 mailnews.smtp: Closing connection... 2 SmtpClient.jsm:152:17 mailnews.smtp: Socket closed. SmtpClient.jsm:486:17

Greetings, Matt and Toad-Hall and co! I simply wondered if there is any sign of a solution, please, it is getting very tedious/time wasting, having to use Mail for Windows to send messages, because the only way I can keep copies of said messages is by Ccing them to myself and in Thunderbird receiving them and moving them to sent items folder. Also archiving and newsgroups work only in Thunderbird, which really is a first class app, I could not be more pleased with its performance for more than four years with my previous PC. Do you agree that the problem could really be with my (apparently old and out of date) server, and if so have you please any advice re what I should ask Plusnet (who seem to have no idea) what to do about it? And have you any idea if I am correct to believe that changing server is likely to necessitate changing my e-address and setting up my web site from scratch in a new space? I think it wonderful what you volunteers achieve with presumably limited resources, and hope that you can eventually sort this out, especially now that Matt's blogpost has revealed that other Thunderbird users also have trouble sending mail!

Outgoing server smtp info currenly used and failing:

SMTP Server Name : smtp.plus.net Port: 25 Connection Security: None Authentication method: Normal password User Name: full email address

Apparently there are three providers - Plusnet, Force9 and Free-online Plusnet use smtp server name: relay.plus.net Force9 use smtp server name: relay.force9.net Free-Online use smtp server name: relay.free-online.net

As you use 'Plusnet' then.... Suggest you use:

• SMTP server name: relay.plus.net
• Port: 587
• Connection Security: You could try 'STARTTLS' but if it fails try 'None'
• Authentication method: Normal password
• User Name: full email address

After editing Restart Thunderbird to ensure it is using those settings.

Check the saved password settings: Menu app icon > Preferences select 'Privacy & Security' 'Passwords' section click on 'Saved Passwords' button click on 'Show Passwords' button For the smtp line for that mail account - right click on line - select 'Edit Password' ensure password is correct. Completely clear text and carefully retype password. click on Close.

Test sending. If no password was stored then using the above smtp setting you should get a prompt for password. Enter password and select checkbox to Remember Passwords and then click on OK

Toad-Hall, you are a genius! Convinced as I am that I had tried all possible combinations of settings at least twice, I am getting old, and cannot 100% rule out the possibility of having missed that one .....