Troubleshooting Email Errors

First, email usually works the first time, and quickly, but if you do get a message bounced back to you, try sending it again. (Otherwise you may spend a lot of time trying to troubleshoot what may be a temporary net work glitch.)

Pay attention to the ENTIRE error message! It will often tell you precisely why your message failed and give you a good idea of how to fix it.

If you continue to have problems, call our 24 hour Technical Support: 503-968-3279

Common Outlook Errors

Program keeps asking for Username and Password

Occasionally, Outlook has been known to 'forget' the username and password that you set in the program. When it does this, it usually presents you with a username and password window that seems to already be filled in with the right information. In this case, it is a good idea to remove both the username and password from that field, and re-enter it.

If that doesn't work, make sure you have administrator privileges and try the following solution from the Microsoft Support site:
KB Article 259416 Your Password Is Not Retained in Windows 2000 or Windows XP

Outlook frequently generates errors connecting the mail servers

Users of Norton Antivirus or other Norton products:

Typical error message: unable to send your email message because the connection to your email server was interrupted
Symantec (the makers of Norton) issued a patch for this problem, use LiveUpdate to make sure you have the lastest patches installed, or contact Symantec Support.

You Cannot Open Attachments

Error message: Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments

Outlook contains a security feature that blocks all attachments that it considers to be unsafe. If you want to disable it see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 290497 OL2002: You Cannot Open Attachments

Common Email Errors

"Undeliverable mail" (no other errors listed)

This is usually caused by an incorrect user or host name. Check the address and if possible verify it with the person you are sending it to.

"Bad host name." or "The following address had permanent fatal errors."

This can happen for two reasons. Usually this error means the email address was mistyped. Check the address and if possible verify it with the person you are sending it to. Or, this error can mean that your system does not recognize the host name. Ping the domain name in the email address. If it doesn't connect, or recognize the hostname contact your Mail Administrator (Computer Person), or EasyStreet Technical Support.

"Local configuration error."

This error means that there is a problem with the email account that you are sending to. Check the address and if possible verify it with the person you are sending it to. If there are no obvious errors, ask the recipient's Mail Administrator (Computer Person) to help.

"Looping message detected."

This error gets sent when two or more mail servers disagree about the correct location of the recipients mailbox. Check the address and if possible verify it with the person you are sending it to. Sometimes this problem can only be solved by the local Mail Administrator (Computer Person) for the address you are sending email to.

"System timeout during mail transfer"

This error usually occurs because the recipient's mail server (or a mail server along the way) is either unreachable or overloaded. There also may be a network error. Verify the address with the person you are sending to, their Mail Administrator (Computer Person) may be the best person to troubleshoot this problem.