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I've installed Thunderbird on my desktop PC, but am having difficulty receiving e-mails into Thunderbird from my "orphaned" tiscali e-mail accounts.

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  • Last reply by Phoenix714

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My e-mail addresses are "orphaned" addresses i.e. originally from Tiscali (now Talk Talk) although my current ISP is now EE. I have been using Windows Live Mail on my Desktop and Laptop PCs (both Windows 7) for several years but recently suddenly could no longer receive any e-mails from on my Desktop PC.

I checked account settings which all appeared to be same on both machines. I was unable to repair WLM so backed up e-mail archive and attempted re-installing WLM - but unable as download / support for WLM from Microsoft has ended.

Anyway I have now installed Thunderbird and can set up accounts OK for my primary and secondary e-mail addresses and then can send out e-mails OK, but have not been able to receive e-mails at all.

(a) If I let Thunderbird set up the accounts automatically they are set up as IMAP and I do then get a list in the account Inbox of the e-mails currently on the server, but none of them will open at all - they just show a blank white page and I get a message that "the server has been disconnected".

(b) If I manually set up the account to POP3 (which I understand is the correct server type for my accounts) when I then try to receive mail a message briefly flashes up for a split second at the bottom of the screen saying how many messages are on the server but then says there are no messages to download.

I have tried altering the account settings in various ways but am not really sure what needs to be altered and have been unable to find any settings that work.

Attached is a screenprint showing the e-mail account settings which currently work OK (under WLM) on my laptop, which hopefully might give some clues as to what I am doing wrong.

Thanks in anticipation of your assistance as to what I need to do to receive e-mails via Thunderbird.

Regards

Mike

My e-mail addresses are "orphaned" addresses i.e. originally from Tiscali (now Talk Talk) although my current ISP is now EE. I have been using Windows Live Mail on my Desktop and Laptop PCs (both Windows 7) for several years but recently suddenly could no longer receive any e-mails from on my Desktop PC. I checked account settings which all appeared to be same on both machines. I was unable to repair WLM so backed up e-mail archive and attempted re-installing WLM - but unable as download / support for WLM from Microsoft has ended. Anyway I have now installed Thunderbird and can set up accounts OK for my primary and secondary e-mail addresses and then can send out e-mails OK, but have not been able to receive e-mails at all. (a) If I let Thunderbird set up the accounts automatically they are set up as IMAP and I do then get a list in the account Inbox of the e-mails currently on the server, but none of them will open at all - they just show a blank white page and I get a message that "the server has been disconnected". (b) If I manually set up the account to POP3 (which I understand is the correct server type for my accounts) when I then try to receive mail a message briefly flashes up for a split second at the bottom of the screen saying how many messages are on the server but then says there are no messages to download. I have tried altering the account settings in various ways but am not really sure what needs to be altered and have been unable to find any settings that work. Attached is a screenprint showing the e-mail account settings which currently work OK (under WLM) on my laptop, which hopefully might give some clues as to what I am doing wrong. Thanks in anticipation of your assistance as to what I need to do to receive e-mails via Thunderbird. Regards Mike
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

I have just found that it is my AVG Anti-virus software e-mail scanning that had been preventing e-mail getting to my Inbox.

After disabling the “Scan inbound mail (POP3, IMAP4)” option within AVG, all mail on server came to my Inbox, resolving my original question.

P.S. I have since found “How to set up AVG e-mail protection to scan encrypted e-mails” advice within AVG Support. However to me this seems not to relate to the current AVG (Free) interface that I have - the current interface also has a “SSL Scanning” option which (perhaps) negates the "How to set up... advice)

{I will raise a separate question to query this.}

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Are you currently affected by the TalkTalk maintenance schedule for June 27-28? That would explain "the server has been disconnected".

Also, according to their instructions, POP accounts should use smtp.tiscali.co.uk on port 995 with SSL/TLS connection security.

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Thanks for your response.

I wasn't aware of the Talk Talk maintenance but this doesn't seem to be the problem as I can receive e-mails as normal to my laptop (via Windows Live Mail) but not through Thunderbird on my Desktop PC. (e-mails are not deleted on the server when viewed on laptop so should also be downloading to Desktop PC)

I have tried the settings you suggested but still cannot receive e-mails. - When I try "Get messages" there is now a "Connected to smtp....." message and a green progress bar but these disappear after a short while and no messages come to my inbox.

I have read that Thunderbird doesn't deliver mail that is not encrypted so am wondering whether that might apply here? Perhaps because my e-mail addresses are "orphaned" ones originally issued years ago by Tiscali?

Does anyone have any further suggestions or advice please?

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Chosen Solution

I have just found that it is my AVG Anti-virus software e-mail scanning that had been preventing e-mail getting to my Inbox.

After disabling the “Scan inbound mail (POP3, IMAP4)” option within AVG, all mail on server came to my Inbox, resolving my original question.

P.S. I have since found “How to set up AVG e-mail protection to scan encrypted e-mails” advice within AVG Support. However to me this seems not to relate to the current AVG (Free) interface that I have - the current interface also has a “SSL Scanning” option which (perhaps) negates the "How to set up... advice)

{I will raise a separate question to query this.}

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Email scanning by antivirus programs is generally discouraged, but there are some instructions for AVG that may be relevant.

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Thanks for further response.

I am not overly concerned about the mail not being currently scanned as I am careful about opening attachments from unfamiliar sources etc.

However I have now raised separate question re disabling of AVG e-mail scanning.

I have also contacted AVG who have responded and are investigating the matter.

Modified by Phoenix714