A fix for when Thunderbird cannot send e-mails

Are you finding you cannot send e-mail from Thunderbird? Does Thunderbird keep asking you for a password, but ignores it when you enter one? If this is you, read on.

I have just had one of those annoying wastes of a couple of hours when something which worked on my computer suddenly decided not to, for no apparent reason.

In this particular case it was that my e-mail client, Mozilla Thunderbird, suddenly decided not to send e-mails. It would receive them fine, but not send them. Instead, it would display a pop-up box asking for the password to the server, but when I entered it, it simply repeated the request. If I cancelled the request, I got a message saying it could not connect to the SMPT server.

I tried the Thunderbird Help Forum, and Googling things like "Thunderbird cannot send e-mail asks for password", and all combinations in between. I found numerous similar complaints and requests for help going back over the years, all from people who'd been using Thunderbird and who suddenly found they could receive, but not send, e-mails, and that repeated attempts to enter the password were refused.

Well, I finally worked out a solution. I am not sure if it is a wise one, but it works for me, so along with my advice on Installing FAX services for Windows XP, I offer it as a 'public service'.

1. Open Thunderbird

2. From the menu bar at the top, click Tools> Account Settings> Outgoing Server (SMPT) [from left hand menu in the new window]

3. Highlight the account currently in use (or the one you wish to use) and select Edit

4. In the box which opens, under Security and Authentication unclick Use name and password

5. Click OK

6. Try sending again

It works for me. If it works for you, leave a message.

John Richardson

(PS: I just tried doing the reverse on my wife's computer, setting it to use the name and password, and sure enough it locked up. I have set it back!)

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Installing FAX Services for Windows XP

You may be finding, as I did, that you can't install the Windows Fax service on your computer, despite doing everything right via the Control Panel.

I have found a way to resolve this problem, which has worked for two machines (both mine). If you try this, you do so entirely at your own risk. I have no way of knowing whether it has affected other parts of my computers and I take no responsibility if it fries yours!

I would also mention that I found the solution via this website, so thanks and kudos to them. Notice, you will need a Windows XP disc (Professional or Home Edition didn’t seem to matter, but the reinstallation discs that came with my laptop didn't work, so I had to use the full-version disc that came with the desktop.)

I would underline the caution that I’ve since found on Microsoft’s own website. According to Microsoft, the problem is that “secedit.sdb in %windir%\security\database\ may be damaged”. So before anything else, make a backup copy of the secedit.sdb file. I didn't, so I may yet find this wasn't such a good idea!

Then this is pretty much what I did:

1. Click Start, Run, and type or copy-and-paste this into the window:

esentutl /p %windir%\security\database\secedit.sdb

2. Click OK.

3. A black ‘command window’ will open and you will also get a dire warning: “You should only run Repair on damaged or corrupted data bases. Repair will not apply information in the transaction log files to the database, and may cause information to be lost. Do you want to proceed?”

4. I didn’t know what it meant, either, but I really needed that Fax sending, so I clicked ‘Yes’. Your computer, your call!

5. Not a lot seemed to happen, but now is the time to go back to trying to reinstall the Fax Services via the Control Panel. Use 'Start', 'Add or Remove Programs' and 'Add/Remove Windows Components'. Tick the box for Fax Services and it should now install.

6. Provided a full Windows XP disc (not one of those pathetic 'reinstall' things that comes with a laptop) is loaded into the CD Rom, it seems suddenly all to work OK. I now have the Fax Services up and running on both machines and have succesfully sent a fax, so it worked for me.

7. If it works for you, post a message!

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