Thunderbird Email Client Setup (page 2)

 

• Now you're at the main Thunderbird window. Click the little + by the heading "Local Folders" in the left pane so you can see what's going on

• Click the Write icon

• Send a test email, from yourself to yourself.  Choose "Inbox" in the left pane.  Remember you were supposed to keep your fingers crossed? This is the moment it's for.

If your Internet Service Provider is up to date and in the 21st century, your mail will send and arrive in your mailbox in a few moments. However, if you get a "Sending of Message Failed" error window, there's more work to be done. I'm sorry, this is not my idea of a good time either.

The reason for this bit of foolishness is that some ISPs won't let you access any outgoing server but their own. This is the case with my ISP, Cox Cable (are you listening, Mr. Cox?). Now you have to do some research. Go to the internet and find the homepage of your ISP, whoever it is.  Find the support or help pages. Somewhere in there will be address of the "Outgoing Mail Server" or "SMTP address" (SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, believe it or not). In my case, it's smtp.cox-internet.com. Now go back to "Tools" on the menu bar and choose "Account Settings..." again.

• In the left pane of the Account Settings window, pick "Outgoing Server (SMTP)". In the SMTP box in the right pane, erase what's there and type in your ISP's address. Clear the checkmark from the "Use name and password" option. Click "OK".

• Try sending your test email again and it should go. Don't worry, when someone receives an email from you it will show as being sent from thepracticalromantic.com. If it won't send, check your spellings in all the account settings and try again. If it's still no go, write me and we'll try to find the problem.  I'll use the information to make a troubleshooting section.

Problems: problems@thepracticalromantic.com