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December 27th, 2006 20:00

AVG crashing OE connection

Hi everyone,
 
Just got a Dimension E520 for Christmas.  Been setting it up.  When I open Outlook Express I think the AVG email part is not letting OE connect to my server.  I keep turning off and disabiling all the email functions of AVG.  I even shut down the AVG control center completely.
 
Sometimes I'm getting in but I haven't figured out what setting I've changed.  I keep getting
"Your POP3 Server has not responded in xx seconds"
 
My E520 came with Pc-cillin Internet Security 14.
 
Thanks,
Christine
 
OK here's more info.  I can SEND but not Receive.

Message Edited by volvogirl1 on 12-27-200602:28 PM

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8.8K Posts

December 27th, 2006 20:00

If you can send and receive you have to correct your server settings in OE.


Now let's see if we can fix the OE problem?

Go to Start>>>>Run>>>>type in MSCONFIG and hit enter.

Click on the Start Up tab and open it.

Uncheck everything that has to do with AVG.

Click OK

Reboot and see if that helps you connect OE.

If it doesn't it isn't AVG

Don't forget to go back into msconfig and recheck all those boxes and reboot after you check this out.

zb1

Message Edited by zbestwun2001 on 12-27-200602:56 PM

340 Posts

December 27th, 2006 22:00

Thanks for the help.  No that didn't help turning off AVG.  I had OE set up and working right.  I don't know when it started failing on incoming mail.  The settings haven't changed. 
 
I imported my address list and messages (and IE favorites) from my old computer ok.  Maybe after that? 
 
I installed Quicken2004 and my old Word97 and Excel97 programs.  I removed the trial version of MS Office Small Bus Edition 2003.  Don't remember what else I've done today.  Mainly moving my files over via a flash drive.
 
What can I check next?
 
Thanks again,
Christine
 
Oh,  and I removed AOL

Message Edited by volvogirl1 on 12-27-200604:15 PM

I think I fixed it.  It's working now.   I opened PC-cillin and unchecked the scan incoming messages.  I figured it was one of the virus checking programs.

Message Edited by volvogirl1 on 12-27-200605:14 PM

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December 28th, 2006 00:00

"I figured it was one of the virus checking programs."
How many anti-virus programs are you running in realtime? Running more than one can cause slowdowns and conflicts. If you are using more than one, it would be good to either totally disable (not just for email scanning) or uninstall one.

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December 28th, 2006 02:00

I agree with Bugbatter.
 
Furthermore, I would totally disable email scanning in whatever AV you choose to keep. This is a totally unnecessary gimmick, that does not add any extra protection, and can cause problems with, or even damage your email.

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December 28th, 2006 11:00

Say it isn't so Joe53, except for one infected floppy disk I brought home from work in 1998 all viruses that were detected by my AV software were discovered on incoming email.  Although the use of virus checking on outgoing email is open to debate, I see no logic to turning off incoming e-mail checking.  If my virus checking software were to damage anything, except possibility in the process of infestation removal that would be the time I’d be looking for new AV software.

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December 28th, 2006 15:00



msgale wrote:
Say it isn't so Joe53...


But it is so~
 
-Excerpt from " The Other E-Mail Threat: File Corruption in Outlook Express" (Tom Koch, MS-MVP)
"...As surprising and ironic as it may seem though, the most common cause of DBX corruption is not a virus, but rather anti-virus programs that are configured to scan incoming or outgoing e-mail. Even the most well-known anti-virus programs have exhibited this problem from time to time... 
Scanning e-mail as it arrives therefore adds nothing to your level of protection. It might indeed make you feel more protected, but that feeling is an illusion. If the system scan is unable to detect the virus, the e-mail scan will fail to do so also."

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx#EOAAC
 
-From " Turn off email scanning in your antivirus software" (Stephen L. Cochran, Ph.D., MS-MVP)
"Antivirus software invades the Outlook Express program to try and intercept (incoming and, in some cases, outgoing) messages that might contain virus. The problem with this approach is that the antivirus software can trigger the destruction of an entire message folder or the entire message store, when it attempts to remove a message containing a potential virus.
Because of the fragility of the OE message store structure and its propensity for destruction, this applies to just about any antivirus program that touches the OE message store. So its best to follow these instructions regardless of what antivirus program you use. This suggestion also extends to anti-spamware programs that interfere with the operations of OE. Such software should be disabled with respect to OE mail, or uninstalled. "
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
 
-Even Symantec admits email scanning is unnecessary:
" Is my computer still protected against viruses if I disable Email Scanning?
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and email attachments."
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/d4578f66d8f00a0188256d4e006aaa94/4ba5fc8ef939c44c88256c7500723cf0?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam
 
-Error message "The operation timed out waiting for a response from the receiving (POP) server 0x8004210a"
"This problem has been observed in some configurations that use antivirus software to scan e-mail. The products in which this problem occurs may vary. However, these symptoms have been observed in configurations that include Norton Internet Security 2005, Norton AntiVirus 2003, Norton AntiVirus 2002, or McAfee software products."
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813518/en-us?spid=2578&sid=139

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December 28th, 2006 17:00

I stand, actually I am sitting as I write this, but in any case I was wrong

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December 30th, 2006 19:00

Furthermore, I would totally disable email scanning in whatever AV you choose to keep. This is a totally unnecessary gimmick, that does not add any extra protection, and can cause problems with, or even damage your email.
 
Although I read the lengthy reply I'm not totally convinced.  I use Avast with OE and have email scanning enabled.  Earlier today I received two messages from two different addresses with a postcard.exe attachment that caused an Avast potential threat warning to popup.  I did not recognize the name of either sender and I immediately told Avast to delete them.
 
After some additional Google research I found that postcard.exe can take on several virus forms. Although I would have probably deleted it from my inbox before opening I'm glad I have that extra protection enabled.
 

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December 30th, 2006 19:00

Jeff,
That's a very good point.

I run the email scan using Avast and have no problems.


zb1

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December 30th, 2006 21:00



@msgale wrote:
I stand, actually I am sitting as I write this, but in any case I was wrong.





It takes a man to admit he was wrong.

zb1

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December 30th, 2006 21:00

All:
 
I posted that advice because it is the unanimous consensus of experts that I trust (and I could have posted many more links in support of that advice.) They all say that email scanning is redundant, and may (not will) slow down or interfere with OE, and may (not will) damage your email. I haven't used any email scanning for a couple of years now without any problem, but if it doesn't cause you problems and makes you feel safer then use it. The OP clearly was having problems which were solved by disabling it.
 
And of course there are always counter-arguments:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Email_scanning_-_pros_and_cons
 
These arguments do not persuade me, but as someone once said  "Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chances".
 
Best wishes to all here for a happy and prosperous New Year.
 
Joe

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December 30th, 2006 21:00

As pointed by JOE53, I was wrong about e-mail scanning.  I am left with two questions, since I use Outlook not Outlook Express corruption, for me, should not be an issue.  The other point which is of a more philosophical concern is, if there is a problem with Outlook Express, isn't it about time it was fixed?

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December 30th, 2006 22:00

Personally I use the Mozilla email client Thunderbird.

So Joe probably has the answers. Oh Joe???

zb1

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December 31st, 2006 01:00

I know nothing about Office Outlook, or whether it is as vulnerable to email scanning corruption problems as is OE. Or Thunderbird or gmail or any other email client for that matter.
 
However, I did find the following thread addressing Office Outlook and email scanning, FWIW:
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=22857
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