Earthlink/Outlook Express glitch - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

grumpyolddude · 01-30-2006, 08:06 AM

A co-worker has me stumped.
His cable/isp uses earthlink email, and Bob uses Outlook Express to view his email. Last week, anything other than plain text started coming through garbled, like trying to veiw yEnc encoded files with a non-yEnc newsreader. Bob has spent 10 hours on the phone with Earthlink tech support, and other computer-savvy acquaintances with no solution.
He's still running WindowsME (idiot!), and doesn't want to change.
Any clues?
Thanks!

maleficent · 01-30-2006, 08:22 AM

first thing i'd do is check to make sure that it's not the mail coming in that's the problem- if he goes to earthlink's webmail - does it look normal there?

grumpyolddude · 01-30-2006, 08:55 AM

He's never used the web mail. He'll try it... I'll report back.
Thanks, mal!

maleficent · 01-30-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpyolddude

He's never used the web mail. He'll try it... I'll report back.
Thanks, mal!

as an application it sucks - but it will show you right away whether or not the problem is with his mail or just with outlook express...

grumpyolddude · 01-31-2006, 05:19 AM

Monday night, Bob used Earthlinks web-based email and all messages and attachments were perfectly displayed. He then opened outlook express, and the messages were scrambled as previously described. Bob sent himself a message with images from outlook express. He opened the messages with web mail to find them equally scrambled.
The problem seems to be in outlook express' encoding/decoding of non-text content. I've contemplated telling Bob to re-install ME on top of the old install. Maybe that would repair the damaged part of the program?

maleficent · 01-31-2006, 05:33 AM

it's been a while since i've seen outlook express -is there still an option to display text in either html or in text format? Sounds lik ethat's what got stepped on...

Installing Outlook express would probably fix it..

grumpyolddude · 01-31-2006, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

it's been a while since i've seen outlook express -is there still an option to display text in either html or in text format? Sounds lik ethat's what got stepped on...

Installing Outlook express would probably fix it..

OE is a module of Windows. So, this requires a full ME install?

Martian · 01-31-2006, 08:20 AM

No, OE can be uninstalled/reinstalled independent of ME. You'll find it in add/remove programs, under Windows Components; or at least, I think that's where it is. It's been years since I've seen ME (and I still wake up screaming some nights...)

I'd take this as an opportunity to get Bob on a client that isn't so kludgey. Show him Thunderbird and he'll never look back.

WillyPete · 01-31-2006, 12:35 PM

I'd check that it iisn't a UUencode / MIME problem.

Tools options mail format.

Easy fix, try Mozilla's thunderbird program.
Remember to set it to use IMAP on that account, or, if Earthlink only offer POP email, to set it to leave a copy on the server otherwise Thunderbird will have some email and OE the rest.

grumpyolddude · 01-31-2006, 12:51 PM

Excellent suggestions! I'll email them over to bob....oh oh, that won't work (hehe).

01-30-2006, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Earthlink/Outlook Express glitch A co-worker has me stumped. His cable/isp uses earthlink email, and Bob uses Outlook Express to view his email. Last week, anything other than plain text started coming through garbled, like trying to veiw yEnc encoded files with a non-yEnc newsreader. Bob has spent 10 hours on the phone with Earthlink tech support, and other computer-savvy acquaintances with no solution. He's still running WindowsME (idiot!), and doesn't want to change. Any clues? Thanks! __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

01-30-2006, 08:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	first thing i'd do is check to make sure that it's not the mail coming in that's the problem- if he goes to earthlink's webmail - does it look normal there? __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

01-30-2006, 08:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	He's never used the web mail. He'll try it... I'll report back. Thanks, mal! __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

01-31-2006, 05:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Monday night, Bob used Earthlinks web-based email and all messages and attachments were perfectly displayed. He then opened outlook express, and the messages were scrambled as previously described. Bob sent himself a message with images from outlook express. He opened the messages with web mail to find them equally scrambled. The problem seems to be in outlook express' encoding/decoding of non-text content. I've contemplated telling Bob to re-install ME on top of the old install. Maybe that would repair the damaged part of the program? __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

01-31-2006, 05:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	it's been a while since i've seen outlook express -is there still an option to display text in either html or in text format? Sounds lik ethat's what got stepped on... Installing Outlook express would probably fix it.. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

01-31-2006, 08:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	No, OE can be uninstalled/reinstalled independent of ME. You'll find it in add/remove programs, under Windows Components; or at least, I think that's where it is. It's been years since I've seen ME (and I still wake up screaming some nights...) I'd take this as an opportunity to get Bob on a client that isn't so kludgey. Show him Thunderbird and he'll never look back. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

01-31-2006, 12:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	I'd check that it iisn't a UUencode / MIME problem. Tools options mail format. Easy fix, try Mozilla's thunderbird program. Remember to set it to use IMAP on that account, or, if Earthlink only offer POP email, to set it to leave a copy on the server otherwise Thunderbird will have some email and OE the rest.

01-31-2006, 12:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Excellent suggestions! I'll email them over to bob....oh oh, that won't work (hehe). __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard