computer help?

[desh]

When we try to send email from our computer at work to more than 5 people, we get an error message email from "System Administrator" with the subject "Undeliverable: [original subject]" and this text:

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject: [original subject]
Sent: [sent timestamp]

The following recepient(s) could not be reached:

'[test email address 6]' on [timestamp]
452 4.5.3 Too Many Recipients

'[test email address 7]' on [timestamp]
452 4.5.3 Too Many Recipients

And so on, for all but 5 of the email addresses. (The email goes through to the 5 addresses not listed.)

First of all, there is no System Administrator. It's just 2 of us in an office on a dialup. Second of all, there's no email address associated with System Administrator. (This is Outlook, which tries to be extremely helpful by obfuscating confusing data, like email addresses. Though there may not be an email address at all, which would seem to make this entirely Outlook's fault.)

I've tried changing SMTP servers entirely. I've tried turning off Norton's outgoing email scanning. I've tried sending to entirely different sets of addresses (more than 5 at a time). I've tried looking all around Outlook's options for anything related to a maximum outgoing recepient list. I've tried googling for that error code. Nothing.

Any other ideas?

Comments

[desh]

Hmm, interesting idea. I didn't know that was possible. (I mean, the ISP is netscape.com, so you're wrong about the small ISP thing, but could be right about the rest.) Clearly the next thing to try here is to set up a desh.info email account on that computer and see if the same problem happens when I use my servers.

[t3chnomag3.livejournal.com]

Did you try using a different emailing program as a test?

[desh]

No. The other next thing I'm trying is running Microsoft Update to update Outlook. If that doesn't work, and if the desh.info test doesn't clearly reveal netscape.com as the culprit, then Thunderbird is the next test.

Though honestly, from what I've read, Thunderbird isn't really ready as a corporate solution, especially for people who aren't computer nerds. (Even if you ignore my pet peeve, the "date recieved" thing.) True or false?

[rarcke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as much as I love thunderbird it is not as intuitive as it needs to be to be a mass solution in the work enviroment. I detest Outlook, but so many people learned on it and have never touched anything else that it's way easier to live with outlook and problems than re-train a lot of grumpy people. (Besides, outlook with problems is practically it's natural state).

Good luck

-Robin

[desh]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. If the problem is Outlook, then I can install Thunderbird, but it's possible my boss won't like it or won't be able to do other important stuff with it. Then we're kinda screwed. We shall see.

Thanks for your help.

[flyinbutrs.livejournal.com]

Well... since you're using dial up for a two person office, I'm guessing you're not really in a corporate situation in the traditional sense. I wouldn't worry about using thunderbird.

I have an odd theory about your e-mail issue... are all the addresses in your to: box? Try CCing all but one of the addresses. It might help... it might not. But some SMTP servers limit the number of direct recipients.

[desh]

I think I've tried putting the addresses in different places. Not sure. But first of all, everyone who had this problem online had it no matter where the addresses were (even BCC). And second of all, really, I've tried two different SMTP servers. So if it's their fault, then either Outlook is lying to me about which SMTP server it's using, or we have two SMTP servers misconfigured in identical ways.

Today we'll figure it out.

[t3chnomag3.livejournal.com]

I never said use TB permanently. Outlook is clearly made for the corporate environment, with all its integrated tasks and things like MS Exchange. But to completely rule out Outlook as the culprit I figured you'd have to try some other email client. Then you can go and whine to Netscape all you want about their screwed up internet.

But as flyinbutrs pointed out so well, you're not exactly the image of "corporate." And since there are only 2 of you, and one of you is clearly a nerd, the other one could always be taught "the way." And if you need a calendar function in addition to email function, TB has a calendar extension I believe, or Mozilla makes Sunbird.

You also don't need to use TB. You could try Outlook Express, The Bat, Pegasus Mail, or any number of other clients.

[desh]

Yeah, I understand. It's just that I'll have to make some sort of decision if it turns out that it's Outlook's fault.

What are The Bat and Pegasus Mail? I'm still looking for something to use at home that's better than Outlook Express, and I haven't found it yet.

[t3chnomag3.livejournal.com]

They're both different email clients that I've heard of (at least I think Pegasus Mail is an email client, it's been a while since I heard its name. I know The Bat is because lots of TB users once used it). Those were the only other clients I could think of off the top of my head. I've never used them before.

You could always try Seamonkey.

[desh]

I don't think she can access my SMTP server.