Newsletter mysteriously blocked

Tuesday I started a thread in the General Discussions forum that led to several exchanges, but so far no fix for my problem has been found, so I thought maybe someone at this forum could help.

For several months I've been a subscriber to an on-line newsletter (it's free) that ordinarily arrives each day of the week. The last time one came through was on March 31. Nothing since.

After several days of not getting anything, I phoned them and they said they still had me listed as a subscriber. A friend of mine also gets the newsletter, and still does. He thought something might be wrong at their end, so 2 weeks ago I unsubscribed. Two days later I resubscribed. Still nothing comes through for me, but my friend still gets his.

My OS is Windows XP (HE). I'm on SBCglobal.net DSL and use Netscape 7.02 as my browser. I have Norton AV 2003, Ad-Aware 6.0, and Spybot 1.2, all loaded and running and kept up with the latest updates. Monday night I did a full scan with each of those programs, with nothing bad found.

I'm wondering if Netscape is somehow blocking the newsletter from coming through, but so far I haven't been able to find a list of blocked senders anyplace in it. Or in any of the A-V or firewall programs.

Any ideas?

 

Hi BOBBO,

The place for you to look would be in your Mail Filters, if you have them configured. As far as Netscape having a Block Sender feature, it does not. You would do that through your Mail Filters.

Open the Mail Window, and click on Tools | Message Filters. Check there for any filters you may have created. If you by chance did create a filter to block a specific sender, the filter would be listed.

Ramona

 

Ramona: Thanks for replying. I checked, and there is nothing listed there at all.

Any other ideas?

 

Hi BOBBO

Firewalls protect you by monitoring ports and or blocking URL's. Virus scanners look for suspcious code or executable. Emails not delivered fall into 3x groups. Some do get lost inbetween the 0's and 1's and web heaven. Next would be knocked out by a "Spam filter ", local or ISP managed. Last their could be a glitch at the "sender end ". Being "on" the sender list means it "should" be sent out. My first guess.. spam filter. Check to see if your ISP is using any kind of filters. If they are, check setup and also what has been filtered out. Some major companies earn a living by supplying ISP's with blacklist. For some reason, newletters have a high incidence of being put on these list. Now check ALL your filters. First check any that direct to trash. Unless you re-read your trash, it might be slipping by. Any other type of filter should only be re-directing to a folder, if it was delivered, it would be there. If you can't find it in your trash (check recycle bin), ISP runs no filters, my guess there is a glitch at sender end.

 

BOBBO,

Bummer! I was hoping that you would find a forgotten filter...

I have the free ZA version, and see no settings that would block a specific sender. Same with NAV, but I have the much older Version 2001.

Did you ask your Newsletter folks to send you a couple of test mails to see if they were being returned? I would suggest that it appears to be the Newsletter's fallibility or even the ISP...

Ramona

 

Right on... Dennis

Mike

 

Thanks, everybody, for chipping in.

Dennis L and mflynn: As for "trash," I checked the Trash file in NS Mail, empty. Recycle Bin, nothing there except 2 image files I deleted yesterday. Checked the Zone Alarm log, and it's a long listing of entries arranged by days, and when I open one of them there is a list of maybe 100 entries that I can't decipher but nothing appears to be identifiable as from my newsletter source.

Ramona: The source of the newsletter didn't offer to run a test mail, and it didn't occur to me at the time to request one.

Since my friend regularly receives his daily deliveries, and I didn't before I unsubscribed and still don't even after resubscribing, I tend to doubt that the problem is at the source.

So that leaves the ISP. I don't know if their tech support is open this late or not. I'll try anyway, and if I learn anything interesting, I'll report back.

Don't let any of that keep the good ideas from coming, though.

 

Interesting. I reached SBC DSL tech support, and was told they don't block anything. No spam filters, no source blocks, nothing.

Then I called the source of the newsletter and was told they don't accept calls from people who block their calls. I don't block my calls. Does that indicate something is wrong with the way their location links with mine?

Interesting, and very mysterious.

BTW, I e-mailed the newsletter source and informed them of all this and I also requested a test mail. Whether they'll send one remains to be seen. At least so far that message hasn't come bouncing back as undeliverable. So far.

 

Hi BOBBO

I can't explain why your phone issues a "blocked caller ID" to called party. I have a friend, there upstairs extension phone (on old type terminal block) does the same thing... but it can't block a specific email from arriving. I had a similar experience with newsletter not being delivered a couple of years ago. Was trace to my ISP not accepting "open relay" type of email exchange. Was never told how it was resolved, but I started to receive the newsletter shortly after. If you need to talked to the sender (blocked call issue), borrow a cell phone or call from a friends house.

 

You are on DSL so caller ID blocking will not be active. Has nothing to do with your problem.

In order to call them from your phone, get dial tone hit *82 get second dial tone then dial the number.

Get HiJackThis from here:

http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/

Use it to look at your hosts file, BHO's and StartUpList. In fact post it back to us!

Will look in in the morning, night!

mike

 

mflynn: I downloaded HijackThis v1.93 and ran a scan. None of the boxes was checked. That's good, isn't it? And the scan results don't seem to like to be copied and pasted. Maybe I'll play with it some more and figure that wrinkle out.

I just got a phone call from my friend (the one who also gets that newsletter and uses the same ISP I do). I brought him up to date on this problem situation and recent developments, and he tells me he does have call blocking. Even so, he still receives the newsletter. So why don't I?

Mysteriouser and mysteriouser!

 

The playing paid off. Here's the HijackThis log file:

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL=http://www.dellnet.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page=http://www.dellnet.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL=http://www.dellnet.com
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - D:\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe "
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell|Alert] C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ADUserMon] C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe "
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe "
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [REGSHAVE] C:\Program Files\REGSHAVE\REGSHAVE.EXE /AUTORUN
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: ZoneAlarm.lnk = C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O12 - Plugin for .bcf: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPBelv32.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {597C45C2-2D39-11D5-8D53-0050048383FE} (OPUCatalog Class) - http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/content/opuc.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37580.7029513889
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {EB387D2F-E27B-4D36-979E-847D1036C65D} (QDiagHUpdateObj Class) - http://h30043.www3.hp.com/dj/qdiagh.cab?223

See anything significant?

 

BoBo

Read my lips!! Call blocking has nothing to do with this!

You are on DSL which is a direct open line no dialtone and cannot have call blocking.

Even if it were possible it would stop you from connecting if they were using blocking. It would not stop anything coming in in any case since the call has already connected!!

Now there does not seem to be any baddies in the entries here but this is not all.

Go to HiJackThis then Config then StartUpList then patse this back it has additional info!

Mike

 

Have you tried subscribing to the newsletter with a non-isp webmail account? There are quite a few out there. Since you are using Netscape 7.02, you could try signing up for a Netscape mail account and having the newsletter sent there. (Netscape Mail can be read through NEtscape 7.02, just like your regular ISP based pop account)

Also, the call blocking thing would not have any effect on receiving email. There is nothing in the line that could block it.

As far as they not accepting your call, it might be showing up on thier end as unknown caller, because the information is not being passed from one phone company to another. One of my wife's friends is on PacBell while we are on South Central Bell and her info does not show up on our caller ID.

 

mflynn: Here's the HighjackThis StartUpList:

StartupList report, 5/23/2003, 11:00:59 AM
StartupList version: 1.52
Started from : C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.EXE
Detected: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Detected: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
* Using default options
==================================================

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Iomega\System32\AppServices.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\fxssvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
E:\Netscape 7.02\Netscp.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
D:\Microsoft Money\System\urlmap.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Listing of startup folders:

Shell folders Common Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
ZoneAlarm.lnk = C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Checking Windows NT UserInit:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
UserInit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

NvCplDaemon = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
AdaptecDirectCD = "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe "
Dell|Alert = C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
ADUserMon = C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
nwiz = nwiz.exe /install
ccApp = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe "
ccRegVfy = "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe "
REGSHAVE = C:\Program Files\REGSHAVE\REGSHAVE.EXE /AUTORUN

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

ctfmon.exe = C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Shell & screensaver key from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI:

Shell=*INI section not found*
SCRNSAVE.EXE=*INI section not found*
drivers=*INI section not found*

Shell & screensaver key from Registry:

Shell=Explorer.exe
SCRNSAVE.EXE=*Registry value not found*
drivers=*Registry value not found*

Policies Shell key:

HKCU\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry key not found*
HKLM\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found*

--------------------------------------------------


Enumerating Browser Helper Objects:

(no name) - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
NAV Helper - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872}
(no name) - D:\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC}

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Task Scheduler jobs:

FRU Task #Hewlett-Packard#Deskjet#5550.job
Symantec NetDetect.job

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Download Program Files:

[OPUCatalog Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\opuc.dll
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/content/opuc.cab

[Update Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\iuctl.dll
CODEBASE = http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?37580.7029513889

[Shockwave Flash Object]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\macromed\flash\Flash.ocx
CODEBASE = http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab

[QDiagHUpdateObj Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\System32\qdiagh.ocx
CODEBASE = http://h30043.www3.hp.com/dj/qdiagh.cab?223

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items:

PostBootReminder: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
CDBurn: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\System32\webcheck.dll
SysTray: C:\WINDOWS\System32\stobject.dll

--------------------------------------------------
End of report, 5,457 bytes
Report generated in 0.062 seconds

Command line options:
/verbose - to add additional info on each section
/complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data
/full - to include several rarely-important sections
/force9x - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT
/forcent - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x
/forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform
/history - to list version history only

See anything significant?

Brooks: Thanks for joining in. No, I haven't tried using a non-ISP webmail account. So far today I haven't yet tried calling the source of the newsletter to see if they have any idea what's causing the problem. If they don't, I'll mention your idea to see what they think of doing that.