Ramona, Having Problems Sending Email Through Comcast

Ramona,

I'm hoping you can help. I was a long time subscriber to attbi.com(AT&T high-speed cable) service and never had a problem sending and receiving email through Netscape 7.0. When the transition occurred between AT&T and Comcast, I can receive email using Netscape, but can no longer send. Unfortunately, I allowed their transition wizard to convert my email settings, and it performed this for Outlook Express(which I do not like) as this is their supported email service. I'm thinking that this operation somehow created my problem. I have checked and double-checked my incoming and outgoing server settings in Netscape to make certain they meet Comcast's configuration settings, and they are fine. I have upgraded from 7.0 to 7.1 and the problem remains. Anytime I try to send email in 7.1, Netscape completely freezes, and x'ing out completely shuts down Netscape. Before upgrading to 7.1, 7.0 would hang up on the transfer and I would receive a message when canceling a send stating that I needed to check my Mail and NewsGroup settings. Calling Comcast is fruitless because I get the standard, "we don't support Netscape" line.

I'm thinking that a clean install of Netscape 7.1 may help as every time I have downloaded 7.1, I still retain all of my settings and info., which means whatever "bug" is hanging up sending email is still embedded in the browser. Can you help me to perform a truly clean install of Netscape 7.1 and hopefully that will solve my email issue. At this point, the only thing I would be interested in doing would be to save all of my bookmarks. The rest, like email, I'm not concerned about. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million.

Regards,

alphamega

 

If anyone else can help or contribute, I would appreciate it greatly. Thanks!

 

I am very happy not to have Comcast, so I do not have the problem, and do not have an answer yet. A lot of other people have the same problem as you do.
But, please, do not waste time with NS7.1. There is something in the Comcast set up which is not recognized by Netscape. What is the SMTP setting which you have in OE?
For instance I have Cox, and my setting is smtp.central.cox.net, if you youe setting is similar, that's not the problem. Do you need authentication, i.e. enter you username. That could be the problem.
If you have to add the @ to your username, then check this link http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/nsmailuserchar.html

I am looking forward at an answer because I have seen a lot of people with the question. Then, they either get things fixed, and don't report the results, or give up. Please, give your input. I will let you know what I find, if I get an answer.

 

Hi alphamega,

Westside is correct, in that you are not alone, in having problems with your Comcast Server and Netscape Mail.

I did see a post on the Netscape NG, where a user found some incorrect settings in the prefs.js file. They still referenced attbi. Look at these settings:

Anyway, opened "prefs.js" and found that there was a reference to
hostname (which I'd changed to "netnews.comcast.net ")
user_pref( "mail.server.server6.realhostname ", "netnews.comcast.net ");

and ALSO a reference to "hostname" which was not visible in setups but
was only there for this server:
user_pref( "mail.server.server6.hostname ", "netnews.attbi.com ");

Changed the latter to "netnews.comcast.net" also, and all was well for posting.

What you can do, is open your prefs.js file and search for "comcast ". This will take you to any settings that haven't been changed. You can then edit the settings appropriately. Note the above is for the news server.

Please back up your prefs.js file before editing, and ensure that Netscape is closed:
To open the prefs.js file:
Open Notepad
File | Open
Navigate to the prefs.js file
If you edit the file click "Save" before closing the file.

You might also Create a new Profile, and see if that might address your sent mail issue. If the problem is at the server end, however, it will be an exercise in futility. In the meantime, if I find any further information, I will post it here.

Ramona

 

alphamega,

Are these the settings that you're using:

Comcast Support Site - E-mail Settings:

# POP3 (Incoming Mail) Server: mail.comcast.net
# SMTP (Outgoing Mail) Server: smtp.comcast.net
# Your E-Mail address: e-mail ID@comcast.net
# News Groups: netnews.comcast.net
# Port settings when on the Network: POP port 110 and SMTP port 25
# SSL(Port settings when traveling): POP port 995 and SMTP port 465

Ramona

 

Ramona and Westside, thanks for your quick replies. It seems I should not have listed my computer experience as "experienced," because it's obvious to me that I am a little clueless about working in the files you have mentioned. Let's consider me a newbie as far as changing preferences in Netscape is concerned. Ramona, I have the same settings you list except for the netnews.comcast.net setting(I don't see it anywhere), and the port settings for SSL. I have tried placing "25" in the outgoing port box and have deleted it all to no avail.

If you could give me some "beginner's" directions for accessing the "prefs.js" file you are speaking about, maybe I can see if making changes there will do the trick. Again, thanks in advance for taking the time.

Westside, my settings in OE and Netscape are identical. I have tried both inserting my username and deleting it and either way still can't send. I'm with you on Comcast possibly making it difficult to interface with Netscape as OE is their supported mail service, but if so, it certainly isn't fair practice. As I said, I never had any problems with email when I was with AT&T.

Regards,

alphamega

 

Oops! Didn't see your prefs.js instructions above. I'll let you know if it helps.

 

Ramona,

Did as you said but where do I migrate to after I get to the "Look in:" box. It automatically loads My Documents. Where will I find prefs.js from there? Thanks.

 

alphamega,

First: Make a backup copy of the prefs.js file.
The file location for your Profile (depending on your OS) is listed HERE

Next, go to:
Start | Programs | Accessories | Notepad

When you click on File | Open
Navigate to the location of your Profiles Folder, as you find listed above. As an example: If your OS is Windows 98, that would be:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\xxxxxxxx.slt

The *.slt folder contains the prefs.js file.

Don't worry about the SSL setting, as you won't use that one. I just wanted to reference you to the Comcast Support Page which listed the correct settings. If you haven't subscribed to any Newsgroups, then there will be no such listing in your Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings.

I think I covered all your questions, and if not, please post back.

Ramona

 

Ramona,

Sorry about my being a pest here, but I am not seeing what you posted through the link. I'm running XP SP1, so when I go into notepad, I can navigate to documents and settings, but all I see from there is two folders named All Users and Owner neither of which has a prefs.js file. Any ideas?

 

alphamega,

You're not being a pest. For Windows XP this is the location for your prefs.js file:
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\xxxxxxxx.slt

NOTE: These files are hidden by default.
To see hidden files:
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options
2. Click the View tab
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders

Lemmeno if you continue to have problems.

Ramona

 

OK. I did a search for profiles and found a folder, C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Mozilla.

From there I found a default folder which contains a j2rvobd2.slt folder. Opened it and found Mail folder whcih contains several mail.attbi.com folders along with 2 mail.comcast.net folders. All of these contain the subfolders you find in the account like inbox, sent, etc.. Should I delete all of the attbi.com folders? Or, am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

alphamega,

First, did you check out the settings in the prefs.js file?

Which files in the Mail Folder contain your current mail?

Lemmeno,

Ramona

 

Ramona,

For the life of me I cannot find the prefs.js file(folder). At this point I am extremely frustrated. When you list the directory to go to the folder, that's the sequence I need to navigate to find the folder, correct? Or, can I type the directory name somewhere and navigate right to the folder? Typing in prefs.js in the search function does no good.

Please be patient with me.

 

If the directory is the sequence of navigating then my problem is I'm not seeing the folders that are being listed by netscape solutions.

 

alphamega,

You have found the folder where the prefs.js file resides: j2rvobd2.slt

Open this folder (j2rvobd2.slt) and scroll down the list of files. The prefs.js file is there.

Ramona