Downloading large files in Outlook Express

For some reason, if I want to use Outlook Express, and someone sends me a large file, such as a Windows Media file, I am unable to do so, and the program tells me that my server has ended the connection. And yet if I use my Incredimail program, it doesn't seem to matter how big the file, even if it takes 20 minutes, the file downloads without a hitch.

I know my server does not disconnect (I have dial-up) because it took 8 hours to download SP 2.

So why would one program be able to keep the door open with my mail server, and not the other? This has been confusing me for a long time. So I hope someone can explain it to me.

 

sandilew--I may not have all the details, but the two situations you describe are different. When someone sends you an email attachment, the email service may indeed limit the size of the attachment permitted. You would have to ask your email service/ISP what their limit is. It usually is somewhere between 1-2 MB.
When you download a file/program from the internet, the ISP's limitation, if it exists, would be on time. It seems your ISP has no limit on time, but the email supplier does on the size of an email attachment.
Your friends could use FTP to send you a larger file, or perhaps they could split the attachment up at their end. In OE, for example, Tools|Accounts|Properties|Advanced. "Break messages apart... ".
Also if your friends have a webspace account, they could send the file there so you could download it from the website.
Or there are third party file splitters.
http://www.google.com/search?source...&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-31,GGLD:en&q="file+split"

 

Thanks for responding,

But that isn't really my problem.

In short, my problem is that large files will download from my ISP with no problem whatsoever, if I use the Incredimail mail program I have installed.

But if I try to use Outlook Express, the larger files will not download, and it gives me a message that my mail server timed out, but I know that is not true. The program is timing out on me instead, and I don't know what to do to override it doing that.

So I guess what I really need to know is how to get Outlook Express to NOT time out when I am downloading e-mail, and there should happen to be a larger file being downloaded.

As long as no one sends me a large picture or media file, Outlook Express does great. It just seems to have a thing for larger files.

 

Thank you, but

The fact of the matter is, I already have it set to the longest time and that is 5 minutes, according to what I'm looking at. So I must assume that is not the cause of the problem. But I really do appreciate your suggestion just the same.