e-mail problems with two PCs

[Ray Singh]

Hi All,

I have recently re-built my wifes laptop with Windows Vista ultimate.
Prior to the re-build she had MS outlook on both her desktop PC and laptop PC which would both show her Virgin e-mails.

After the laptop re-build it seems that the laptop takes all the mails from the desktop. Hence the desktop e-mail is now blank - none shown.

Is this somthing to do with POP3 and IMAP? I remember having a whole load of stress about this back when i got the laptop.....

Edited by Ray Singh on Tuesday 23 February 11:09

[joewilliams]

Either set them up with IMAP, or set POP to leave the messages on the server (usually in advanced options).

[itsnotarace]

You don't mention which version of Outlook you're running but in 2007 you go into Tools>Account Settings. Highlight the relevant Virgin account and click change. Under More Settings>Advanced is a delivery option which you can tick to leave a copy of the messages on the server (and you may as well set to delete after 30 days). Do this on both machines and they will both get the emails through.

For existing emails that have already been downloaded you would need to export them to a PST from the laptop and import them on the desktop. To do this use File>Import and Export and follow the wizard to export to PST. Copy the PST to the desktop and then use the same wizard to import them back in.

[Ray Singh]

Fantastic fast responses chaps.

I will try this tonight and let you know.

BTW: Im using MS outlook 2007 as part of the Office 2007 package.

[Ray Singh]

Right - after loosing all the wifes e-mails i have managed to upgrade all home PCs to MS Windows Vista Ultimate and Office 2007.

All e-mail addresses have been setup with IMAP accounts with 'keep original mail on server' box ticked. All working great.

Is the nature of IMAP that it works offline until you connect it manually? Seems that with NTLworld, my e-mail keeps going offline and i have to manually connect and it will work. Is this how its supposed to work?

Mrs Ray Singh is not pleased that i lost her mails at all.

[lestag]

Ray Singh said:

Is the nature of IMAP that it works offline until you connect it manually?

No, i use Ol2007 with IMAP and rarely have the problem you have encountered

are you sure you are using IMAP and not POP3 with "leave emails on server" cause that is not an option for IMAP

[Ray Singh]

Every PC is now setup with IMAP - your right, there is no option for leave mails on server.

But still the server goes offline from time to time and must manually be connected.

[jhfozzy]

Ray Singh said:

Mrs Ray Singh is not pleased that i lost her mails at all.

When you say they're "lost", do you mean they're gone from the PC, but on the laptop?

If they are on the laptop, you can export them from there and import them back onto the PC.

File - Import and Export - Export to a file - Personal folder file - (select the folders that you want to copy & click "include subfolders" if you need to) - Then click "next" and select the folder where you want the export to go to.

Do the same but almost in reverse to put them onto the PC.

[DeputyDawg]

jhfozzy said:

Ray Singh said:

Mrs Ray Singh is not pleased that i lost her mails at all.

When you say they're "lost", do you mean they're gone from the PC, but on the laptop?

If they are on the laptop, you can export them from there and import them back onto the PC.

File - Import and Export - Export to a file - Personal folder file - (select the folders that you want to copy & click "include subfolders" if you need to) - Then click "next" and select the folder where you want the export to go to.

Do the same but almost in reverse to put them onto the PC.

I'm guessing if you have upgraded you might (depending on options taken) overwritten original profiles including Mrs Ray Singh. hfozzy is correct, the .pst file and archives etc get held under Profiles\[Mrs Singh]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

[lestag]

Ray Singh said:

Every PC is now setup with IMAP - your right, there is no option for leave mails on server.

But still the server goes offline from time to time and must manually be connected.

dodgy network connection to ntworld or server at ntworld overstressed...

under email accounts/change email account/more settings button/advanced tab stretch the time out and see if it goes away

[Ray Singh]

Lestag - Ive tried moving the slider to over 3 minutes, but still we are seeing issues.....

Any other ideas please?

Just out of interest - how many devices can be run on a standard home wlan network? Could this be the bottle neck?

[jhfozzy]

Ray Singh said:

Just out of interest - how many devices can be run on a standard home wlan network? Could this be the bottle neck?

Ignoring the internet for a second, a standard ethernet network without any switches can support about 20 PCs actively working before packet problems begin to surface. If they were all connected but doing nothing, it could theoretically support about 250 connections. These figures are about the same for a wireless network depending on the router.

Factor in the internet, and your standard 2Mbit connection with about 200Kbyte downloads will be taken down to 100Kbytes for two PCs, 50Kbytes for four PCs and so-on.

I'm currently running 7 PCs plus a file server in the attic (all on at the moment) and don't notice any slowdown, family members usually taking up 3-4 at a time.

[Ray Singh]

Update - I called up Virgin media today.
They told me that Virgin Media do not officially support IMAP but only POP3 mail.

For this reason, they cannot be held responsible for any connectivity problems with IMAP accounts.

Is this true or am i being fed horse doo dahs?