Odd problem with Outlook 2003

[Ian J]

I have been using Outlook 2003 for a couple of decades without any problems but have come across an odd one since changing web hosts as whilst I can receive emails I can't send them and get the error code "503 Valid RCPT command must preceded DATA error"

According to the details in the cpanel incoming mail should be port 995 whilst outgoing port is 465 but using these means that the test email won't send but reverting to the defaults of outgoing 110 and incoming of 25 the test message is sent but the problem is that although it will send the test message it won't send a real email.

It was suggested that I should download and use Thunderbird as it is much better and I did that. Thunderbird seems to decide the correct ports on it's own and it decided on port 465. The odd thing is that I sent a test message which was sent correctly but the same ports on Outlook failed.

Whilst it might be obvious to most of you that the sensible course of action would be to dump Outlook I don't really want to as I am probably the oldest regular forum member and don't find the learning curves involved with new software easy to manage any more.

Any bright suggestions anyone?

 

[Nico Albrecht]

There is an increasing problem with the compatibility of older e-mail clients with modern systems due to increased security restrictions.
I know that all too well!
The most obvious one is that many e-mail providers now mandate at least TLS v1.2 support to interact with their servers.
If Outlook 2003 doesn't support TLS v1.2 that will be an immediate show-stopper with many providers.

Do yourself a favour and don't use an application that hasn't received any updates for more than 10 years. Personally not a fan of thunderbolt. Design and workflow is strange. Oldest Outlook is most likley 2010 that will work with modern authentication. Don't use port 25 that's sending data unencrypted and should be avoided at all cost

 

[gpietersz]

I love Thunderbird myself. I have no problem with the UI and it is a lot more flexible thanks to its addons. It is really not that hard to use. You could also look at other mail clients and see if their is something you like better.

It is a really bad idea to use anything that received untrusted data that does not get security updates. I would use the latest version of whatever you use.

 

[ChrisLambert]

As Nico mentions above the issue will be using 20 year old software with more modern system.

Outlook 2003/2007 doesn't support TLS v1.2.

Sadly the options are upgrade to a new version of Outlook personally I would go with Office 365 so I always have the latest version, but you will have a learning curve from 2003 to current.

Thunderbird is an OK solution, it doesn't personally work for me, but I have a lot of clients who it does work for. Again it will be a learning curve from Outlook 2003, but might be an easier transition for you.

 

[WaveJumper]

If you like Outlook as above go Office 365

 

[WESH.UK]

I have been using Outlook 2003 for a couple of decades without any problems but have come across an odd one since changing web hosts as whilst I can receive emails I can't send them and get the error code "503 Valid RCPT command must preceded DATA error"

According to the details in the cpanel incoming mail should be port 995 whilst outgoing port is 465 but using these means that the test email won't send but reverting to the defaults of outgoing 110 and incoming of 25 the test message is sent but the problem is that although it will send the test message it won't send a real email.

It was suggested that I should download and use Thunderbird as it is much better and I did that. Thunderbird seems to decide the correct ports on it's own and it decided on port 465. The odd thing is that I sent a test message which was sent correctly but the same ports on Outlook failed.

Whilst it might be obvious to most of you that the sensible course of action would be to dump Outlook I don't really want to as I am probably the oldest regular forum member and don't find the learning curves involved with new software easy to manage any more.

Any bright suggestions anyone?

Hi Ian

This is indeed 100% down to the fact that Outlook 2003 does not support TLS v1.2.

This goes to show how old and outdated your previous hosts' servers were if that was still working. We made the PCI compliance mandatory across all shared servers many many years ago. 10+

Did your new web hosting company not clarify this for you when you asked them?
Are you now with hostinguk, easyspace or iomart? As they are all part of the same group...

 

[Ian J]

Did your new web hosting company not clarify this for you when you asked them?
Are you now with hostinguk, easyspace or iomart? As they are all part of the same group...

We didn't discuss emails at all and I guess that he assumed that I wasn't using anything that antiquated.

I thought that I might persevere with Thunderbird but I can't transfer my existing emails over without using third party software and I tried the demo version of one yesterday but couldn't get it to work - probably because I couldn't understand what I was supposed to be doing

 

[fisicx]

Why can’t you just upgrade Outlook?

 

[Nico Albrecht]

using third party software

Launch your Thunderbird application and navigate to the top of the screen. Select the "Tools" option, followed by clicking on "Import."

• Choose the "Mail" option by clicking the corresponding radio button, then proceed by clicking "Next." Locate and select "Outlook" from the provided list, and click "Next." Complete the import process by clicking "Finish" when the next screen appears.
• For additional imports, such as "Address Books" or "Settings," repeat the process mentioned in step 2, selecting the respective option to transfer those sections from Outlook to Thunderbird.

 

[Ian J]

Launch your Thunderbird application and navigate to the top of the screen. Select the "Tools" option, followed by clicking on "Import."

• Choose the "Mail" option by clicking the corresponding radio button, then proceed by clicking "Next." Locate and select "Outlook" from the provided list, and click "Next." Complete the import process by clicking "Finish" when the next screen appears.
• For additional imports, such as "Address Books" or "Settings," repeat the process mentioned in step 2, selecting the respective option to transfer those sections from Outlook to Thunderbird.

It keeps saying "profile not found"

I might try fisicx's suggestion and buy a later version of Outlook

 

[WESH.UK]

We didn't discuss emails at all and I guess that he assumed that I wasn't using anything that antiquated.

I thought that I might persevere with Thunderbird but I can't transfer my existing emails over without using third party software and I tried the demo version of one yesterday but couldn't get it to work - probably because I couldn't understand what I was supposed to be doing

Upgrading outlook is the simplest and best way to go all day long.

If you are serious about email, Thunderbird is not the way forward.

This is why we use remote desktop, assume nothing, see what the customer see's

 

[fisicx]

It keeps saying "profile not found"

I might try fisicx's suggestion and buy a later version of Outlook

Take the plunge and sign up for Office365. It's cheap and tax deductible. And means you can access everything everywhere. If your PC goes kablooey you just buy new and log back in again.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

later version of Outlook

ideally 2016 or later, with 365 sub you wont run into that problem. Dont buy a 2010 version this is end of life and you run into similar problems down the line.

Office Home and Business is the one that has outlook included. Home & Student dont come with outlook.

Outlook on it's own around £140 or £190 Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 including all your fav apps perpetual license.

Next problem I can foresee is your 2003 is using a old style PST file. Newer versions wont understand the import either similar to Thunderbird not supporting such old tech.

You will need professional help to migrate that all over to be fair or spend days trying it yourself!

If you think you can install a newer version and it auto imports your emails it wont happen either!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Or use Office/Outlook online/in a browser (on your desktop) and phone/tablet apps....

 

[Nico Albrecht]

Outlook online

Microsoft removed the ability to connect any other accounts to Outlook.com on May 10, 2021, but accounts connected before May 10, 2021, will continue to sync.

 

[DefinitelyMaybeUK]

Next problem I can foresee is your 2003 is using a old style PST file. Newer versions wont understand the import either

I've not had a problem opening up previous pst files with 365 going way back to late 90s - but that's just by adding them as additional data files. Worth going down this route with yours if only for the keeping a separate archive point of view, and then use the new default mailbox.pst going forward.

 

[Ian J]

Next problem I can foresee is your 2003 is using a old style PST file. Newer versions wont understand the import either similar to Thunderbird not supporting such old tech.

You will need professional help to migrate that all over to be fair or spend days trying it yourself!

If you think you can install a newer version and it auto imports your emails it wont happen either!

Oh B Locks. I wish I'd read that before buying Outlook 2016

 

[fisicx]

Oh B Locks. I wish I'd read that before buying Outlook 2016

Just do office 365. It’s only £60/year

 

[gpietersz]

You can use Office 365 (even a free trial version I believe) to export to a format you can then import to Thunderbird.

If so you only need to pay for a month and then cancel.

The advantage of Thunderbird is that you can always move later to something else - you are not locked in as you have found you are with Outlook.

 

[Ian J]

I wish I'd read that before buying Outlook 2016

I found that if I paid an extra £1 I could buy the whole Office 2016 suite of programs so I have now downloaded and installed the whole package.

As part of the installation procedure Outlook 2016 automatically picked up the existing pst files so no fiddling about to do. It all looks a bit complicated though

 

[UKSBD]

A bit off-topic, but is there a difference between the Outlook you get with Office and the free version of Outlook?

 

[Nico Albrecht]

free version of Outlook

There is no free version to run Outlook online with a 3rd party email address or domain name. You would end up with a live.com or Outlook.office.com email address only

 

[UKSBD]

There is no free version to run Outlook online with a 3rd party email address or domain name. You would end up with a live.com or Outlook.office.com email address only

I had Mail but that appears to have been converted to Outlook
I can add other accounts to it ie. info@domain but have never paid for it.

Edit to add: How crazy is it that they use the same name for 2 different products?

 

[UKSBD]

Looks like the actual name of the free version is "Outlook for Windows" rather than just Outlook

 

[NickZ]

I wonder why people don't use their own mails, like their shop mails.
Third party mails have always the risk of getting hacked, having to give away your details and so on.
Then in the long run they force you to go premium.

 

[fisicx]

I wonder why people don't use their own mails, like their shop mails.

They do. This discussion is about the email client not the email account.

 

[Ian J]

Outlook 2016 seems to have inherited the same problems as 2003 as I still can't send any emails.

Thunderbird picked up the settings automatically but I've now uninstalled that whereas Outlook picked up the settings from Outlook 2003. I've tried fiddling about with everything but can't get the emails to go although it does receive them OK

In the good old days if anything went wrong or needed updating the IT department did it all but now that I am the IT department as well as every other department life isn't quite so easy

 

[fisicx]

Just use Office 365.

 

[Ian J]

Just use Office 365.

I only bought Office 2016 yesterday

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I only bought Office 2016 yesterday

It works just fine and gets updates. For sending issues can you check with your host and find out exactly your imap and smtp settings for your email server.

After that add a new account in outlook and fill in the exact details provided.

 

[NickZ]

They do. This discussion is about the email client not the email account.

I'm aware. The issue is that people use outlook, Google business suites to "manage" their mails. That takes away your independence. Third party services a shop owner should avoid, especially if it's only to make a login easier.

 

[DefinitelyMaybeUK]

Outlook 2016 seems to have inherited the same problems as 2003 as I still can't send any emails.

You've mentioned outgoing port 465 previously, but I can't see that you've confirmed other settings - it's possible you need to select SSL/TLS encryption and also tick the "Outgoing server requires authentication" and select "Uses same settings as incoming" etc. As @Nico Albrecht says, give your host a shout ?

 

[Ian J]

You've mentioned outgoing port 465 previously, but I can't see that you've confirmed other settings - it's possible you need to select SSL/TLS encryption and also tick the "Outgoing server requires authentication" and select "Uses same settings as incoming" etc. As @Nico Albrecht says, give your host a shout ?

All settings as per your quote.

Oddly enough I re-installed Thunderbird yesterday and it worked perfectly straight out of the box. The problem with Thunderbird is that I can't import the 20 plus years of sent and received emails filed in Outlook 20003

 

[fisicx]

Then go get Office 365. I know you have paid for Outlook 2016 but it’s an old unsupported version. Technology has moved on a lot in the last 7 years.

 

[Ian J]

Then go get Office 365.

OK. I will do

 

[fisicx]

Or use thunderbird and just use your old version of outlook as an archive.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

Outlook 2016 but it’s an old unsupported version

Complete assistance will be provided until at least the end of 2025. Merely attempting to reach 365 won't likely resolve the issue, as it could potentially be a damaged PST file.

To diagnose the problem, conduct a comprehensive test. This brief process takes only a few minutes and will offer a clearer understanding of whether the issue lies with communication or data storage.

Initiate the troubleshooting process by generating a new profile, excluding the old data file:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.
2. Choose Show Profiles > Add.
3. In the Profile Name field, assign a name for the profile, and then select OK.

This action won't erase any data but will generate a secondary, empty profile.

Proceed by selecting the "Add Email Account" option and input your email details. Send a test email and provide feedback on the results.

If you dont have the option here is a step by step guide the long way https://support.des.ucdavis.edu/hc/en-us/articles/224991688-How-do-I-create-a-new-Outlook-profile-

 

[Ian J]

Thanks Nico. I tried that but couldn't get it to work which was probably down to my lack of IT skills

 

[Ian J]

Or use thunderbird and just use your old version of outlook as an archive.

I have uninstalled both Office 2016 and Office 365 and will go with your suggestion.

Thanks all