Scott McNay wrote: Hi, There are two separate issues here, and one or both may be involved: 1. The home (your own) ISP may block SMTP connection attempts from outside. This is unlikely to be the problem, since people often want to check their email while away. So far I've always been able to check (and send) my mail at hotels on this laptop. 2. The local ISB may block attempts to connect to the SMTP server on your home ISP. This is most likely the problem. Yep. Most likely. Most ISBs have webmail available, which lets you check email using a web browser, without worrying about being blocked. For those with a disability: you have a good excuse to call up the local ISP and make them help you get Thunderbird working, instead of foisting webmail or excuses on you. they may get a headache as a result; too bad for them for making it too restrictive. Hmmm. I wonder what I can claim as a disability, hehe. <mental illness? hehe> On the other hand, they may decline on the grounds that they're a monopoly and therefore don't need to care about you (although they likely won't say that out loud). --Scott. Re-Na -- -------list-services-below----------- Regards, John Durham (list moderator) <http://modecideas.com/contact.html?sig> Freelists login at //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/lsg2.cgi List archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/pchelpers PC-HELPERS list subscribe/unsub at http://modecideas.com/discuss.htm?sig Latest news live feeds at http://modecideas.com/indexhomenews.htm?sig Good advice is like good paint- it only works if applied.