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Task -sending and receiving- error 0x80040154

I have read and reread and tried all of the suggestions in the post on ExpertsExchange and other sites regarding this problem (most post are old 2002/2003/2004 and show the problem happening in both outlook 2002[xp] and 2003), none of the solutions worked for us, nor does it seem the problem ever met with 100% ability to be resolved. Hoping someone will have some new information or new suggestions.

Here are the details of the problem.

The problem is with Outlook 2003 SP2 running on windows XP pro SP2

1) When I open Outlook to download my mail from our mail provider (comcast.net), it gives me the following error:

Task 'mail.comcast.com - Sending and Receiving' reported error (0x80040154): 'Unknown Error 0x80040154'

Also this error; probably from the previous error and it's just a timeout error:
Task 'mail.comcast.net - Sending and Receiving' reported error (0x8004210A): 'The operation timed out waiting for a response from the receiving (POP) server.  If you continue to receive this message, contact your admin etc. etc. etc.

2) I am 100% sure that all of my email settings are correct, the incoming and outgoing servers are correct, the login/pw is correct, it's all there.  

3) Outlook worked on Monday, today is Tuesday, and it's not working.  No new software was installed in the interim.

4) I have tested the account settings on another machine and it logs in fine. I have also tested another accounts setting on this machine and results in the same problem.  Something is brokem in the Office software or OS on this machine

5) I have uninstalled Outlook and then reinstalled.  No luck.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled the entire Office package.  No luck.  I have all updated patches and fixes for my Operating System (Windows XP) and all updated patches and fixes for Office 2003 (there was not anything new to install office 2003 sp2 was up to date).

6) I have uninstalled and reinstalled outlook express per MS kb823673

7) I have tried the suggestions in following EE topics:
   a) "Email account settings not working in Outlook 2003"
   b) "Cant find outgo or incom mail servers"
   c) "Outlook 2003 Send/Receive Problem"


8) When I go to Tools > Email Accounts and test my account settings, it establishes a network connection and then the attempt to find outgoing and incoming servers is already at status "CANCELLED".  Normally when you test your settings each test takes a few seconds to do, this one appears to be waiting for me when I click the test button.  Why would it say CANCELLED and not something like ERRORS or Incomplete.  

I've searched for this error string on the web, but all I can seem to find are others with the same problem and no real solutions.  This is a critical situation, your NEW ideas and suggestions are very much welcomed.  Thanks in advance.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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war1
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Thanks you for your input!
I had previously tried regsvr32 inetcomm.dll and got an error, I just tried it on my own PC and it was successful, I will try that again on the problem PC, maybe I did something incorrectly.

I tried the timer settings you recommened, but no help there.

As for Comcast, they told us they are 'not allowed' to advise us on Outlook problems (only allowed to help on outlook express problems) beyond entering the basic information. When asked why and by whom, he said Microsoft told them they could not help with Outlook! That was a first! Maybe Comcast level 2 support would be able to help with Outlook, but the fact is the problem is independent of Comcast, I entered by Verizon account info and had the same error.

We will be trying some solutions from Microsoft today; I will let you know the results.
BobRPC,

Any update?  If it worked the previous day, the problem is not due to Outlook settings. Comcast is known for intermittent operation.  That is why a Tier 2 support rep would know if a problem exists with Comcast servers.
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ASKER

no update yet, we were unable to test on Fiday, will work on the problem again on Monday.
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ASKER

The client had had three major discussions with Microsoft concerning the problem; she tried all of their suggestions (new profile, new user, all kinds of stuff) to no avail. But...
YOU ACED IT! It was: regsvr32 inetcomm.dll
I had previously been trying to regsvr32 outlmime.dll, not inetcomm as I had said I did; when I tried once again to reregister the outlmime.dll and got the error "...DllRegisterServer entry point was not found"  I scratched my head, reread your note and applied regsvr32 inetcomm.dll, and kicked myself, twice. It WORKED, problem SOLVED.
Thanks for your help; your answer has been accepted.