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Receive 550 message rejected

I have been using Outlook 2002 for several years with absolutely no problems, but starting last week I receive the following message when I attempt to send e-mail from my user desktop. (My wife and myself have separate user desktops)

"Task 'pop.charter.net - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC69) : ' The server responded: 550 Message Rejected.'"

I can switch over to Outlook Express on my desk top and send with out any problems. I can also switch over to my wife's desktop and use outlook to send without any problem. This only happens when I attempt to use Outlook from my desktop. When I go to Outlook Internet account settings and click the "Test Account Settings" , it tells me the test was successful.
I have been in contact with my cable provider (Charter Cable) numerous times, they just tell me it is not their problem. I have also uninstalled and reinstalled my Office software, but the problem still exists. I have searched the web for the last week, trying to find a solution, but so far nothing works. Can someone please help?

My computer configuration:
Computer - Dell 2.4ghz
OS - Microsoft XP Home Edition
Office Suite - Microsoft XP
ISP - Charter Cable

I know this is a long question, but I am trying to give as much information as possible.

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ASKER

I added the complete message in my question.
It is;
"Task 'pop.charter.net - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC69) : ' The server responded: 550 Message Rejected.'"

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ASKER

I am new to this site and do not know some of the proper procedures. What happens when I click the Accept button on the right side?
Also how do I answer a particular individual when I have more then one responder?

Yes this happens to every message including an e-mail to my wife or myself. I have even went to her desktop and reconfigured her Outlook to my profile and the message is rejected. But when I change back to her profile they are sent with out any problem.

I am in the process of completing the suggestions from war1.

Like I said I don't know which one of you (p912s or war1) is receiving this reply.

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ASKER

Thanks Scot

Wayne

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ASKER

None of the suggestions worked. I will try the new profile. Can you give me a rough guide line as to how to create a new profile?

Wayne

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ASKER

Thanks for the guide line. I was fairly sure as to how to create a new profile and had done so by the time this message came in. At least I know that I created it properly. Unfortunately it did not correct the problem. This thing has me completely stumped. I have owned a computer since 1986 and although I am far from an expert this is the first time I have had to ask for outside help on a problem like this. My last resort will be to format the hard drive and reload. Have done this several times in the past, but hate to even think about doing it again. It just takes so long to get everything back to the way it was.

I know where to check for outgoing mail server authentication, but how do you know if it is required?

Thanks,
Wayne

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ASKER

Thanks Guy's. It will take me a little while to try all the suggestions. Will get back to you with the results.

Wayne

ASKER

I have checked and verified all the recommended settings and tried each one of the suggestions, but unfortunately nothing worked.
I have never ran into a problem like this that defies all logical repair steps.

I am at the point of formatting my hard drive and reloading.

Thanks,
Wayne

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ASKER

Thanks, I have all the latest updates. I have windows set to automatically check for updates every day at start up.

Wayne

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Thanks, this is the same site that Automatic Updates uses.

Wayne

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ASKER

This problem started with my e-mails going out and me receiving the above error message. I had Outlook set to send/receive every two minutes and after a couple of tries the e-mail would be sent. At that time I contacted Charter Cable (Tech Service is now in the Philippine's) and they told me the smtp server for my area was giving them a problem but they were working on it and to give them a couple of days. The problem only got worse with the end result being the e-mails not going out at all. I called Charter back and they told me the first tech service person was wrong and there had never been a problem with their server. At that time I restored to an earlier date, but too much time had passed for me to return to a date before the first sign of the problem. I hate to format and reload, but it seems to be my only choice at this point. I am in the process of inventorying my software and making sure I have all the installation numbers to reload. Back-up is no problem because I automatically back-up every night to an external hard drive.

Wayne

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I updated my Office software from this site after uninstalling and reinstalling it this last week.

Wayne

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ASKER

I removed all the updates installed since Nov 1st. Still have the same problem. I have downloaded and reinstalled the updates. I have been considering purchasing and installing a Western Digital Raptor SATA hard drive and this will give me an excuse. I appreciate the work you have put forth on this problem of mine and if it is OK with you I will close out and give you the points. You have certainly earned them. Let me know if you have any objections or if this violates any procedures on this site.

Thanks for your continued efforts on this problem.

Wayne Standerfer
Duncanville, TX
lwaynes@charter.net

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Hope all goes well with the new drive....

Thanks for the points and grade.

Scot

Hi Wayne,

Thank you for the points and grade!

It would be great if you let us know how you do.

Take care,
frankco

ASKER

Thanks to all three of you (p912s, war1 and Franco). I am new to this website, but I must say you three have convinced me to remain a member. When you reach my age (67) you need all the help possible. I will let you know how the hard drive replacement goes. Will do it by next week at the latest.

Thanks again,
Wayne

ASKER

I still intend to format and reinstall my software, but I noticed something this morning. Just out of curiosity I tried to forward a received e-mail which I had not tried since the problem started.. It went out with out a problem. The error message only jumps up when I try to send e-mail from any contact in my address book.
Just thought I would pass this along for your information.

Wayne

Wayne,

If you type a new message and address it manually to yourself - will it go ok?

Scot

Hi Wayne,

Wow, it looks like you have a corrupted address book.

Remove and reinstall the Outlook Address Book. To do this:

1. Start Outlook.
2. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
3. Click View or change existing directories or address books, and then click Next.
4. Click Outlook Address Book, and then click Remove.
5. Click Yes when you receive the prompt to confirm the removal.
6. Click Add.
7. Click Additional Address Books, and then click Next.
8. Click Outlook Address Book, and then click Next.
9. Click OK when you receive the message to restart Outlook.
10. Click Finish.
11. Click Exit on the File menu to quit Outlook.
12. Restart Outlook.
13. In the Folder list, right-click the folder that you want to use with the Address Book (for example, right-click Contacts), and then click Properties.
14. Click the Outlook Address Book tab.
15. Click to select the Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319901/en-us

Also, for kicks do this.
Go to C:\Windows\System32
Double click the fixmapi.exe file

This will not appear to do anything but, fixed some things that Outlook uses.

cheers,
frankco

ASKER

I completed the above instructions and created a new address book. I then went to the new book and added a new contact. I was able to send an e-mail to this new contact. When I attach one of my old contact folders to this new address book and tried to send an e-mail to one of these contacts, up jumped the error message again. I think this shows me I would not be able to use the contact info from all my old folders. I am the reunion coordinator for a Submarine I served on which means I have somewhere around 600 entries in this folder alone.

I also went to C:\Windows\System32 and double clicked the file fixmapi.exe. This didn't help the problem.

I have tried to manually address an e-mail, but it is also rejected.

Something is telling me I need to clean out my computer and start fresh. I use to do this every couple of years just to clean out all the trash on the hard drive. I am retired so there is plenty of time to reenter all the old contacts.

Thanks,
Wayne

Maybe you can export the contacts from the old folder to a csv file and then import them to the new contact folder you created.

http://email.about.com/od/outlooktips/qt/et090604.htm

Scot

Forgot to say to see the related articles at the bottom of the link I posted.

http://email.about.com/od/outlooktips/qt/et031706.htm

ASKER

I will give it a try.

ASKER

I have finally thrown in the towel on this problem. I saved all my outlook contacts to a CSV file. I created a new profile in outlook and imported the CSV file into the new contact folder. Same problem, still get the error message when I attempt to send. I am now concerned that there may be something in my contact folders that is causing this problem and will show up later when I attempt to import the contact CSV file after formatting and reloading my hard drive. I know this sounds far fetched, but after what has happened to this point I wouldn't doubt it.

Wayne

When you look at the data in the CSV file, preferrably in Notepad and not Excel, do the email addresses look normal? JohnDoe@someplace.com without any other odd chaaracters or ?? I'mnot sure what but it does seem that there is something in the data....

Scot

ASKER

The e-mail addresses are normal when opened in wordpad. I only hope the format and reinstall leaves all this behind. I am now beginning to have problems opening Outlook Express, there is no doubt I need to format. I am beginning to believe one of the Microsoft Updates or Patches has somehow corrupted some of my files. They are the only thing that has been installed lately on my system.

Wayne

Good luck...

Scot