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No errors in the event log.
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The answer was not correct but led me to the solution. The smtp service is disabled by default in 2003 server. At least on 3 of the installs I checked.
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The answer was not correct but led me to the solution. The smtp service is disabled by default in 2003 server. At least on 3 of the installs I checked.

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I have installed smtp service on a windows 2003 R2 sp2 server. smtp service will not start in a timely fashion. <br />
<br />
any ideas what is wrong or how to fix it?<br />
<br />
Need &nbsp;the server ASAP.
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I have installed smtp service on a windows 2003 R2 sp2 server. smtp service will not start in a timely fashion. 

any ideas what is wrong or how to fix it?

Need  the server ASAP.

smtp service will not start

Interactions between email servers and clients are governed by email protocols. The three most common email protocols are POP, IMAP and MAPI. Most email software operates under one of these (and many products support more than one).  The correct protocol must be selected, and correctly configured, if you want your email account to work.