"Unable to connect to the server" error message when you send messages in Outlook 2000 (300942)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q300942
For a Microsoft Outlook 2002 version of this article, see 302357.
For a Microsoft Outlook Express version of this article, see 302339.
For a Microsoft Outlook 2000 (CW) version of this article, see 302095.
NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Internet Mail Only option. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Internet Mail Only option installed, you see "Internet Mail Only".

For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

If you are connected to the Internet through MSN, the Microsoft Network, and you attempt to send messages by using an account other than your MSN e-mail account, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:
Unable to connect to the server. (Account: '<account name>', SMTP Server: '<SMTP server name>', Error Number: 0x800CCC0E)

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because MSN does not allow messages to be sent to another Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server while you are connected to their network.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, change the SMTP server for your e-mail account to use the MSN SMTP server. To do this:
  1. In Outlook 2000, click Accounts on the Tools menu.
  2. Click the Mail tab, click the affected account, and then click the Properties button.
  3. Click the Servers tab.
  4. Under Server Information, delete the entry that is in the Outgoing mail (SMTP) box, and then type smtp.email.msn.com.
  5. Under Outgoing Mail Server, click to select the My server requires authentication check box, and then click the Settings button.
  6. Under Logon Information, click Log on using.
  7. In the Account name box, type you MSN Member ID (everything before the at sign (@) of you MSN e-mail address).
  8. In the Password box, type your MSN account password.
  9. Click to select the Log on using Secure Password Authentication check box.
  10. Click OK to close the Outgoing Mail Server dialog box.
  11. Click OK to close the <Mail Account> Properties dialog box.
  12. Click Close.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/11/2004
Keywords:kbpermissions kbsendmail kberrmsg kbprb KB300942
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