The POP3 Connector May Stop Delivering Mail (324236)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Small Business Server 2000

This article was previously published under Q324236

SYMPTOMS

Although mail may be retrieved from the Internet service provider (ISP) by using the POP3 connector, the mail may not be delivered to the recipients. Mail may remain in the following folders:
  • Program Files\Microsoft BackOffice\Connectivity\POP3 Connector\Incoming
  • Program Files\Microsoft BackOffice\Connectivity\POP3 Connector\Inforward

CAUSE

This behavior may occur for any of the following reasons:
  • The appropriate Microsoft Exchange services are not running.
  • Mail remains in the Incoming folder if there are incorrect permissions on the Inforward folder.
  • There is a corrupted piece of mail in the Inforward folder.

RESOLUTION

The Appropriate Services Are Not Running on the Server

Make sure that the following services are running:
  • Microsoft Connector for POP3 Mailboxes
  • Microsoft Exchange Information Store
  • Microsoft Exchange System Attendant
  • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
To see which services are running, click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.

Mail Remains in the Incoming Folder

Verify the permissions on the Inforward folder. The default permissions are inherited:
  • Administrators: Full Control
  • Authenticated Users: Read/Execute, List Folder Contents, Read
  • Creator Owner: Special: Full Control--Subfolders and files only
  • Server Operators: Modify, Read/Execute, List Folder Contents, Read, Write
  • System: Full Control

Mail Remains in the Inforward Folder

There may be a corrupted piece of mail in the Inforward folder. To locate the corrupted mail:
  1. Create a new folder from the root of the drive.
  2. Move the oldest piece of mail from the Inforward folder to the new folder.
  3. Stop and then restart the Microsoft Connector for POP3 Mailboxes service.

    Note Wait at least one minute and then confirm whether or not the mail is being delivered. If not, continue with the next step.
  4. Move all of the mail in the Inforward folder to the new folder.
  5. Send mail to one or more of the accounts from which the POP3 connector is retrieving mail.
  6. Stop and then restart the Microsoft Connector for POP3 Mailboxes service.

    Note Wait at least one minute and then confirm whether or not the mail is being delivered.
  7. If the previous step is successful, move one piece of mail from the new folder back to the Inforward folder.
  8. Stop and then restart the Microsoft Connector for POP3 Mailboxes service.

    Note Wait at least one minute and then confirm whether or not the mail is being delivered.
  9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each piece of mail. The mail that is not delivered to the user may be corrupted. Moved or delete such messages from the Inforward folder for mail to flow successfully.
Note If you have more than 15 individual mailboxes that are configured in Connector for POP3, obtain the latest Vmimbcom.dll file. For additional information about how to obtain the latest version of Vmimbcom.dll, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

303741 Users May Not Receive Messages from Connector for PO303741 Mailboxes

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/30/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB324236