Re: OT-HELP! Computer Challenge

In article <LhhCj.3758$9O.2275@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Carl A. <ahlemeyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Can you help?

I have recently set up my laptop to handle newsgroups using Outlook Express
(Windows XP). Using the standard settings recommended by AT&T/BellSouth I
have no problem reading newsgroups. However, when I try to upload, I get an
error message:

"Outlook Express could not post your message. Subject 'Test', Account:
'newsgroups.bellsouth.net', Server: 'newsgroups.bellsouth.net', Protocol:
NNTP, Server Response: '441 Posting Failed (Rejected by POST filter)', Port:
119, Secure(SSL): No, Server Error: 441, Error Number: 0x800CCCA9"

The message above say that the _server_ :
a) DID see your message
b) did -not- like it

"What", about the message it did not like is not specified in any detail.
just that it was the "POST filter". (whatever _that_ is -- only your ISP
knows for sure :)

Some _possibilities_ (not in any particular order):
1) they rate-limit how many messages you can post how fast and you have
hit that limit -- the time it took to set up the desktop was enough
for the limiter to allow the 'new' message try to succeed.
2) The server was fouled up, _temporarily_, and was fixed by the time
you got the desktop setup.
3) the laptop is using a _different_ connection to the outside world than
the desktop is. (to wit, the desktop is on a bellsouth connection,
and the laptop is on the Comcast connection, *AND* bellsouth restricts
_posting_ to customers *on* bellsouth's network, while it will allow
people from 'outside' to _READ_ (only) news.)
4) "Something" about the account setting for bellsouth is _slightly_
screwed up on the laptop (e.g. username or password is incorrect),
AND bellsouth allows READ-ONLY access if the authentication fails.
5) Bellsouth requires a 'secure' (SSL) connection before they allow posting,
which somehow got turned on when on the desktop, but is OFF (confirmed
by stuff ["Secure (SSL): No"] in the error message) on the laptop.
6) You may need to 'touch your mail' first, before posting to USENET.
7) You specified a *BAD* newsgroup in the posting test from the laptop
And the 'POST filter' rejected (it because the newsgroup does _not_
exist) with a singularly uninformative error message. This could
happen if you accidentally got the cursor into the 'newsgroup name'
pane in the message 'compose' window.

If you 'try again' from the laptop, and it works, it was probably #1 or #2,
If you hadn't posted anything/much previously, the 'smart money' is on #2.
Obviously, the simple act of re-typing things on the other machines would
have caused #7 to 'go away'. :)

Otherwise, I suspect #3 -- I *know* AT&T requires different 'mail' settings
(i.e. a lot more paranoia and "prove who you are" authentication) when you
are on a "non-AT&T" IP address, vs when you are 'inside' their network.

Now it gets complicated. I export the account settings to my wife's desktop
(also Windows XP) Outlook Express, set up the newsgroup, and upload without
a hitch.

Similarly, I switch the laptop ISP from BellSouth to Comcast, use the
Comcast account, and upload without a problem.

I sort of suspect that there must be some security setting on the laptop
that blocks outgoing posts on the BellSouth account, what do you think?

Nothing that comes with Windows is smart enough to allow reading, but _not_
allow posting. Ditto for any anti-virus/anti-spyware/anti-whatever program
I've ever encountered.

Not to mention the "inconvenient fact" that the server _is_, from all available
evidence, seeing your message and doing a real rejection -- it's not that it's
"not getting there".

It's *NOT* a firewall/security problem at _your_ end.

I've closed all anti-virus programs and switched off the firewall without
success.

BAD idea. <wry grin>

.

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