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Sabtu, 27 November 2010

Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Increase the Server Timeout Value in Windows Live Mail

Posted: 27 Nov 2010 03:31 AM PST

Windows Live Mail became one of the most popular e-mail clients ever since Microsoft stopped shipping Windows with an e-mail application. Simple to setup and use, the application has been received favorably by users of Windows 7.

However, sometimes Windows Live Mail times out because the e-mail servers take too long to send and receive e-mail messages. Learn how to increase the server timeout value in Windows Live Mail to eliminate the server timeout error.

What is a Timeout Error?

Windows Live Mail is an e-mail client that is capable of retrieving and sending your e-mail messages to and from your e-mail service provider. Your service provider uses two servers to deliver e-mail services to you: an incoming and an outgoing server.

When you send and receive e-mail using Windows Live Mail, the application communicates with these two servers to receive and send your e-mails.

Sometimes, the servers take a while to communicate with Windows Live Mail. You see, Windows Live Mail only waits so long for a reply from these servers before it gives up and stops trying to send and receive your e-mails.

The time the application waits for the two servers to respond is called a timeout value. Luckily, Microsoft built the ability to increase the timeout value into Windows Live Mail to help you avoid timeout errors associated with slow e-mail servers.

How to Increase Windows Live Mail’s Timeout Value

Begin by opening up Windows Live Mail. For most people who used a default installation, you can find the application by clicking on Start>All Programs>Windows Live Mail. Once you have the application open, click on the Accounts tab and then on the Properties button.

You should now be looking at the Properties window for your e-mail account. You can verify this by looking in the title bar of the window.

Click on the Advanced tab and locate a section of the window labeled Server Timeouts. In that section, you will notice a slider with the words Short on one end and Long on the other. The default setting for the Server Timeout value is 1 Minute.

Although the default Timeout Value is 1 Minute, you can set this value to as little as 30 Seconds on the Short end to 5 Minutes at the Long end. Which value to choose depends on the reliability of the e-mail servers of your e-mail service provider.

Setting the Timeout Value in Windows Live Mail

Most people find that the default value of 1 Minute is sufficient to avoid e-mail server timeout errors. If your e-mail servers are particularly reliable, you can set the value to 30 Seconds. However, chances are – if you are reading this article – you are experiencing timeout errors and need to increase the time Windows Live Mail waits before giving up and sending you an error.

If you are unsure of which value to choose, try 2 Minutes and see if the timeout errors stop appearing. If they continue, increase the value up 30 Seconds at a time. If you reach the 5 Minutes value and timeout errors still appear, there isn’t much you can do but contact your e-mail service provider for help, check that your settings are correct for your e-mail account, or ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for assistance.