Setting Thunderbird message Length

[Amedee @ Ubuntu]

On Mon, August 10, 2009 21:30, GaryT wrote:
> Fred Roller wrote:
>
>>> [BIG SNIP]
>> Do you have an alternate smtp server you can try.  Just to eliminate
>> that option and put the problem in your system?
>
> Thanks, Fred.  Yes, have done.  The details of those attempts are almost
> unbelievable.  Two separate and unconnected WebMail servers - both same
> negative result until now it's worse, I'm unable to access the WebMail
> of my ISP.
>
> Signd in and displayed the Account page, seleted WebMail, browser
> reports "Firefox prevented this page from automatically reloading".
> Now no WebMail - not that I use it.
>
> Meanwhile I had already spent an hour in each of 2 separate sessions
> with Tech Support confirming that the problem appeared to be on this
> machine.
> No further help there - ISP supports only Microsoft products.
>
> When this all began I was unable to attach a small file to a Thunderbird
> message - then "message length" itself was affected - this message was
> far too long & severely chopped.
>
> Perhaps there is a little known Mozilla setting somewhere in the depths.
> Or a malicious file that somehow got past FireStarter.
> And why the FireFox message, when the WebMail page was loading?
> GT
>

How long is too long? Can you put a number on it? 1KB, 10KB, 100KB?

To rule out a problem with your mail client, you should try to send an
email without a mail client. Talk smtp directly to the smtp server of your
ISP, with telnet. You do that by connecting to the mailserver on port 25.
When you google for "smtp telnet test", the first page you'll find is from
Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/153119 But google (or bing?)
some more if you like. Read all you can find about "smtp telnet test".

Then prepare your test in your favorite text editor, so you can simply
copy/paste the commands. You really have to do that, because some smtp
server don't like typos or timeouts. Also prepare a long text that you can
paste into the telnet session. You can use a Lorem Ipsum generator if you
want, I always use this one to generate Quenya, it confuses anyone that
may eavesdrop: http://www.lorem-ipsum.info/generator3

If you are able to send a test mail with telnet, then the problem is at
your end. Try booting with a live cd.
If the telnet test fails too, then you can call back to your ISP and
explain them. I hope you don't get a stupid phone drone on the line, but
someone who actually understands SMTP.

Hope this helps!