DOCUMENT:Q237695  18-AUG-1999  [exchange]
TITLE   :XFOR: Cannot Send Message Through Microsoft Mail Connector
PRODUCT :Microsoft Exchange
PROD/VER:winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:exc4 exc5 exc55

======================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you send a message to a Microsoft Mail recipient through the Microsoft Mail
Connector, you may receive a non-delivery report (NDR) that contains the
following text:

   [008] Failure delivering user mail due to mailbag contention.

Even though you receive an NDR, the message may be delivered successfully.

CAUSE
=====

This problem most commonly occurs if more than one instance of the External
program attempts to access the same mailbag file.

WORKAROUND
==========

Verify that only one instance of the External program connects to the Microsoft
Mail postoffice at a time. If the problem continues to occur, you may be able to
work around the problem by following these steps:

1. If the Microsoft Mail postoffice is located on a Novell NetWare server,
   verify that the files in the ATT, GLB, KEY, MAI, and MBG folders have owners
   and are not locked.

2. If any files in the P1 folder are more than two days old, delete the files.
   The P1 folder is used by the External program to store temporary files.

3. Verify that your computer is running version 3.2.18 or later of the External
   program.

4. Verify that the Access*.glb files are not damaged. Run the Listuser.exe
   utility against the Microsoft Mail postoffice. If the results contain
   unrecognizable characters or other unusual information, the access files may
   be damaged.

   For additional information about determining if the Access*.glb files are
   damaged and for information about restoring the files if they are damaged,
   please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
   Knowledge Base:

   Q135932 PC DB: LISTUSER Version 2.1 Displays Unrecognizable Characters

5. Rename the Admin.nme file to 00000000.nme, log on to the postoffice
   administrator's mailbox, and then view the administrator's personal address
   list (PAL). If any of the entries in the PAL appear to be damaged, rebuild
   the postoffice address list (POL).

6. Verify that the mailbag files are not over the 4096 record limit. For
   additional information, please click the article number below to view the
   article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   Q163020 XFOR: MSMail Connector NDR Message with Event ID 2117

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : exc4 exc5 exc55 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  IN NO
EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.