DOCUMENT:Q176013 31-AUG-1999 [msnetwork] TITLE :Err Msg: An Unknown Error Has Occurred. Account: 'MSN Mail'... PRODUCT :The Microsoft Network PROD/VER:WINDOWS:2.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbenv kberrmsg kbtlc kbmsn ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - The Microsoft Network version 2.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you attempt to send or receive e-mail on MSN, The Microsoft Network, using Microsoft Outlook Express, you may receive an error message similar to the following: An unknown error has occurred. Account: 'MSN Mail', Server: 'smtp.email.msn.com', Protocol: 'SMTP', Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Server Response: '501 Invalid Address', Server Error: 501. CAUSE ===== This behavior may occur for any of the following reasons: - The e-mail address specified in your MSN e-mail account settings may not be correct. - The e-mail address specified on the To: line may not be correct. - The Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks may not be installed. - Your computer's network name may not conform to the naming conventions. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this issue, use the following steps: 1. Start Outlook Express. If the MSN Sign-In screen appears, click Cancel. 2. On the Tools menu, click Accounts. 3. On the Mail tab, click MSN Mail, and then click Properties. NOTE: The name of your MSN e-mail account may vary depending on how you configure Outlook Express. MSN Setup creates a default MSN e-mail account named "MSN Mail." 4. On the General tab, under User Information, type your correct e-mail address in the E-mail Address box. Note that the e-mail address must not contain any spaces. 5. Click OK, and then click Close. 6. Open the Outbox folder. 7. Right-click an e-mail message and then click Delete. Repeat this step until all e-mail messages are deleted from the Outbox. 8. Close Outlook Express. Start Outlook Express and attempt to send or receive e-mail. Verify that the e-mail address specified on the To: line is typed in the correct format. Make sure there are no spaces or extra or missing periods in the e-mail address. If the issue is resolved, skip the remaining steps. If the behavior continues to occur, repeat steps 6-8, and then use the following steps: 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click Network. 3. On the Configuration tab, verify that Client For Microsoft Networks is listed in the "The following network components are installed" box. If Client for Microsoft Networks does not appear, add the Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks by using the following steps: a. Click Add, click Client, and then click Add. b. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. c. In the Network Clients box, click Client for Microsoft Networks, and then click OK. 4. Click the Identification tab. 5. Change the computer name so that it consists only of any combination of letters (A-Z) and numerals (0-9). Do not use non-alphanumeric characters or blank spaces in the computer name. 6. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes. MORE INFORMATION ================ You can obtain additional information about the cause of this behavior by creating an Smtp.log file and then noting the lines immediately prior to the "501 Invalid Address" error message. For more information about how to create and interpret an Smtp.log file, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q176442 How to Create an Smtp.log file for Outlook Express Q155455 How to Enable and Interpret the Smtp.log File Additional query words: msnet msnetwork microsoft-net m.s.n. outexw95 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbenv kberrmsg kbtlc kbmsn Technology : kbMSNSearch kbMSN250 Version : WINDOWS:2.5 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.