Outlook Express hangs on Virus Download

[rogerd]

I've got a PC that chokes when it encounters a virus attachment. Outlook Express sits there trying to download it until it times out. The only way to fix the problem is to go into a webmail program, log into that account, and delete the offending message.

I've tried disabling my virus checker (McAfee) and OE still hangs.

Any thoughts on the next troubleshooting step?

[mattglet]

How big is the file? Is it hanging because of file size, or an unknown file extension?

-Matt

[rogerd]

I'm pretty sure it isn't size-related, as the ones it can't download are about 41K and 68K. I download much larger files. Not sure about the file type, but I assume they are scripts of some kind.

[piskie]

Have a look at Mailwasher.

A search on Google will find it and there is a Freebie basic version but the Pro is well worth the modest purchase price.

[rogerd]

I run Mailwasher at the office, and it works fine - I can delete the junk right off the server. This Outlook Express phenomenon is fairly recent, though, and quite annoying.

[Easy_Coder]

I ran into this same issue with Outlook a couple of months ago... The only way around the timeouts according to my ISP was to disable mail scanning. Nice huh?

[rogerd]

Was the mail scanning happening at the ISP level, Easy_Coder?

[Easy_Coder]

That's what I was told. This really surprised me and I sent a note out to support at Nortons complaining about the scan mail causing timeouts. I have never received a response from them either.

Try disabling your scan mail and see if that resolves your issue. As soon as I disabled it my troubles went away.

[Leosghost]

get a "real AV"...