POP3 Leave Mail on Server not working

Marky000 · 30th July 2010, 12:32 PM

Hi Guys.

I have a client who wants to access his 4 Gmail accounts from 2 computers. And yes, I am aware of IMAP but didn't really want to implement it because he has been using POP for years and had over 50 rules and several customised folders. I wasnt sure if I could setup IMAP in a way that wouldn't be too much of a culture shock.

Anyway, I setup all his accounts as POP3 on both computers using Outlook 2007 and in advanced settings kept the box of "leave mail on server" ticked for all accounts. He then uses a PST SYNC program to update the sent items, calender, contact etc.

He has just contacted me to say that he is not receiving messages on both machines. Both machines are able to send/receive fine but once a message has been downloaded from one machine, the other one will not get it.

I have logged on to the Gmail server and I can see the messages there so am unsure what is going wrong. I had a look under "settings" and noticed that he had both POP and IMAP enabled. Also, none of the options below POP had been ticked. I have since disabled IMAP for all account and checked the setting under POP that says something like "enable POP on all messages in the All Mail folder".

I have not heard back from him yet so I don't know if that has fixed the problem. Do you think that should sort it out?

Mark

David · 30th July 2010, 01:02 PM

I would suspect that after being downloaded to one machine that the messages are marked as 'Read' (on Gmail) which will consequently prevent them from being downloaded again (from a different machine)

Yes, you can leave messages on the server (with POP) but no guarantees - POP is not IMAP and is not meant to be used as such.

Marky000 · 30th July 2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I would suspect that after being downloaded to one machine that the messages are marked as 'Read' (on Gmail) which will consequently prevent them from being downloaded again (from a different machine)

Fair point but I have never come across this problem with other POP email providers such as hotmail, yahoo and regular ISPs.

Your suggestion makes sense but I am hoping this behavior can be changed seeming that Ive seen it work flawlessly with other providers.

David · 30th July 2010, 01:20 PM

You may well be correct and this is a problem I have only encountered (occasionally) when using POP. I can't lay down 'specifics' as this has never been a consistent problem for me - very rarely have I needed to POP..... to more than one machine.

The best of luck in resolving this.

Marky000 · 30th July 2010, 01:35 PM

Anyone else got any ideas?

Marky000 · 30th July 2010, 06:50 PM

Looking into the issue further, I don't think the fact the messages have been marked as read on the server would stop messages being downloaded on to another computer.

I say this because I am fairly sure Outlook stores the headers or something similar of messages it has downloaded so that it knows what messages to POP in the future.

Outlook Express had a file that did this called "Pop3uidl.dbx". I am not sure where Outlook stores this information. Some have suggested that it is actually stored as part of the PST but I am not sure about that.

My point of all this is that multiple computers should be able to POP provided that the "leave messages on server" box is ticked.

So, can someone help out and possibly confirm that the cause of this problem may have been that my client had actually enabled both POP and IMAP on his accounts.

Thanks

B4its2L8 · 30th July 2010, 08:26 PM

I can't be of any real help here except to say that I have things set up the same way on my Outlook 2007. My Gmail (and Google Apps) accounts are set to allow POP, and I have chosen the "keep Gmail's copy in Inbox" option. The accounts set up in Outlook are also told to 'keep copies of messages on server.' Works like a charm. Even if I try to access from a different client on the same computer (like Opera's M2). (But I don't believe I've ever had both IMAP and POP enabled at the same time, so I don't know what that would do.)

jrafter · 30th July 2010, 08:47 PM

To access Gmail from multiple computers or mobile devices using POP, change the user log-in name in the client mail applications from <user@gmail.com> to <recent:user@gmail.com>. That will allow all email from the last 30 days (except trash and spam) to be downloaded on all clients.

kaptitsky · 30th July 2010, 10:36 PM

Ugly solution, "leave mail on server after POP3." POP3 was marginally designed for that, very prone to failure.

My solution would be to create another Gmail account, autoforward all mail to that account, and then have each machine POP a separate account.

Just cleaner, simpler to diagnose, and with backup.

You can still use the same SMTP for both computers,

**CyberSmurf** · 31st July 2010, 12:16 AM

moderator: thread moved to GMail forum

**CyberSmurf** · 31st July 2010, 12:22 AM

jrafter has given the GMail solution for Using POP on multiple clients or mobile devices.

chrisretusn · 1st August 2010, 12:55 PM

As a POP3 user of Gmail, jrafter has indeed mentioned the solution, with CyberSmurf kindly providing the link. Works quite well.

30th July 2010, 12:32 PM	#1
Marky000 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8	POP3 Leave Mail on Server not working Hi Guys. I have a client who wants to access his 4 Gmail accounts from 2 computers. And yes, I am aware of IMAP but didn't really want to implement it because he has been using POP for years and had over 50 rules and several customised folders. I wasnt sure if I could setup IMAP in a way that wouldn't be too much of a culture shock. Anyway, I setup all his accounts as POP3 on both computers using Outlook 2007 and in advanced settings kept the box of "leave mail on server" ticked for all accounts. He then uses a PST SYNC program to update the sent items, calender, contact etc. He has just contacted me to say that he is not receiving messages on both machines. Both machines are able to send/receive fine but once a message has been downloaded from one machine, the other one will not get it. I have logged on to the Gmail server and I can see the messages there so am unsure what is going wrong. I had a look under "settings" and noticed that he had both POP and IMAP enabled. Also, none of the options below POP had been ticked. I have since disabled IMAP for all account and checked the setting under POP that says something like "enable POP on all messages in the All Mail folder". I have not heard back from him yet so I don't know if that has fixed the problem. Do you think that should sort it out? Mark

31st July 2010, 12:22 AM	#11
CyberSmurf Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: British Columbia Posts: 3,741	jrafter has given the GMail solution for Using POP on multiple clients or mobile devices. Last edited by CyberSmurf : 31st July 2010 at 03:33 AM. Reason: removed addendum

30th July 2010, 01:02 PM	#2
David Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: location, location Posts: 8,386	I would suspect that after being downloaded to one machine that the messages are marked as 'Read' (on Gmail) which will consequently prevent them from being downloaded again (from a different machine) Yes, you can leave messages on the server (with POP) but no guarantees - POP is not IMAP and is not meant to be used as such.

30th July 2010, 01:20 PM	#4
David Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: location, location Posts: 8,386	You may well be correct and this is a problem I have only encountered (occasionally) when using POP. I can't lay down 'specifics' as this has never been a consistent problem for me - very rarely have I needed to POP..... to more than one machine. The best of luck in resolving this.

30th July 2010, 01:35 PM	#5
Marky000 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8	Anyone else got any ideas?

30th July 2010, 06:50 PM	#6
Marky000 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8	Looking into the issue further, I don't think the fact the messages have been marked as read on the server would stop messages being downloaded on to another computer. I say this because I am fairly sure Outlook stores the headers or something similar of messages it has downloaded so that it knows what messages to POP in the future. Outlook Express had a file that did this called "Pop3uidl.dbx". I am not sure where Outlook stores this information. Some have suggested that it is actually stored as part of the PST but I am not sure about that. My point of all this is that multiple computers should be able to POP provided that the "leave messages on server" box is ticked. So, can someone help out and possibly confirm that the cause of this problem may have been that my client had actually enabled both POP and IMAP on his accounts. Thanks

30th July 2010, 08:26 PM	#7
B4its2L8 Essential Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hiding under my bed Posts: 483	I can't be of any real help here except to say that I have things set up the same way on my Outlook 2007. My Gmail (and Google Apps) accounts are set to allow POP, and I have chosen the "keep Gmail's copy in Inbox" option. The accounts set up in Outlook are also told to 'keep copies of messages on server.' Works like a charm. Even if I try to access from a different client on the same computer (like Opera's M2). (But I don't believe I've ever had both IMAP and POP enabled at the same time, so I don't know what that would do.)

30th July 2010, 08:47 PM	#8
jrafter Essential Contributor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 351	To access Gmail from multiple computers or mobile devices using POP, change the user log-in name in the client mail applications from <user@gmail.com> to <recent:user@gmail.com>. That will allow all email from the last 30 days (except trash and spam) to be downloaded on all clients.

30th July 2010, 10:36 PM	#9
kaptitsky Master of the @ Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,607	Ugly solution, "leave mail on server after POP3." POP3 was marginally designed for that, very prone to failure. My solution would be to create another Gmail account, autoforward all mail to that account, and then have each machine POP a separate account. Just cleaner, simpler to diagnose, and with backup. You can still use the same SMTP for both computers,

31st July 2010, 12:16 AM	#10
CyberSmurf Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: British Columbia Posts: 3,741	moderator: thread moved to GMail forum

1st August 2010, 12:55 PM	#12
chrisretusn Essential Contributor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philippines Posts: 265	As a POP3 user of Gmail, jrafter has indeed mentioned the solution, with CyberSmurf kindly providing the link. Works quite well.