# Help, Earthlink 5.0 keeps re-mailing old msg
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 21, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205 "2002-12-21T09:04:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/1 "2002-12-21T09:04:48Z")
The hardware is a Fujitsu laptop with Windows 98. I use the Earthlink browser/mailer.
It has just now sent the same e-mail for the fifth time with no input from me. The first time I sent it myself back in June, and since then it’s gone out at irregular intervals.
Any clues?
Could a typo, PF-key or key combination do this?
Help, I have to keep following it with “please disregard” notes.
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/2 "2002-12-21T12:42:29Z")
\>\> I use the Earthlink browser/mailer.
You mean MS Internet Explorer? Are you using web based email with the browser or POP3 email with Outlook Express?
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### Author:  [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/3 "2002-12-21T14:07:05Z")
Take a look in your Outbox folder in Outlook. If it’s still in there, try deleting it.
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### Author:  [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/4 "2002-12-21T17:25:50Z")
I have been using the setup as it came on the Earthlink installation disk. It’s not Web-based mail.
Experimenting, I click on Outlook Express and it says something about pop; it also says it is not my default and there is nothing in the Outbox or Sent box.
Earthlink’s Mail’s left-hand panel where it shows Inbox, Outbox, Drafts, etc, looks just like Outlook, but it does not respond to the same keystrokes.
Is Earthlink Netscape-based? It doesn’t use IE.
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### Author:  [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/5 "2002-12-21T17:41:28Z")
OK, I look some more, the Earthlink mail config sends as [SMTP.EARTHLINK.NET](http://SMTP.EARTHLINK.NET) and receives as [POP.EARTHLINK.NET](http://POP.EARTHLINK.NET).
It tells me I am using “Earthlink MailBox” rather than Netscape Navigator or IE, to read mail.
Recently I turned on Web-based mail just to clear out the spam before it got on my PC, but it did the re-transmit trick before (and after) I did that.
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### Author:  [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/6 "2002-12-21T18:17:49Z")
I just downloaded Earthlink TotalAccess 2003. I’m running Win2000Pro so I don’t know if it work on Win98. Anyway It works just fine for me. You mignt try upgrading your EarthLink.
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### Author:  [@TBone2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBone2)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/7 "2002-12-21T23:34:41Z")
I’ve been a faithful and satisfied customer of Earthlink for maybe four years now – AFTER I had to rebuild a hard drive because of the instability introduced by Earthlink’s “free” software. I installed it once, and it turned what had been a rock-solid stable system into quivering slush. The funny thing is, you don’t actually need anything they offer in the way of software to get the maximum benefit from their otherwise excellent ISP service! Bill Gates already gave you everything you need.
My advice – uninstall any- and everything from Earthlink, set up a simple connection using IE and OE, and enjoy yourself!
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/8 "2002-12-21T23:49:53Z")
Yep, my advice is to never install the ISP’s software. I use Earthlink but I only manually configure a DUN to dial their number. There’s no way I’m letting them, or any other ISP, mess with my software.
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### Author:  [@TBone2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBone2)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-earthlink-5-0-keeps-re-mailing-old-msg/144205/9 "2002-12-22T01:12:15Z")
Thanks, **sailor** , for the backup! Earthlink’s software runs a close second, in my experience, to AOHell’s for the prize of “world’s worst.”
**MaryEFoo** , if you decide to go this route, one tip I’d offer is to check closely to see what Earthlink requires on your local dialup node. As far as modem settings, etc., Earthlink is probably the most lenient and easygoing ISP I’ve ever dealt with, but here in north-central Ohio, your DUN setup must announce you as “ELN/{username}.” That is, if my registered username was “TBone2,” I’d have to enter “ELN/tbone2” for the system to route my call.