# Internet connection drops out everytime I try to send an email

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 16, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850 "2003-07-16T11:05:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850/1 "2003-07-16T11:05:23Z")

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This may be a very easy question for someone out there but it has me stumped.

I’m using MS Outlook Express with my home modem. Everytime I try to send an email the connection to the internet drops out immediately I try to send.

I’ve looked through my control panel and can see nothing wrong there. I’ve talked to my ISP and they have don’t know what the problem is. The fact that I’m able to look at these pages suggests that it’s limited to when I’m sending (and possibly receiving) mail

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for your time

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**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850/2 "2003-07-16T11:32:53Z")

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In Outlook Express 5.5 there’s an option “Tools/Options/Connection/Hang up after sending and receiving” - have you checked that?

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850/3 "2003-07-16T11:50:26Z")

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I suspect the mail client is trying to use a different connection to that which is already established.

It varies from with OS, client and version, but In Microsoft Outlook 2000, in Tools\>Accounts\>[select account]\>Properties\>connection, there’s a box to tick if the account should switch to a specified dialup connection (which should be left unchecked if you want it to piggyback on the current established dialup connection).

It might be the same for whatever client you’re using… have a look.

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**Author:** ![Motog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@Motog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motog)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850/4 "2003-07-16T12:04:21Z")

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**Usram** and **Mangetout** you’re both brilliant. I’ve put both of these suggestions into practice and it seems to be working fine. I have no idea why this problem arose but it seems to be fixed now so my most sincere thanks.

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connection-drops-out-everytime-i-try-to-send-an-email/188850/5 "2003-07-16T12:37:34Z")

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Outlook Express has that ticked by default.

Some versions of MS programs (especially its OS’s) will reset some settings back to default for NO REASON AT ALL!

This is generally a total arsebucket of a situation, especially when you’re in Tech Support for an ISP and the customer blames you for it.