I get an occasional email error message when sending an email, saying "Email Error 421 - could not send - try again later."
I am using Microsoft Outlook 2007 with Windows 7 64-bit, and Internet Security 2011. IS 2011 is an updated installation over IS 2010. This was never a problem with IS 2010.
I looked for online solutions, the only thing I found was on the Business side of the Norton site, which said this was a known error but unresolved at present, and to Turn Off Email Scanning. I did this, but have no idea if it solved the problem since it is an intermittent issue. Also, IS now says "attention needed" and asks me to "fix it now.".
I can not confirm if the error 421 is a known error or not, but you can get rid of the "Fix it now", by left clicking on Email Scanning (alongside where it is shown as off) and click on "Ignore".
SMTP error 421 usually means that there is a temporary problem with your email service. The issue is with your email service provider rather than with Norton. Notifications from your ISP are displayed in a Norton dialog box rather than your email client because Norton, sitting between your client and ISP, actually receives the notice from the ISP.
To clarify yank's reply, in NIS 2011 hover your mouse pointer over "Email Protection" on the main Norton window. This will bring up a popup that you can click to have NIS ignore the fact that you have email scanning turned off. This will stop the "Fix Now" alerts.
However, I don't think this is an email server problem, it has never been a problem before. And in retrospect, I can't say whether it was a problem with IS 2010, it was only in place briefly until it updated to 2011
It is indeed a known problem for IS 2010, see below (updated 10/18/10):
The service article you referenced indicates the problem is specific to "Dodo" ISP. Is this the ISP you have?
Bear in mind that this article talks about a very generic symptom and it is easy to think from that that any time you see this error it is because of Norton but that is not the case.
These errors do come from your ISP and so unless you have the particular ISP referenced in that support article you should check with them on this error.
I have nie 2011 on two pcs, one running vista and one running xp. On the xp pc I often get the error 421. The nie2011 settings are the same on each pc. Email on both pcs go through the same isp (earthlink via time warner broadband) for mail. I use thunderbird on both pcs.
Have you tested to see if this problem would occur on both computers by sending identical emails at the same time to yourself or to someone else? This error can also occur when there is a time out with your email server. Once again though, it is a problem either with your email server or the one you are sending it to. Norton is just providing the message to you.
I have sent identical emails to the same recipient on using both pcs and got the error message on only the xp pc. But, again it does not happen all the time so it is difficult to test. So why does it happen on only one pc? Same ISPs and same recipient.
I have sent identical emails to the same recipient on using both pcs and got the error message on only the xp pc. But, again it does not happen all the time so it is difficult to test. So why does it happen on only one pc? Same ISPs and same recipient.
Hi rerde,
This may be one of those rare cases where NIS is causing the issue but as you said since this is intermittent it is hard to say at this point.
My suggestion would be to work with your ISP in sending a few test emails as appropriate. When you get the error message they should be able to confirm from the logs on their server if the message orginated from them or not.
If the ISP comes back and says they did NOT generate the message prior to you receiving the notice then I can notify Symantec and ask them to check further on this.
I missed the part on the Norton site about the issue being reported with Dodo. I have no idea what Dodo is.
What I do know is that I was getting Email Error 421 messages a couple of times per day with IS 2001 on Win 7 and Outlook 2007, and after turing off the "Scan Outgoing Email" switch, I have not seen it since.
I can't say with absolute certaintly that it's an IS 2011 issue, but it sure looks like it to me. If they come out with a fix for the Dodo issue, I'll try it.
Dodo seems to be an ISP out in Australia I believe from doing a Google search. So, unless you use Dodo as your ISP, any fix that comes out for the users of Dodo ISP, I don't think it will help you.
I am pretty sure that if you turn off the outgoing scanning, NIS will simply not report errors which come back from the ISP.
The problem itself may in fact still be there. I would still suggest turning back on outgoing scanning in NIS and work with your ISP and when you get the erorr message again, have the ISP check their server logs to see if it originated from them.
I have to second CCamp's original premise. I'm using the exact same configuration and never saw this problem with IS 2010. After upgrading to IS 2011, we get it probably 10-20% of the time. My email provider is Earthlink.NET.
I am also getting this msg using IS 17.8.0.5 on Earthlink ISP. My wife does actually. She reports getting it 30-50% of the time she sends an email from Outlook. We were not getting it with last years version of IS.
I'm getting the same error with the same software configurations (IS 17.8.0.5 on Earthlink ISP). It happens 30-90% of the time, mostly on replies, but it has also happened on newly generated messages. It happens with or without attachments, with or without the original message removed. I usually get it to send successfully on the second or third try; sometimes it takes 4 tries. I'll appreciate Norton continuing to put effort into solving this. I see the postings for all the things that didn't solve the problem.