About a year ago I submitted a ticket pertaining to VPN blocking me from sending email from Outlook. I use to disconnect from VPN and then send the email. Norton updated VPN sometime after and my email still refuses to be sent but now it hangs my Outlook App which I need to Crtl-Alt-Del to cancel Outlook and restart it and with VPN off I can now send out the email. I Had a Norton Tech on my machine look at problem, no solution. Another update with my Subscription to their premium plus suite and the problem is now worst. How worst you say? The original problem is still there but now when I turn off VPN something is still resident from the VPN suite and resetting my Outlook doesn't clear the hang anymore. I have to restart Windows to fully reset the VPN suite and now I can sent email. Why is the original problem not fixed yet and way are things getting worst? Thanks Norton. But the way, we also tried Split Tunnel with no effect. Also VPN still won't let my PC go to sleep either which has been verified by a Norton tech on my computer with no feedback within a year either, way to go guys!~
If you are going to remove Norton use the Removal Tool, manually remove ALL folders related to Norton and reboot. Then run Revo Unistaller to do a deep cleaning. As I posted before, your issues are multiple. Many installs and uninstalls of programs have left its mark on your system. Windows 7 not being supported by MS anymore doesn't help matters either. Please let us know your progress.
SA
Thanks for the reply and suggestions and the link. Norton VPN is definitely interfering with my unlinked email images. I turn VPN off on they come in okay. I have been working the linked images problem for a year now checking flags in both Outlook, Internet settings, etc. Rebuild and repair Outlook user PST, Registry settings, Browser TMP files use for image storage in outlook, etc. I looking to maybe using that uninstaller app you have linked and fully remove Norton 360 and verifying the original Norton is removed. I was told that virus blockers will sometimes effort email image contain. The funny thing about this problem is some of the linked images come in with the email while some don't and they all come from the same source in the same email while some emails have all the images while others only partial. A very weird problem but I am getting off the subject. I wish Norton Technical support (not the chat or phone folks) would get back to me an maybe do a deep dive or request me to send them more info!
WOW!! What a mess you have going on. Norton Utilities is most of the issue you are seeing trust me. If you have NU set to load ANY of its features when Windows boots disable that trash and reboot again.
I am also wanting on a response from their technical folks on a new problem they introduced with their Ultimate Windows cleanup up product. I installed it a over month ago and disabled scheduling for manual use only and it went activated on its own (not scheduled) and blew away all of my user data on the C: drive including all by favorites, Email (PST included) and all data associated with all my Apps.
As for needing a VPN constantly, facts are YOU DON'T. Using a VPN is good advice for banking, purchases, etc and general browsing. Norton protects your email and OS nicely. Your ISP will generally have it own built-in firewall as do most consumer routers.
Too many things on your system are working against one another from what I am reading. If you have any VPN set to also launch with Windows boot disable that as well.
Outlook settings will determine whether images will be delivered in messages, not Norton. Norton will just block the entire message if there are attachments that have issue embedded and drop it into a spam folder. I've used every version of Office Outlook since version 2003 and that is the case on my end. Currently using Outlook 2021.
My suggestion is download Revo Uninstaller and allow it to remove all the remnants of older software on the computer. Its a very trusted tool.
https://www.revouninstaller.com/products/revo-uninstaller-free/
Next do a Windows install cleanup, follow this guide: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/deployment/fix-windows-update-errors
SA
Using Windows 7 with all updates as far as it goes from Microsoft updates. Some apps I use don't run too well on Windows 10. The outlook I am using is 2010. I did install 2016 for a while but it exhibited the same problems. I manually start the VPN. I know when I forget to stop the VPN because the VPN actually prevents some of the unlinked images from appearing. I haven't linked VPN to some of my emails not downloading some of linked images in my received emails. I haven't fully uninstalled Norton to verify this problem yet.
Thanks for the response. The Tech (didn't log who)hopefully downloaded any logs when he took control of my computer but probably just changed settings and re-installed, the usually process. He did say he was kicking it upstairs to work the issue. It's been a year and haven't hear back from anyone. I was using standalone and then VPN 360 being used now. I did uninstall the original fully including registry entries. And yes, we (Tech included) included the Outlook app on the Split tunnel. I am also wanting on a response from their technical folks on a new problem they introduced with their Ultimate Windows cleanup up product. I installed it a over month ago and disabled scheduling for manual use only and it went activated on its own (not scheduled) and blew away all of my user data on the C: drive including all by favorites, Email (PST included) and all data associated with all my Apps. What a pain restoring every thing. Not impress with product or support.
More questions are:
- What OS are you using, whats its version and build?
- What Outlook product are you using? 365 or the Office Outlook?
- Is your VPN set to load when your OS starts?
SA
When the tech was working on your system last year, did they take logs to see what was happening on your system? Or did they just try changing settings and maybe reinstalling your Norton product?
Are you using the standalone Norton Secure VPN or the VPN feature in Norton 360? If you have both, you should uninstall the standalone and just use the feature in 360. Having both can cause strange behaviours.
You mentioned trying split tunnel. Did you add the Outlook.exe file to split tunnel?