All the sudden can't connect to mail server

Question

This morning I stopped receiving email. Mail says it can't connect and that the connection timed out. I use IMAP with SSL (port 993). I don't know of anything I could have changed on the MacBook to cause this. As well, my iPhone can't connect either (same settings as Mail). It gave a connection error once and since then doesn't give errors but never pulls in new mail. I can ping the mail server and telnet in via port 993. I'm not sure what else to look at. Mail settings haven't changed that I can see. Hosting provider says there aren't any issues on their end. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Do you have Mail properly configured for their servers? I know you said you use SSL, but does the ISP use it, and if they do are you using their default port? Verify your server setup by opening Mail preferences, select Accounts, click on Account Information tab. From the server drop down menu select Edit. Check that your server is correctly configured and the right security option selected. If you have multiple server entires delete all but the one you use for your mail account.
You can also try removing the /Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist file in case it's become corrupted.
It also can't hurt to do the following:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger and Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger, and 4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.1 for Leopard) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Download and install the freeware AppleJack 1.5 - VersionTracker or MacUpdate - and carefully read its instructions. Then run its full suite of maintenance and repair routines.