How do I fix the server Error I get saying the server does not recognize the RETR command? I can send but not receive.

Question

I am using the Godaddy email service with a POP account. some of my clients are working but many are showing the RETR error from the server. I have deleted the popstate.dat file and this did not solve the issue.

Answer 1

Item 1. Webmail in no way uses any of the servers, ports or protocols used by a mail client. So any assumption drawn regarding mail clients based on web mail is false.
You could have a dead anti virus program. Nortons in particular spits it and drops conections, fails to download mail and sends wrong passwords periodically, but it is certainly not alone. They are all fairly fragile in dealing with mail. Especially SSL secured connections, Only by using man in the middle hacking techniques can anti virus scan SSL secured mail.
We routinely recommend the following as diagnostics for these sorts of issues.
To diagnose problems with Thunderbird, try one of the following:
*Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
*Restart the operating system in '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_mode safe mode with Networking]'''. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode Windows 8], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7 Windows 7], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-vista Windows Vista], [http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true" Windows XP], [http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564 OSX]
; If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.