deleting messages on the server

[jan tanjo]

Hi guys

Our Isp is sprint.ca and I am using mozilla 1.6

There is a setting that allows you to keep messages on Sprint server for 7 days (or whatever you want to set it to) before being deleted.

It's now 8 months and they are not deleted and there are over a 1000 messages.

Sprint does not support mozilla so therefore can't tell me what to do or how to delete those messages. They say there is a setting in mozilla that will do this. . . . where?

[classicsoftware]

First, I would assume they have web-mail. Use the Web-mail to delete the messages.

For the future, the settings should be under Tools accounts and server information. There should be a check box to remove the files from the server. Make sure it is checked.

[Paul Komski]

Along the same but specifically:

Open "Mail and Newsgroups" from the Window Menu.
Highlight your account in the left pane and click on "View Settings for this account" in the right pane.
Expand the account name if it shows a + sign.
Click on Server Settings.

Either uncheck "Leave message on server" or leave it checked and also check "Delete messages on server when they are deleted or moved from the Inbox" depending on how you want them managed.

[jan tanjo]

Hi Paul Komski

AAHHHHHH, the feelings of incompetence quickly fade away, those are the setting that I used.

Based on my wife's replay of the conversation, the Sprint "Tech" implied that there was another setting that was secret. I have a feeling that he was willing to lose a customer rather than admit he is wrong.

He ended the conversation with " in september you'll be able to access the server and delete them yourself."

Anyway, thank you.

[Paul Komski]

I think that as classic said you will need to somehow access the ISPs Server such as a WebMail Login to delete any messages already on the server. Changing the settings on the Mozilla or OE mail client will only work from that point onwards. One of the reasons for this is that some mail clients remember the messages they have already downloaded and ignore them if they remain on the server.

If there is no webmail login you could ask Sprint to delete all the messages for you or you could try using popcorn (http://www.ultrafunk.com/products/popcorn/) which is a great wee POP utility; simple but strangely versatile.

Once configured for your account you should be able to select the messages on the server and choose the delete option. First get the headers downloaded by clicking on the red in-tray icon, then check the boxes at the side and then choose the delete button.