Help me setup my emails with thunderbird and my HTC phone please!?

mpj88 · 17 Aug 2011 at 21:29

Hi i've just got a htc desire s phone and i'm having issues setting up my emails. I have a virgin.net address and us pop on the computer and phone

The phone receives the emails fine, however if my phone picks them up first my computer then wont download them using my email client (thunderbird). It also works the other way round, so if i receive it first on my computer i then wont be able to get it on my phone.

The messages are still on the server as i've checked using virgins webmail service. So they are not being deleted.

I wanted to keep a few recent ones on my mobile and receive them as i'm out and about but also have a backup of all my emails for offline use when on my pc.

Is there any solution to this?

Thanks in advance

MarcLister · 17 Aug 2011 at 22:09

From the days, long gone, that I used Thunderbird and POP3 servers, you need to tick a box somewhere in Advanced Settings (for the account) to tell Thunderbird to keep the emails on the server. I think this way Thunderbird will then 'see' the emails and download them.

You may need to check the advanced settings on your Desire S to check that the phone is set to leave emails on the server just as Thunderbird is.

mpj88 · 17 Aug 2011 at 23:00

Yeah i've done that and like i said they're still on the server. But only one seems to download them on one!

MarcLister · 17 Aug 2011 at 23:47

Hmm. Have you told both Thunderbird and your phone to keep the messages there until you delete them? I just installed Thunderbird 6 to refresh my mind on the options available.

Any chance you could upload a screenshot of your account settings in Thunderbird? Make sure you blank out the username and any other details.

I've had a quick browse of the Virgin Media site and it seems that Virgin Media will support IMAP servers. Thunderbird and your Desire S will definitely both be able to handle IMAP so would it worth it your turning IMAP on in your account and trying that? I think IMAP is a much better, and easier to setup, protocol than POP3.

http://help.virginmedia.com/system/...&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTY=us&VM_CUSTOMER_TYPE=Cable

mpj88 · 17 Aug 2011 at 23:58

Thanks for doing that.

I have set thunderbird to leave messages on server but then no other boxes ticked:

I did read about IMAP but tbh not sure what the difference is. If i set them both up to use that should it be fine?

Thanks

MarcLister · 18 Aug 2011 at 00:04

No probs. If I'm able to help with something on OcUK I'll always try.

When I quickly added an account to Thunderbird I found that under the 'Leave messages on server' box, the 'Until I delete them' was also ticked. That might be worth trying.

I prefer IMAP because it keeps a copy of your emails on the server. Using IMAP is a bit like looking into different windows of a house and still being able to get your emails. POP3 is a bit like having to move house each time you send an email because the email isn't there any more.

I have my HTC Sensation set up to access my Gmail and my other private account, both using the IMAP servers.

I suggest enabling IMAP on your Virgin Media email account and trying it out in Thunderbird and your phone. I think you'll find it easier than POP3 to set up. If you don't like it and want to go back to POP3 then try ticking the 'Until I delete them' box.