Knowledge Base

OLEXP: ErrMsg: Microsoft Outlook Express Was Unable to Switch...

PSS ID Number: 181684

Article Last Modified on 10/2/2002


The information in this article applies to:


This article was previously published under Q181684

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to download newsgroup messages from an MSN, The Microsoft Network, news server, you may receive the following error message:
Microsoft Outlook Express was unable to switch to the newsgroup <newsgroup> on the server netnews.msn.com

Server response:
480 logon required
Configuration:
Account: <newsgroup>
Server: <newsgroup>
Port 119
Secure SSL

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Outlook Express is not configured correctly, possibly as a result of the information contained in the folder for the newsgroup server is missing or incorrect.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:

Method 1

Configure Outlook Express correctly, to so do follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Internet Explorer, and then click Outlook Express.
  2. If the MSN Sign-In screen appears, click Cancel.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
  4. Click the News tab, click MSN News, and then click Properties.
  5. Click the Servers tab, and then click the "This server requires me to log on" check box to select it.
  6. Click "Log on using Secure Password Authentication."
  7. Click OK, and then click Close.

Method 2

In Windows Explorer, move the MSN newsgroup folder that displays the error message when you attempt to open it to another location, and then resubscribe to that MSN newsgroup server. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Close Outlook Express.
  2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
  3. Locate the following folder:
    <Windows>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express\News
    						
    where <Windows> is the folder in which Windows 95 is installed.

    NOTE: In Windows 95 with user profiles enabled, the Outlook Express News folder is located in the following folder:
    <Windows>\Profiles\<Username>\Application Data\Microsoft
          \Outlook Express\News
    						
    where <Windows> is the folder in which Windows is installed, and <Username> is the name you use to log on to Windows.
  4. In the News folder, move the MSN newsgroup folder that displays the error message when you attempt to open it to another location (such as the desktop).
  5. Close Windows Explorer and then start Outlook Express.
  6. On the Go menu, click News, and when prompted, "You currently are not subscribed to any newsgroups. Would you like to view a list of available newsgroups now," click Yes.
  7. In the list of newsgroups, click a newsgroup that you want to subscribe to, and then click Subscribe.

    NOTE: To search for a specific newsgroup, type a word or part of a newsgroup name in the Display Newsgroups Which Contain box. Newsgroups you have already subscribed to are denoted by a newspaper icon to the left of the newsgroup name.
  8. Subscribe to the MSN newsgroup(s) that you want to subscribe to.
  9. After you can successfully access the MSN newsgroup, you can delete the MSN newsgroup folder that you moved to the desktop.

Additional query words: msnetwork

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB181684
Technology: kbMSN251 kbMSNSearch kbOutlookExpress400Win95 kbOutlookExpress401Win95 kbOutlookExpress95Search kbOutlookExpressSearch