Unable to reply to e-mails after Windows Update.

matphil

I am having the same problem with my yahoo email account today, I am also using BT.
I don't like this new mail at all.

I just tried the mobile link given by Jivesinger and this works ok, thank you.

Digital_Dan

Jivesinger wrote: »

I just tried to compose an email on BT Yahoo webmail, and I get the same error, and I haven't yet put this week's Windows Updates on the computer, so it's not linked to that.

The reason it works on the iPad may be that it's using the mobile version of the site, which I think still works.

To test this, trying going to http://m.yahoo.com/ on your computer (not the iPad), then click on "Mail" and see if it works.

Won't be as pretty but you should at least be able to send messages.

I understand BT are moving away from Yahoo shortly anyway.

Thanks Jivesinger; I've just gone and used your link and I can send e-mails from there. As you say; it's not pretty but it works

Weirdly; I can't read my e-mails there. I can see them listed; but can't open them.

So I have to read them on the 'normal' BT Yahoo site and reply on this one...

I'm sure your explanation regarding the mobile version of the site makes sense; but it is beyond my understanding. I just presumed that all the e-mails are stored on a server somewhere that is accessed by all devices.

Presumably that is not right?

Thanks for your help and hopefully they will sort the problem out before too long.

Jivesinger

Digital_Dan wrote: »

Weirdly; I can't read my e-mails there. I can see them listed; but can't open them.

I just had a look and there is indeed something odd going on - the mouse pointer doesn't seem to change in the way it ought to, so it looks like there's nothing to click on. However if I go ahead regardless and click on the subject of the email, it opens up for me (I'm using Firefox).

What happens when you click on the email subjects, ignoring whether the mouse pointer thinks you can?

Digital_Dan wrote: »

I'm sure your explanation regarding the mobile version of the site makes sense; but it is beyond my understanding. I just presumed that all the e-mails are stored on a server somewhere that is accessed by all devices.

Presumably that is not right?

You are right to think the emails just live on a server somewhere.

The issue is how you get to access that server, and there are a number of different mechanisms, some of which are currently working better than others.

Some mechanisms are:

1. The normal BT Yahoo website. Someone has programmed some code into a web page to allow you to use your web browser to send and receive information to and from the email server. The effect is that you can read and send emails (usually anyway). It seems they've recently updated the programming of that web page and made a mistake.
   
2. The "mobile" Yahoo website. This is like (1), in that it works in a web browser, but the web page contains less information to allow it to be easier to use on small screens like smartphones. As it's a different bit of programming code, it doesn't have the same mistake as (1), and you can still send emails.
   
3. Software or apps which aren't web browsers but know how to talk to email servers direct. It's possible your iPad has an app which is doing this and again is therefore not affected by the problems with (1). On a computer, examples of this software might be Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird or (often on a work PC) Outlook.

Does that help?

Digital_Dan

Jivesinger wrote: »

I just had a look and there is indeed something odd going on - the mouse pointer doesn't seem to change in the way it ought to, so it looks like there's nothing to click on. However if I go ahead regardless and click on the subject of the email, it opens up for me (I'm using Firefox).

What happens when you click on the email subjects, ignoring whether the mouse pointer thinks you can?

Ah; I just tried clicking on the e-mail subject and you're right; it does open the e-mail.

Apologies for the cursor confusion!

At least I can read and reply to e-mails from one place now - thank you!

Jivesinger wrote: »

You are right to think the emails just live on a server somewhere.

The issue is how you get to access that server, and there are a number of different mechanisms, some of which are currently working better than others.

Some mechanisms are:

1. The normal BT Yahoo website. Someone has programmed some code into a web page to allow you to use your web browser to send and receive information to and from the email server. The effect is that you can read and send emails (usually anyway). It seems they've recently updated the programming of that web page and made a mistake.
2. The "mobile" Yahoo website. This is like (1), in that it works in a web browser, but the web page contains less information to allow it to be easier to use on small screens like smartphones. As it's a different bit of programming code, it doesn't have the same mistake as (1), and you can still send emails.
3. Software or apps which aren't web browsers but know how to talk to email servers direct. It's possible your iPad has an app which is doing this and again is therefore not affected by the problems with (1). On a computer, examples of this software might be Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird or (often on a work PC) Outlook.

Does that help?

Yes; that makes things much clearer.

In terms that I understand; the information (e-mails) are stored on a server. Depending on the browser (i.e. a 'normal' browser or a mobile browser or a certain app) that requests information from the server; code within the web page determines what device is requesting the information and determines how much information to send to ensure that it is displayed correctly.

I think that's it.

Thank you very much.

Digital_Dan

A friend of mine who uses Yahoo mail has just told me that his service is now ok after having the same problems that I had yesterday.

I've just tried to use my BT Yahoo e-mail and it still isn't working.

How is everyone else getting on?

Digital_Dan

Update!

My BT Yahoo has just starting working properly! :T