Hi Russell,

Thank you for reaching out.  It does not sound like your environment meets the system requirements and this is likely the reason for the troubles. SmarterMail was designed to operate efficiently with multiple applications on the same server. Below are the minimum system requirements solely for SmarterMail. If SmarterMail is running on a server with other applications, those need to be taken into consideration and may add to the requirements listed below. In addition, high-load / high-volume servers may need to adjust the requirements as needed:

Hi Russell.  Your first screenshot looks like the SmarterMail service might not be running.  I would check that in Control Panel >> Administrative Services >> Services.

Attention: Rod Lasky:

     I just noticed your response tonight.  Included in this posting are two Paint 3D tempsnip image files ( below ) for your consideration.  They are as follows:

This one shows the server error message ( as shown in my previous posting ).  Then, we have:

This one shows that my "SmarterMail Service" service is already running.  I restarted it, but I still receive the server error message ( as shown above ).  I am open to suggestions.  Let me know what you think.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

P.P.S. - I have recently installed SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7125 ( July 05, 2019 ).

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Another suggestion is to check the servers running tasks and make sure that smartermail is using "sufficient" memory.

We've seen instances where smartermail will launch and show as running in the services console, but upon inspection of the running task list on the mail server the mail service is only consuming a few hundred kb memory, or two instances.

End the task(s) and restart smartermail service from services console, and perform an iis reset at the same time.

Attention: Jade D:

     I launched Task Manager and ended the "SmarterMail Service" service, and then I started the "SmarterMail Service" service.  Then I exited the Internet Information Services ( IIS ) 10 ( in Microsoft Windows 10 ) Manager web server, and then launched it ( I assumed this was what you meant by resetting IIS ).  But I received the same server error message ( as shown in my previous posts to this online community ).  Included below is a Paint 3D tempsnip image file for your consideration:

Is this what you meant by resetting IIS ( stopping the "IIS Admin Service" service ( enclosed in a red rectangle, above ), and then starting it )?  Let me know if this is correct.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Attention: Ronald Raley:

     I just tried uninstalling and reinstalling the SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7125 ( July 05, 2019 ) private e-mail server software ( using the same web page that was used with the previous installation of it ), but I continue to receive the same server error message ( as shown in two of my previous posts ).  I am still open to suggestions.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Hi Russell. My name is Linda Pagillo with Mail's Best Friend. We are a SmarterTools reseller and I am a trusted member of the forums. If you would like me to take a look at this for you, please email me directly at the email address in my signature. Once I look and possibly fix it, I will post the fix here for others to see. Thanks.

Russell, to perform the full reset Jade mentioned I recommend you do the following:

1. Open the Windows Services console. You can click the start menu and type SERVICES and it should be one of two results that comes back.

2. Locate the SmarterMail service, right-click it, and choose Stop.

3. Click the start menu again and search for COMMAND PROMPT. Right-click that and choose Run As Administrator.

4. In the command prompt, type in IISRESET and hit enter. Wait for the IISRESET to complete.

5. Start the SmarterMail service once again from the Windows Services Console. 

If that process doesn't work its possible you have a security application on your computer preventing the SmarterMail service and web interface from communicating with each other appropriately. I recommend temporarily disabling any antivirus or firewall software you're running to see if this clears up the issues with accessing SmarterMail. Lastly, if I remember correctly, you are running on non-server version of Windows in this environment, and the client connection limitations built in there could also be a source of trouble.

If all else fails I recommend submitting a support ticket or reaching out to Linda as she's very knowledgeable in SmarterMail environments and I'm sure she can point you in the right direction. Have a great day Russell!

Attention: Kyle Kerst:

     I tried the IISRESET procedure you outlined in your previous post.  However, I still received the same server error message ( as shown in two of my previous posts to this online community ).  Then, I tried turning off the "Windows Firewall" program ( for both private and public network settings ), in my Microsoft Windows 10 ( Home ) edition operating system, and restarted my computer.  After launching my "SmarterMail" web site in the Internet Information Services ( IIS ) 10 ( in Microsoft Windows 10 ) Manager web server, I still received the above-mentioned server error message.  Then, I turned the private and public network settings back on in Windows Firewall, and allowed the "SmarterMail Service" through Windows Firewall, and then restarted my computer, and launched my above-mentioned "SmarterMail" web site.  I still received the above-mentioned server error message, though.  At this point, my only other option would be to contact Linda Pagillo, to see if she can fix this problem.  Let me know what you think.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Russell, at this point I think your next steps would be getting some expert eyes to look over the environment, logs, configuration, etc as I'm out of ideas on this one unfortunately. Please follow up when you find resolution as I'm eager to see what might have been causing this. Have a great rest of your week!

Hello, 

I wanted to follow up on an earlier response to your post. 

Does your environment meet the minimum system requirements for this software? If you are not running on supported hardware or software the troubleshooting steps provided may not produce ay results. 

Thank you 

Attention: Tony Scholz:

     I have a Dell 570 Inspiron desktop computer ( if I remember correctly ) at this time.  Included below is a brief overview of my system:

This information can be a bit misleading, since it describes the Hewlett Packard a4316f desktop computer that I originally purchased in April of 2010.  This computer's motherboard failed in 2016, so I visited a local computer technician.  He copied the contents of my Hewlett Packard Western Digital hard drive onto a new Western Digital hard drive, and installed it in the Dell computer I am now using.  I am not running any specific Microsoft Windows server operating system - it is simply the Microsoft Windows 10 ( Home ) Edition operating system.  I had your SmarterMail Free Edition private e-mail server software correctly configured, and was able to use the e-mail alias feature.  However, the mailing list feature never has worked ( and there is not much difference between an e-mail alias and a mailing list ).  Now, I am not even able to connect to your server.  Let me know if you have any suggestions.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

I was able to fix Russell's IIS issues. There were a few things wrong…

He is currently having another issue with what is looks like a SM issue of some kind. I asked him to reinstall just in case something went wrong during his install. 

Attention: Linda Pagillo:

     I was present at my computer watching while you worked remotely on it.  You began your TeamViewer session at around 10:45 a.m. this morning, and that session ended at about 12:00 p.m. ( for a period of roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes ).  During that time, this is what I observed:

After you completed your TeamViewer session, I uninstalled the SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7125 ( July 05, 2019 ) private e-mail server software, and reinstalled it.  This is the response I am now getting:

I am still receiving the same server error message.  Also, I jotted down the details of the above-listed actions as quickly as I could, so some of them may not be exact.  None of these efforts have solved my SmarterMail private e-mail server problems.  I am still open to suggestions.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Russell, I apologize for the delay. I would like to completely remove and reinstall SmarterMail on your computer and I would also like to completely remove the IIS SmarterMail site and rebuild it from scratch. If you are willing to let me do this for you, please reach out to me directly again and I will schedule this for next week. Thanks.

Guys, I just wanted to let you know how this turned out. First and foremost as you know, like a lot of you out there, I volunteer my time to forum. I'm always happy to help here when I can and I never ask for anything in return. With that being said, I was able to connect with Russell and I fixed his IIS issue. Next he was having an issue with getting SmarterMail's login page to come up. I offered to help him again. He reached out to me with his TeamViewer info today. I logged in and his computer was locked so I was unable to access. I logged off, emailed him and he said I could try again. I tried again and I was able to connect and get to his computer this time, but the connection was painfully slow and I was not able to work effectively. I logged off, emailed him again explaining the situation and asking him if he could do anything about the speed on his end. This is the ungrateful reply I received...

"Attention: Linda Pagillo:

If my computer system was too slow, then you should have noticed that during your first TeamViewer Remote Desktop Connection ( RDC ) session.  I would just like to kindly request, at this time, that if you are not serious about fixing my SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7125 ( July 05, 2019 ) private e-mail server problem, then please do not ask for any further RDC sessions.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch. 😊"

I almost fell off of my chair when I saw this response from him. I'm donating my time to help him and this is the thanks I get. You guys know me. I'm never disrepectful and I always do my best to help. I don't feel like I deserved this kind of response.

Russell, I think you need to learn how to speak to people or no one else is going to want to help you. I'm officially done helping you with this issue and all future issues. Take care.

Attention: Linda Pagillo, et al.:

     As a Christian and full-time evangelist ( see Acts, chapter 11 ( especially verse 26, for example ) and 2 Timothy 4:1, 2, for example ), my previous response was not ungrateful.  I would just like to kindly mention that in roughly the past year since I began using the SmarterMail Free Edition series of private e-mail servers from SmarterTools.com, the mailing list feature never has worked.  Also, I have yet to receive any substantial assistance on this online community.  I am not a mean, ungrateful person ( see Proverbs 18:24 and Galatians 5:22, 23, for example ).  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for any attempted assistance up to this point.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309

Attention: Linda Pagillo, et al. ( whoever wants to read this and respond to it ):

     Please hold all fire ( so to speak ).  I downloaded the most recent version of the SmarterTools.com private e-mail server ( SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7153 ( August 02, 2019 ), and configured it.  I received the same server error message that I have been receiving with the two previous versions ( Builds 7053 and 7125 ).  Then, I searched the Internet, and found some information at the link given below:

https://portal.smartertools.com/community/a90536/smartermail-16-the-server-is-not-responding-or-cannot-be-reached.aspx.

This lead me to uninstall the SmarterMail Free Edition Build 7153  version of SmarterTools.com's private e-mail server ( mentioned above ), and to download and configure one of the legacy versions ( version 14.x, which also includes an Internet Information Services ( IIS ) in Microsoft Windows 10 ( Manager 10 ) web server web site ).  After the legacy version was configured, I then created an empty "SmarterMail" web site in IIS, and then navigated to "c:\Program Files ( x86 )\SmarterTools," and clicked on the "SmarterMail" folder, then clicked on the "IIS Tool" folder, then clicked on the IisConfigurationTool" icon, and finished configuring the above-mentioned "SmarterMail" web site.  This is what I now get:

This login page is exactly what I had configured for my previous SmarterMail Free Edition 15.7.6885 private e-mail server.  I used the same domain administrator server e-mail address as before ( i.e., "postmaster@theholybible1.ddnsfree.com" ), with the same password as before, but now I am not able to successfully log in to the private e-mail server ( although I am at least now able to get a login page ).  Neither my above-mentioned domain administrator server login, nor my admin server login are now working.  Why is this happening?  For your consideration, my "SmarterMail" web site is configured as follows:

No hard feelings to anyone.  I am still open to suggestions.  Let me know what you think.  Thank you ( see Colossians 3:15, for example ) for your help and your patience.  Keep in touch.

Sincerely in Christ,

Russell E. Willis

P.S. - Please read Proverbs 23:23.

"23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

[ Proverbs 23:23; RSV ]

Russell E. Willis

3559 Almanac Road

Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.  32309