PC Ext: External Stops Mail with DrivesWan Option

• Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.2

SYMPTOMS

When the Mail External program (EXTERNAL.EXE) is run with the Netbios option, it stops delivering mail after it receives a Netbios datagram (for a priority 5 mail message) from a postoffice (PO) that is connected using the DrivesWAN option.

CAUSE

The MTA (for example, EXTERNAL.EXE) configured to use the DrivesWAN option that is connected to the PO where the high-priority message originated also receives the datagram and tries to process it. However, External is not configured to process the datagram, and the datagram enters an infinite loop.

The MTA connected to the PO using the DrivesWAN option also receives the datagram and tries to process it. Because it not designed to process the datagram, it enters into an infinite loop. As a result, the messages in the queue are not processed until the Mail External program (EXTERNAL.EXE) on the MTA is restarted.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in EXTERNAL.EXE version 3.2.16. This problem was corrected in EXTERNAL.EXE version 3.2.18. If you do not have version 3.2.18 (or later), you can find EXTUPD.EXE, a self- extracting file, on the following services:

• Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

        On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
        Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
        Enter kbfile EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
                               , and click GO!
        Open the article, and click the button to download the file.
  
  

• Internet (anonymous FTP)

        ftp ftp.microsoft.com
        Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
        Get EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
  

• The Microsoft Network

        On the Edit menu, click Go To, and then click Other Location.
        Type "mssupport" (without the quotation marks).
        Double-click the MS Software Library icon.
        Find the appropriate product area.
        Locate and Download EXTUPD.EXE.
  

• Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

        Dial (206) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
        Download EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
  

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services