Network Problems between one XP system and Blackboard

Hello,
This may not be a network-specific problem but I'm really at a loss on this
one and I'm looking for any suggestions.

I have been dealing with a system that needs to connect to BlackBoard
servers at a university. In general, it works.

However, there is a problem with the mail component, from the one system
that it has to properly on. I have been unable to get answers from either
BlackBoard or the University support staff; they either don't know or don't
respond.

The problem doesn't occur on any other XP or Vista or Server 2003 system
here on the same network, or a Windows 2000 system elsewhere. The system
with the problem is a Lenovo Z61M thinkpad, that otherwise is fine. And it
happens on that system with two separate hard disks with two separate XP
installs, one an absolute minimum install.

What happens is that if a mail message is over a specific length, around 26
lines, communication with the server halts for that message. You can't
preview or send or cancel the message, you can only close the window; if you
like you can wait for the timeout message and then close the window. If
you retry the message a few lines less - no problem. But 26 lines just
isn't enough.

All other Blackboard functions work, and I have gone so far as to install a
new hard disk with a new, barebones XP SP2 install. Only XP, the necessary
drivers, Java, and FireFox are installed (BlackBoard seems to prefer
FireFox, but it really doesn't make any difference to this problem). No
A/V or Firewall are installed or enabled as I try to locate and fix the
problem; there's no user data on the system and no other apps. The Java
version does not appear to be relevant to this issue.

What I've been doing as a workaround is to connect to the Blackboard server
via a remote desktop account on the 2003 server system. This completely
resolves the mail problem, but causes another one. BlackBoard features a
voice component for online meetings and I haven't figured out how to get the
voice working over the remote connection.

At this point I am suspecting some quirk of the network adapter, but the
system has an Intel wireless and a Broadcom wired adapter, and both produce
the mail problem, and updating drivers has no effect.

If anyone has any suggestions as to possible approaches or solutions, I'd be
very glad to hear and try them.

Thank you,
Patrick Keenan

Patrick Keenan wrote:

> Hello,
> This may not be a network-specific problem but I'm really at a loss on
> this
> one and I'm looking for any suggestions.
>
> I have been dealing with a system that needs to connect to BlackBoard
> servers at a university. In general, it works.
>
> However, there is a problem with the mail component, from the one system
> that it has to properly on. I have been unable to get answers from
> either BlackBoard or the University support staff; they either don't know
> or don't respond.
>
> The problem doesn't occur on any other XP or Vista or Server 2003 system
> here on the same network, or a Windows 2000 system elsewhere. The system
> with the problem is a Lenovo Z61M thinkpad, that otherwise is fine. And
> it happens on that system with two separate hard disks with two separate
> XP installs, one an absolute minimum install.

(snippage)

I have a vague memory of reading that the IBM Access Anywhere (or whatever
their multinetworking software is called) can cause weird conflicts like
this. Did you install the OEM tools like that?

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!