0×800ccc0e is a Windows error code informing you that something went wrong with Microsoft Outlook Express. The error is typically caused by SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) trying to connect to a port that has been blocked.

The error message probably looks something like this:

The connection to the server has failed. Account: “your_name”,
Server: “SMTP_server”, Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): NO,
Socket error: 10061, Error Number: 0×800ccc0e

You may also experience this exact error only with a slight variation in the message:

The connection to the server has failed. Account: ‘your_account’,
Server:’your_POP3_server’, Protocol:POP3, Port: 110, Secure(SSL): NO,
Socket error: 10061, Error Number: 0×800ccc0e

The first error message is telling you that the SMTP server encountered an error due to port 25 being blocked. Similarly, the message will also show up if POP3’s port 110 is blocked. If the problem arises when it is trying to send a message, then port 25 is being blocked. If this error occurs when you are trying to receive a message, then port 110 is probably being blocked.

How to fix it

First, we should start to check and see if your server is set to Microsoft’s server:

1. With Outlook Express open, click “Tools” and go to “Accounts”.
2. Click on the tab labeled “Server” and then enter your email provider’s SMTP server in “Outgoing Mail” text field. Here is a list of SMTP serves for a few common providers:
   MSN - smtp.email.msn.com
   Yahoo - plus.smtp.mail.yahoo.com
   Gmail - smtp.gmail.com
   If you don’t use any of these providers, you may need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and obtain your account information and SMTP/POP3 server addresses.
3. Go to the Out Going mail section, and check the “My Server Requires Authentication” box and then select the “Settings” button. Here you will need to enter your account login information. (i.e. example@msn.com)
4. Click “OK” on all of your newly configured settings. You should be set. Keep in mind that you may also need to configure your POP3 settings for your provider.

If you have tried re-configuring your e-mail settings and if still doesn’t work, a proxy, firewall, or anti-virus software may be blocking the port. You may try disabling any firewalls or anti-virus you have running in the background, but please be advised that doing so opens up your computer to security threats. However, if you do this for these testing purposes for just a few moments (without surfing the web or opening any software), you should be okay.

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