Windows Live Mail Photo Emails Problem

I have recently had a long 'support' conversation with virgin.net regarding
an error message I keep getting when sending a "photo email" using Windows
Live Mail. Virgin are my ISP for the internet and I have email addresses with
them ending virgin.net. The error code is reproduced below:
An unknown error has occurred.

Subject 'xxxxxxxxxx'
Server Error: 554
Server Response: 554 5.7.1 Requested action not taken: Message was spam or
contained virus
Server: 'mail.virgin.net'
Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC6F
Protocol: SMTP
Port: 25
Secure(SSL): No

In my discussion with virgin support the conclusion was reached that when a
"photo email" is created there is a stage of "preparing photos" before the
email is placed in the outbox. This would appear to be where the problem
occurs in that some code is added to the photograph for it to be identified
when uploaded to the WLM server (this would make sense as the email recipient
would then click on the thumbnail image in the email to download the hi-res
image from the server). It seems that virgin.net & maybe some other ISPs see
this embedded code as possibly malicious and therefore reject the email with
the error message above.
Some work needs to be done here. Has anyone else experienced the same
problem and, more importantly have they resolved the issue.

Which AV program do you have installed? If you have email scanning enabled,
disable it. You don't need it as long as you have resident protection
running.

"Frustrated virgin user" <Frustrated virgin user@xxxxxx>
wrote in message news:307FB119-6F9F-48C2-9496-0AA3682C336A@xxxxxx

Thanks Bob.
I use AVG free but it makes no difference if I disable it/turn it off.
The problem seems to lie with virgin.net due to their server blocking what
it perceives as malicious code (because it is embedded in the photos to be
uploaded to WLM).
I don't quite understand what you mean by "resident protection running"

"Bob" wrote:

You're welcome.

Resident protection means you have AVG running at all times.

You didn't say if you have email scanning enabled. If you do, uninstalling
AVG, rebooting, and reinstalling without the email scanning feature might
solve your problem.

Additional troubleshooting questions:

When did the problem begin?
Have you recently installed any programs?
Which firewall do you have installed?
Did you ever have any other AV programs or security suites installed?
Did your ISP automatically install an AV program or security suite?
Did your PC have any pre-installed AV program or security suite?
If so, which one(s)?

Consider this: Whenever a new error condition appears on your computer, it
is almost certain that there was some change to the computer soon before the
problem began.
Do a thorough check for malware, following all of the steps at one of these
Web pages.
Help with malware:
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing programs like Messenger Plus,
whose ads for malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince
you that you owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.
-------
*Report back, please*

"Frustrated virgin user" <Frustratedvirginuser@xxxxxx>
wrote in message news:A84A6C69-C377-4A9C-B890-871704A131BE@xxxxxx

Your ISP needs to talk to the supplier of their anti-spam software who
needs to research the problem.

The anti-spam software is giving a false positive and needs adjusted to
allow Photo mail.

This is assuming that you aren't trying to send your message to too many
people.

The photo mail uploads the real full size images to a Microsoft server
and puts links to them in the message. The issue could be that once a
critical mass of your ISP's users have used the photo mail, the
anti-spam software has seen too many messages with links to the same
server and says aha spam!.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm



"Frustrated virgin user" <Frustrated virgin
user@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:307FB119-6F9F-48C2-9496-0AA3682C336A@xxxxxx

From the error message it would appear that the OP's problem is
clearly at the server level, not within his email client.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP


"Bob" <bob@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3cGdnYIk2Lqk8LHVnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@xxxxxx

Aside from switching to a more enlightened ISP, you could send
photo emails through a different SMTP server. One solution
would be to use Gmail's SMTP server.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP


"Frustrated virgin user" <Frustrated virgin user@xxxxxx>
wrote in message news:307FB119-6F9F-48C2-9496-0AA3682C336A@xxxxxx

Thanks to all contributers to this post. I have tried some of the suggestions
within replies and it leads me back to the same conclusion (as said by
others) that virgin net spam catcher is causing the problem. They however
will not admit it and don't care..........Will have to live with it or move
elsewhere. Thanks again..

"Gary VanderMolen" wrote: