"The Port Is Already Open" Starting Microsoft Exchange

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Exchange, you may receive the following error message:

   Internet Mail: The port is already open

You may also receive a "Port already in use" error message when you sign in to MSN, The Microsoft Network, and click Yes when you are prompted "You have new mail, would you like to read it now?".

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when you have the Microsoft Fax and Internet Mail information services installed in the same profile.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use any one of the following methods:

• Click OK whenever you receive the error message. It may then be necessary to click anywhere in the Microsoft Exchange window to make the Microsoft Exchange window the active window.
• Set up separate profiles for Microsoft Fax and Internet Mail.
• Use the following steps to set the Internet Mail information service so that it does not automatically check for new messages:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click the Mail And Fax icon.

  2. Click Show Profiles.

  3. Click the profile that includes Internet Mail and Microsoft Fax.

  4. Click Internet Mail, and then click Properties.

  5. On the Connection tab, click the "Work offline and use Remote Mail"

        check box to select it.
  

  6. Click OK.

  7. If Microsoft Exchange is running, click Exit And Log Off on the

        File menu.
  

• If you receive a "Port already in use" error message when you start MSN, remove Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Fax and then reinstall them with correct settings.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.