> it involves Eudora 3, Eudora 4, and ICQ
>
> I have eudora 3 and 4 on my computer. I use 3, because 4 won't check mail - - -the command doesn't register (no, it's not my settings, it doesn't even try to check).

Have you tried copying the Eudora 3 connection settings into the Eudora 4 option menu or directly into 4's configuration file? (MAKE A BACKUP COPY of the .INI FILES FIRST). Is your configuration file for Eudora 4 (eudora.ini on drive c:) corrupted with conflicting settings?

At a minimum you need these settings functional to get any version of Eudora running.

[Settings]
SavePasswordText={encrypted mailbox password}
POPAccount={YourAcctName@MailAccount.Extension}
RealName={Your Name}
SMTPServer={Mail.Server's.Numeric.IP.Address}
ReturnAddress=(YourAcctName@EmailReplyAddess.Extension}

Connection Method: Winsock selected


> Eudora 3 is in f:\eudora3\eudora.exe
> eudora 4 is in c:\program_files\qualcomm\eudora_mail\eudora.exe
>
> eudora 3 has 35 mailboxes
> eudora 4 has only the 3 default ones (in/out/trash)
>
> (yes, this is all important ;)
>
> OK. here's the weird part. I have ICQ's default email reader set to f:\eudora3\eudora.exe. Today, when i opened eudora via ICQ, it opened eudora 4, not 3, but it had the 35 mailboxes, and all the settings of Eudora 3. It also checked email when I told it to. In other words, it's supposed to launch Eudora 3, but it's launching eudora 4 with 3's settings, and for once, 4 works.
>
> I tried launching 4 manually, and it was back to the default mailboxes and was also back to not checking mail.
>
> So here's what i wanna do. I want to be able to open Eudora 4 without using ICQ as a go-between, but I want it to (duh) check email for me.
>
> anyone have any clue what could be going on here?

Well, yes. ICQ (or you) has inadvertently created a program shortcut that tells ICQ to initiate Eudora 4 using the eudora.ini (configuration settings) from Eudora 3. If I were there with you I could probably fix it easily, but right now it looks pretty messy. First, if I were you, I'd disconnect ICQ from launching either of your Eudoras as default mail client. Then I'd choose one of your Eudoras as the one to keep and Uninstall the other version -- you're probably screwing up the System Registry because I don't think Eudora is 100% Win95/98/NT-aware. Don't just delete the directory, use the Windows Uninstall Shield if you can. For Eudora 3 you need to save and backup all the config files (.ini) and the 35 mailboxes (.mbx) and mailbox indexed table of contents (.toc).

How do you normally launch Eudora when it does work -- from a icon (program shortcut) on your Desktop?

You don't say whether you're using a Modem connection with a Winsock proxy, or a "LAN Network connection", which is what Eudora considers everything else (Ethernet ring, or modemcable, or ADSL connection). Ah, the devil is in the details...