Using the POP3 Protocol with Telnet/RAW Port Connections: telnet mail.isp.net 110 user [userid] pass [password] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POP3 Commands: DELE, LIST, LAST, NOOP, RETR, RSET, STAT, TOP, UIDL or QUIT DELE [msg#] Delete email file. LIST [msg#] Return list of emails. LAST List last message. NOOP Do nothing. RETR [msg#] Catonate email file to STDOUT. RSET Undo all changes made in session. STAT List number of messages and total size. TOP [msg#] [n] Print email to STDOUT with n number of lines. UIDL ? QUIT Exit POP3 saving all changes made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- example: telnet mail.isp.net 110 user jonnyb pass jonnyspass list top 1 10 top 1 20 quit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This process can be useful for two primary administrative functions. The first is to verify an account status, often it will state the account is locked out, password is incorrect, etc. The second use is to use the delete command to remove a corrupt or otherwise too large mailbox entry. This will normally be the first email from the "list" command as the POP3 client has already downloaded all other mail messages up to the point where an issue has developed. Simply issue the command: dele 1