Trying to send e-mail through earthlink

[maxxd]

Okay, I've run a search on the forums and found many posts about not being able to send e-mails. I found one in particular that stated that the fix was to d/l and install an SMTP server on the local server, then change the php.ini file to reflect the new SMTP of "localhost". Which is cool, but when I went to the site and started checking into the free server, it says that it won't work on ISP's who block port 25 - according to this site, Earthlink does so. Now, my actual mail server (straight from Outlook) is "mail.mindspring.com", but as Earthlink has bought out mindspring, I assume the port 25 thing still applies. What port should I add to the second SMTP string in my ini file? Anybody use earthlink or mindspring as an outgoing mail server?

BTW - running php4.3.1 on Windows XP Pro, IIS on a second system connected via LAN.

[Mordecai]

SMTP = mail.mindspring.com
^- this doesn't work?
Edit: what error messages do you get, if any? Also, have you tried searching on Google for others trying to email via Earthlink?

[maxxd]

Actually, I think I may have it sussed. I blame lack of coffee. Or lack of oxygen to my brain, but I totally forgot that my server machine is nor connected directly to the internet, so of course it couldn't find the mail server. Thank you for the time to read and reply. I'm going to the corner to smack myself in the head with the "wake up" stick repeatedly.....