Thanks to everybody for their replies. I'm still having problems, but I'm using a different email client, Foxmail 5.
Thinkpad T40
XP PRO SP3
Foxmail 5
Outpost 2009 Free Firewall
I will try this again with a different email program. All my settings are correct and Avast says that it is handling GMX, so I need to check with other programs.
FWIW, I have no problems with GMAIL and AOL/AIM, my other accounts.
Tks.
Oh-Oh... tried gmx with npopuk and it downloaded a test email just fine.
P.S. MY BAD... somehow I had a bad password in Foxmail... when I reentered it manually, I got my email. So sorry to bother y'all on this one. Foxmail 5 and gmx work just fine with Avast. I was looking in the wrong area.
Much thanks for all your posts.