Could not instatiate mail function

[DrByte]

Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function

This means that the selected mail transport method cannot be used to launch email services and connect to an email server.

Since you've selected PHP as mail-transport method, it's relying on your server's PHP configuration for sending email. If your server does not have email functions enabled to allow "sending" email, then the above error is to be expected.

You'll need to install some sort of mailserver service on your localhost server if you wish to send mail this way.

You could try using the SMTPAUTH method and then enter all the relevant SMTP credentials at the bottom of the Email Options listing to match the email authorization info for another mailserver. The default mail port is 25, but many ISP's block this, so you may need to ask your email server's host about alternate ports they may have available.
Sending mail from a localhost server is not always easy, due to a multitude of challenges typically encountered. Using a live webserver typically solves the problem.

[misty]

http://www.argosoft.com/RootPages/Ma...r/Default.aspx
Above mail programme works fine with zencart on localhost

[cochlear]

Following DrByte's advice I changed the Email Transport Method to smtp, left the port at 25, and it worked!

[vandiermen]

I got this message when I had forgot to setup the email account I was using in the shop

All I had to do was set up email forwarding or an inbox for the email account I specified in the set up and I no longer got this message

[brennon]

After working fine for many months, I am now seeing this error with no changes having been made to my configuration (using PHP to send mail). Does anyone know of a reason why this problem would suddenly pop up?

It is affecting messages sent via the contact us page and also appears at the conclusion of a transaction which would normally generate a confirmation e-mail before showing the "transaction complete" page. Instead, I just get this error.

[DrByte]

After working fine for many months, I am now seeing this error with no changes having been made to my configuration (using PHP to send mail). Does anyone know of a reason why this problem would suddenly pop up?

Usually such "sudden" malfunctions are a result of changes to your server, made by your hosting company.

[brennon]

Well, my hosting service has been unresponsive so far, but I changed the transport method to sendmail, and it seems to be working now.

[jandc]

Usually such "sudden" malfunctions are a result of changes to your server, made by your hosting company.

"Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function."

i just got this message after sending a whole bunch of newsletters out. i have myself in the contact list so i can verify everything and i did get mine. obviously, i can't check everyone else's email to see if it went through so how would i konw if everyone received theirs?

just to make sure i'm clear, the screen filled up w/ a bunch of green checkmarks indicating sent mail, and toward the end of the page, the error message popped up.

i'm wondering if i "overloaded" the mail server somehow? i haven't looked at the code but it looks like the newsletter opens and closes the mail() function over and over again for each iteration/record (rather than just sending out one big BCC email). is that the case? and is it possible that half my emails went out and the other half "crapped out" before completing?

any advice would be great. thx.

[dude_s]

This means that the selected mail transport method cannot be used to launch email services and connect to an email server.

I have the same problem. I also use PHP like the orig poster. The strange thing is that I use a hand-coded page on the same domain/server outside of ZenCart where PHP mail works perfectly fine:

<?php
$kontakt = $_POST["kontakt"];
$to = "[email protected]";
$subject = "Neuer Kontakt eingegangen";
$headers = "From: [email protected]";
mail($to,$subject,$kontakt,$headers);
?>

Obviously, the selected mail transport method CAN be used. Seems very straight-forward. But on ZenCart, when I try to send myself an email through Contact Us, I get:
"Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function. Please check Admin->Configuration->Email Options->Email Transport."

Why?

[DrByte]

when I try to send myself an email through Contact Us, I get Email Error ...

What do you have set for your Admin->Configuration->Email Options->Contact us Pulldown? What happens if you leave it blank?