ps. Typo in the question Name : Roger Keelingling@f2s.com should read:

Name: Roger Keeling email: rogerkeeling@f2s.com

sorry

Well, for starters, you are not entering the settings as provided. For example, the screenshot of advised setting for imap server is inmail.f2s.com, but you are just entering .f2s.com. You need to enter the server names as defined. There may still be problems to address, but this needs to be done first.

The suggested settings also specify port 993 and SSL/TLS

Thanks. I had tried the settings you suggest already but in asking for help thought it better to go back to the beginning and work through step by step. I attach the amended input settings and click reset which gives the " ... failed to find ..." error again. I click on the 'advanced config' link and get the warning that an incorrect account will be set up so on this occasion I click cancel. I have previously tried going ahead and experimented with various combinations of the settings all unsuccessfully. For now I'm still working step by step. The automatic setup looks as though it expected an outgoing host name in the form ... .f2s.com but talktalk have not suggested anything like that. Any more ideas?

First, I do not know talktalk provider. All I know is what you shared, and what you shared showed that talktalk offers four different smtp server names. I would try all four, and then, if you have tried all four, to contact talktalk. I suggest omitting your password so that the check for servers is not compromised by also verifying your account. Get the server setup first. Just my two cents...

Much appreciated. I can set up an account even if I get '... failed to find the settings ...' message and it is set up with the invalid settings. I can then use 'Account settings' to work thro all the suggested combinations as you suggest. I'll try with and without a password. I'm unsure at what point in the set up process it becomes relevant. I'll report results but don't hold your breath.

I have faith. You are not the first to struggle with the setup; it's a daily issue. :)

Turned out my email had been suspected of sending out spam and been turned off. The Thunderbird connection was always OK but the server wouldn't handle my emails correctly. Resolved with the suppliers (I trust) after some work but thanks to David for continuing encouragement.