After 4 rings my AT&T 1717 answering machine voice message comes on but then won't accept a message. Phone keeps ringing and recorded voice message comes on again but won't accept the caller's message

"Q: My Norstar Startalk, Flashtalk, or voice mail says my mailbox is not accepting any more messages. I deleted all my messages, but callers still cannot leave a message. Why?
A: Check with your voice mail administrator. Chances are another Mailbox on the system used up all the message storage space. Usually it's the general delivery mailbox that hasn't been checked for messages on a regular basis."
Frequently Asked Questions

The following discussion suggests that voicemail can be inactivated, and cab be re-activated by logging in and pressing '4'
Startalk Flash Won answer Nortel Phone System Tech Support

This says that the mailbox must be initialized.
http://www.uniquecomm.com/docs/Startalk_Flash_Quick_Reference_Guide.pdf

Most phones do not allow you to change the ring number, for it is usually determined by you phone provider. If you still want the manual, go to Philips.com > Support > Service/Repair Information > Find your product Then search using your product name/serial number. If it is available anywhere, it will be there.

This happens when the number of rings to answer of the provider voicemail is less than the number of rings to answer that the answer machine is set for. For example: if your provider voicemail rings to answer is set for 3 rings and the answer machine is set for 4 rings then the voicemail answers before the 4th ring, therefore the answer machine will never get a message. I would call the service provider's customer service number and request they increase the rings to answer above the number of rings to answer that the answer machine is set for. If you don't want voicemail to answer any calls(when your line is busy or when the answer machine is turned off) ask your service provider to disable voicemail.

The AT&T 1717 can be set to 2, 4 or tollsaver rings. Tollsaver means it will answer in 4 rings if their are no new messages and will answer in 2 rings when their is a new message. This is a convenience when checking for new messages when away from home or office. Cannot be set to answer in 3 rings. Press and hold the SETUP button until you hear the ring option announced, press ANNC/SKIP button or MEMO/REPEAT button until the ring option you want is announced. Press PLAY/STOP button to exit.

When the AT&T 1717 digital answering machine is powered off it will answer an incoming call after 10 rings, it will announce "machine is off" then beep twice, dial 0 to turn it on. The machine is now ready to answer calls. This 10 ring setting is factory set and cannot be modified. To set the number of rings to answer for normal operation press <SET UP> button and hold for 2 seconds, machine will announce current ring setting. Press and release <ANNC/SKIP> or <MEMO/REPEAT> until you hear the number of rings you want. Press and release <PLAY/STOP> to exit. The ring settings available are 2, 4, and toll saver. When set to toll saver machine will answer after 4 rings when there are no new messages and after two rings when is anew message. Here is a link where you can download manual, http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/AT%2526T/1717-_E

Problem solve. Thank you for your help.

The unit appears to be stuck in "message retrieval mode) and is asking for your password to give you access when you call in(remote answering). You need to return the unit to it's factory default settings. If you don't still have the instructions you can get them here:http://telephones.att.com/docMgt/public/art/309494/1739_manual.pt2.pdf. Hope this helps!

Use Ring Select to choose how many times
the line will ring before the system
answers a call. Set for 2, 4 or Toll Saver.
When you set the system for Toll Saver, it
answers after four rings when you have no
new messages, and after two rings when
you have new messages.
1. Press and hold "set up" for about two
seconds. The system announces the
current ring selection.
2 Press and release "ANNC/SKIP" or "MEMO/REPEAT"
until the system announces your ring
selection.
3 Press and release "Play/Stop" to exit

I am also trying to change the number of rings before the answering machines toll saver activates.

The Rings to Answer setting is important if you have an answering machine on the
same phone line as the HP All-in-One, because you want the answering machine to
answer the phone before the HP All-in-One does. The number of rings to answer for
the HP All-in-One should be greater than the number of rings to answer for the
answering machine.
For example, set your answering machine to a low number of rings and the HP All-in-
One to answer in the maximum number of rings. (The maximum number of rings
varies by country/region.) In this setup, the answering machine will answer the call
and the HP All-in-One will monitor the line. If the HP All-in-One detects fax tones, the
HP All-in-One will receive the fax. If the call is a voice call, the answering machine will
record the incoming message.
To set the number of rings before answering from the control panel
1. Press Setup.
2. Press 4, and then press 2.
This selects Basic Fax Setup and then selects Rings to Answer.
3. Enter the appropriate number of rings by using the keypad, or press or to
change the number of rings.
4. Press OK to accept the setting.