No It should not  make a difference, except for the time taken to upload and send, it can be one of many things from a G mail server problem or even  your anti viruus programme interferring with your mail settings or your firewall. I am aware Norton Antivirus causes mail issues, when I was in UK Norton did an automatic update and from that point on I coundn,t send or get t my email through my IP provider, the only way was to swtch off Norton.  I and  friends  have dumped Norton for many reason the most being it slows your system too much and you have yearly upgrades. AVG Antivirius is free and good, any way I digress. I would reccomend you try in this order the following. My son uses G mail and he has no problems

1. Temporarily deactivate any antivirus soft ware and try sending a email.
2. Sign up for a free yahoo.co.uk mail address and try that
3. Check your firewall settings deactivate or reduce level of protection and try sending again
4. Check Explorer privacy setting it might have changed to high, click to medium. also delete all cookies.
5. Do one at a time and then check mail again like when your changing spark plugs on a car so you dont get the HT leads mixed up if you get my drift.
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Also try a system restore to a point when Gmail was working correctly  just back up any new files to disc first.

HTH WoO