How do I setup Outlook Express?

Outlook Express is the free mail client from Microsoft for Windows. This help guide goes through setting up and checking accounts in Outlook versions 5 and 6. See the Microsoft Outlook Express website for more information on Outlook Express. Be sure to have the following ready befoire going through the steps:

• username and password details for accessing your mail
• ISP mail server details

1. Open Outlook Express
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click the Tools menu, then click Accounts
   
   
   
   
   
3. On the Internet Accounts window click the Mail tab at the top
   
   
   
   
   Note: If there are no accounts listed you will need to add an account (see adding accounts).
   
   Click on the Account name for your e-mail account. In this example the account is called ' mail.mydomain.com '
   
   Check that your mail account is set to the default account in the Type column. If your mail account is not the default account then select it and click the Set as Default button.
   
   
   
4. With your mail account selected, click the Properties button
   
   
   
   On the General tab type in your name as you want to appear in your emails in the Name field. For example Joe Bloggs, or Mr Joe Bloggs.
   
   The Organization field is optional and most frequently used for company names. In this example, because we are setting up a personal email account we shall leave this field blank.
   
   Check your email address is correctly entered in the Email Address field.
   
   Fill in the email address you want your email sent back to in the Reply Address field. In most cases this is the same as your normal e-mail address.
   
   Check that there is a tick in the Include this account when receiving mail or synchronizing tick box.
   
   
   
5. Click onto the Servers tab
   
   
   
   The Incoming mail server should read as your incoming mail server
   
   The Outgoing mail server should read as your outgoing mail server
   
   Note: If you are unsure what your mail server are then click here for a list of the mail servers of the common ISPs.
   
   Type in your e-mail user name in the Account name field
   
   Type in your e-mail password in the Password field
   
   Note: Please remember case sensitivity with your user name and password. In other words USERNAME (all capitals) and username (all smalls) are two different User names belonging to two different people. The same thing applies to your password. So you need to be exact in your typing.
   
   The Remember Password option should be selected if you want Outlook Express to download your email without stopping to ask you for your password first. If you leave this field blank then you will be prompted for a password every time Outlook Express tries to download your email.
   
   
   Note: If you do not dial up to the internet then skip to step 7
   
   
   
6. Click onto the Connection tab
   
   
   
   
   
   Check to see that you have a tick next to the box that reads Always connect to this account using
   
   The line below that should list an internet connection, if it doesn't then check the drop down menu to see if it is listed there and select it so that it is.
   
   Note: If there is no connection on the list then you'll need to configure your internet connection first.
   
   
   
7. Select the Advanced tab
   
   
   
   In the Server Ports area the Outgoing mail server (SMTP) should be 25 and the Incoming mail (POP3) server should be 110
   
   You don't need to tick any of the SSL options.
   
   If you are having problems downloading your email from the server then under the Server Timeouts heading drag the slider to the Long side.
   
   Optional: Under the Sending heading you can choose to break apart large email messages into smaller chunks by selecting Break apart messages larger than xx KB , where xx is message size in kilobytes.
   
   Optional: In the Delivery area you can choose to leave a copy of your email on the remote server. This is useful if you are downloading your email on someone else's PC and still want to keep your email in your remote mailbox to read later on as well. If you do choose to leave your email on the server then you also can select to remove the email from your remote mailbox after a specified number of days or after you empty your Deleted Items folder in Outlook Express by ticking the relevant option.
   
   Click the OK button to close the window.
   
   
   
8. Click Close to close the Internet Accounts page.
   
   Note: If you do not dial up to the internet then you have finished. Restart Outlook Express if you made any changes.
   
   If you do dial up to the internet then read on.
   
   
   
9. Click onto the Tools menu and select Options .
   
   
   
   
   
10. Select the Connection tab on the Options page.
    
    
    
    If you belong to more than one Internet Service Provider (ISP) then you should have a tick next to Ask before switching dial up Connections , so that your mail program can switch to the other ISP's mail system.
    
    If you want your phone line free after you check your email then you can put a tick in the box next to Hang up after sending and receiving . If, on the other hand, you want to stay online after checking your email then remove the tick from this option.
    
    Once you have finished then click the OK button to close this window.
    
    All done! Outlook Express should be set up for your email. Restart Outlook Express if you made any changes.
    
    
    This is a step by step guide that takes you through the process of adding an account in Outlook Express.
    
    
11. Open Outlook Express
    
    
    
    
    
12. From the Outlook Express Window, click onto the Tools menu and select Accounts.
    
    
    From the Internet Account window, click onto the Add button on the top right and then select Mail.
    
    This will bring up the Internet Connection Wizard that will take you through adding a new e-mail account to Outlook Express.
    
    
    
13. Type in the Name that you want attached to your emails.
    
    
    
    Click the Next button.
    
    
    
14. Type in your email address.
    
    
    
    Click the Next button.
    
    
    
15. Check that My incoming mail server is set to POP3.
    
    
    
    Type your Incoming mail server details.
    
    Type your Outgoing mail server details.
    
    Click the Next button.
    
    
    
16. Type in your user name in the Account name box.
    
    
    
    Type in your password in the Password box.
    
    If the password box is greyed out then put a tick in the Remember Password box so that you can type in your password.
    
    Please remember case sensitivity with your user name and password. In other words USERNAME (all capitals) and username (all smalls) are two different User names belonging to two different people. The same thing applies to your password. So you need to be exact in your typing.
    
    Click the Next button.
    
    
    
17. Almost done! Click the Finish button.
    
    
    
    
    If you do not dial up to the internet then you are finished, otherwise complete the remaning steps if you do.
    
    
    
18. You should now see an account in the Account column.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Click on the account name and then click Properties.
    
    
    
20. Click the Connection tab at the top of the page.
    
    
    
    Put a tick next to Always connect to this account using.
    
    Check that the drop-down menu below shows your internet connection.
    
    Click the OK button.
    
    
    
    
21. Click the Close button at the bottom of the Internet Accounts window.
    
    This should take us back to the main Outlook Express window.
    
    
    
    
22. Click on the Tools menu and then select Options.
    
    
    
    
    
    
23. Click the Connection tab at the top of the window.
    
    
    
    
    For dial up connections, if you want your phone line to be free after you check your email, put a tick next to Hang up after sending and receiving. Otherwise, if you want your computer to stay connected to the Internet, or have a JetStream connection, don't tick this option.
    
    Click the OK button.
    
    
    
24. Restart Outlook Express.