Outlook Express FAQ's

This page contains the top 10 questions regarding Outlook Express. Click on the question below to be taken to the appropriate answer.

1) How do I get Outlook to check for mail every 5 minutes?

A) Follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Options.
2. Ensure that the General tab is chosen.
3. Place a check mark in the Check for new messages every... box.
4. Set the time in minutes in the next box.

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2) How do I get Outlook Express to leave e-mail on the server?

A) Follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Accounts.
2. Click on the Mail tab.
3. Highlight the appropriate account and click on Properties.
4. Click on the Advanced tab.
5. Place a check mark in the Leave a copy of messages on server box.

If you want to remove the messages after a certain amount of time you can place a check mark in the Remove from server after box and then change the days to the number required.

The option below this allows you to set Outlook Express to only remove the e-mail from the server once you have deleted it from your system.

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3) Do I have to leave my e-mail program running all the time to get my e-mail?

A) No. When someone send you an e-mail it is stored in your mailbox on the Mail Server until you next log on and check for e-mail.

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4) How do I use Outlook Express Offline?

A) Most e-mail programs can be used off-line, but this is something that they do not come automatically set-up to do. You should notice that Outlook Express has an OUTBOX. This is where you can store you're e-mail for sending later. By using this folder you can create as many e-mails as you like before sending them.

To use the Outbox and not send messages immediately, follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Options.
2. Click on the Send tab.
3. In the middle of the 5 options at the bottom, remove the check mark from Send Messages Immediately.
4. Click on the Dial-Up tab.
5. Place a check mark in Hang up when finished sending, receiving, or downloading (this will mean that you will not have to worry about disconnecting once you have downloaded your e-mail).

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5) How do I send using multiple e-mail addresses?

A) You must first of all create a new account with a different e-mail address before you can do this. Check the instructions on Setting up an E-mail Account for step by step instructions on how to do this.

Then follow these steps on sending using the different accounts:

1. Click on Compose Message to start a new e-mail.
2. Fill in all the appropriate information (To, Subject etc..)
3. Click on File and choose
   1. Send Message Using (if On-line), and then the appropriate account.
   2. Send Later Using (if Off-line), and then the appropriate account.
4. This will then send the e-mail using the address set-up within the account chosen.

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6) Outlook Express will not check the spelling on my e-mails. Why?

A) In order for Outlook Express to check the spelling you must first of all have Microsoft Word and its spell checker installed. Without this product you cannot check the spelling on your e-mails before sending.

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7) How do I use E-mail filters?

A) E-mail filters are what make or break an e-mail package. They allow you to create seperate folders for different e-mail and then set up rules to place certain mail into the folders depending on the sort criteria that you set.

To create a folder follow these steps:

1. Click on File, choose Folder, and then New Folder
2. Type in a name for the folder.
3. Choose a folder that you want this folder to be created in.
4. Click OK.

Once you have created an appropriate folder you can now create the filter. To do this follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Inbox Assistant....
2. Click on Add.
3. Complete the rules in the top section that the mail should meet.
4. Choose the action to be taken in the bottom section.

Thats all there is to it. Very easy.

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8) Outlook Express dials out when it first loads. How do I stop this?

A) Follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Options.
2. Choose the Dial-up tab.
3. In the top section When Outlook Express starts Highlight the option for Do not dial a connection.

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9) How do I set-up the Newsgroups?

A) Newsgroups are basically discussion forums. Using them is very much like sending an e-mail only not to an individual. There are thousands of Newsgroups available on just about every subject and more being added every day.

To set-up the Newsgroup servive follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then Accounts.
2. Click on Add and then choose News
3. Display name = Your name. Click on Next.
4. E-mail Address = Your E-mail address. Click on Next.
5. News (NNTP) server = Your news server.
6. The box for My news server requires me to log on should be left blank. Click on Next.
7. Internet news account name = This has no real relevance on connecting to the service but should be a friendly name that allows you identify this account in the accounts list. Click on Next.
8. Choose Connect using my phone line. Click on Next.
9. Highlight Use an existing connection if you already have one in the list, or see our instructions on setting up a connection.
10. Highlight the connection in the window. Click on Next.
11. Congratulations you have just created a news account in Outlook Express. Click on Finish to complete the operation.

After clicking on Finish you will be prompted to connect and download a list of Newsgroups. This will take around 5 minutes (depending on the speed of your connection), however, it only has to be done once.

Once this is completed you will be presented with a list of Newsgroups. You can search this list for anything of interest and subscribe to Newsgroups. This is not like subscribing to a magazine. It costs you nothing. It just means that Outlook Express will always check this particular group for messages, and makes it easier to find also.

TIP: Always read through a newsgroup before posting to it. Newsgroup regulars can be very condescending when someone new posts a question to a Newsgroup that has already been asked or asks something out of context. Get the lay of the land before posting.

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10) Setting up an E-mail Account.

A) Setting up an e-mail account in Outlook Express is fairly easy as the set-up wizard asks all the questions in user friendly (non-techy) terms. You can follow these instructions to set-up as many e-mail accounts as you like. This can be handy if you have more than one person sharing the PC. See the instructions on How do I send using multiple e-mail address's? for steps in setting this up.

To set up an e-mail account follow these steps:

1. Click on Tools and then choose Accounts.
2. Click on Add and then choose Mail.
3. Display Name = Your Name. Click on Next.
4. E-mail Address = Your E-mail address. Click on Next.
5. My incoming mail server is a POP3 server.
6. Incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP) server = Your incoming mail server.
7. Outgoing mail (SMTP) server = Your outgoing mail server. Click on Next.
8. Log on using should be highlighted.
9. POP account name = Your e-mail logon name.
10. Password = Your password. Click on Next.
11. Internet mail account name = This has no real relevance on connecting to the service but should be a friendly name that allows you identify this account in the accounts list. Click on Next.
12. Choose Connect using my phone line. Click on Next.
13. Highlight Use an existing connection if you already have one in the list, or see our instructions on setting up a connection.
14. Highlight the connection in the window. Click on Next.
15. Congratulations you have just created an e-mail account in Outlook Express. Click on Finish to complete the operation.

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