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Configuring Outlook Express Accounts using the Wizard

Step 1:

Choose Accounts from the Tools menu to manage the list of accounts. One of the strong points of the Outlook email programs is the ability to handle multiple accounts. Netscape Messenger only allows multiple IMAP accounts.

Step 2:

This window is the accounts manager. From here one can add or remove email, Newsgroup, and directory services.

Click on the Add button to create a new Mail account. Once the account is created, it will be automatically set to default. This default is the return address sent in each email sent from Outlook. The default can be changed by simply choosing which account should be the default and clicking on the Set as Default button.

The Properties button allows changes to be made any time after the account is created. Accounts can be discarded with the Remove button.

Step 3:

Outlook Express 5 wants the name that will be place on all of your outgoing email.

Step 4:

The first question the wizard wants to know is if you already have an email account. If you do, it wants to know the address of the account. Certain account names it will recognize and try to assist in the creation of the account. For example, if an account ending in hotmail.com is entered, it will automatically find the setting for checking a Hotmail account.

Step 5:

The recommended setting for the typical VSU email user is POP3. This assumes the email account is checked in only one location (office or home).

Not all VSU users fit this paradigm, so if you check your email from more than one location, you will need to make an important decision.

POP3 vs. IMAP

POP3 removes email from the server where it is stored. IMAP simply allows the user to read the email while it is on the server.

Typically email programs allow the user to POP and enable a "Leave mail on server" option. Though with that setting, a remove after 3-5 days is needed to keep the email from filling the account. The primary computer can be set to remove all mail from the server.

The issue of filling up the email account is present in IMAP as well. A way to think about it is, POP uses the server as temporary space so up to 1 MB of email may be left up there before it enters your Inbox. On the other hand, IMAP uses that space as the Inbox. It must be moved to folders (which are stored on your computer) to free up the space.

Off-campus Users: Due to security concerns, mail from non-VSU domains will not be accepted. You must consult with your ISP's documentation and/or tech support in using the SMTP server from your ISP. If email is already configured for your ISP email account, then use that SMTP server for your VSU email account. Here is a page with some local SMTP servers as examples.

Step 6:

This completes the configuration of a new email account.

Congratulations!

You have successfully configured Microsoft Outlook Express 5 to check your VSU e-mail account.

If you have problems when trying these instructions, or if you have other question concerning your VSU e-mail account, please contact the Information Technology Helpdesk at 229-245-4357 or send an e-mail to helpdesk@valdosta.edu.