Using Outlook Express
(Updated Oct. 29, 2008)

Many of you that have High Speed Internet service from either Comcast or Verizon usually go to their respective Web sites to retrieve your e-mail using Internet Explorer. This works fine, however I'm going to suggest perhaps a better way to send and receive e-mail using Microsoft's Outlook Express program.

The advantages are a clean user interface with no Web ads to contend with, it is faster in response, and you can control your e-mail better because it's downloaded onto your hard drive.

Outlook Express is part of your Windows XP operating system and is listed u nder All Programs. If you loaded the software disk that comes from either Comcast or Verizon, Outlook Express should already be configured for use. If not then the program must be configured manually. First, check your Desktop screen to see if you have an icon for Outlook Express. If you don't see one then click on Start, move the mouse to All Programs, locate Outlook Express, right click it, and in the pop-up menu move to Send To, and in the second pop-up menu left click Desktop (create shortcut). This will place an icon for Outlook Express (OE) on the Desktop. Double click OE icon to open the program. If the program is configured correctly it will immediately connect to your e-mail provider and download any available e-mail to your computer. No configuration is needed. If you receive an error message then it needs to be configured.

For Comcast only click on Tools, at the top of the window, click Accounts, click the Add button, click Mail, and then type your name in the "Display name" field. Click the Next button and type in your full e-mail address, click Next, then type in "mail.comcast.net" (no quotes) for the Incoming mail field and "smtp.comcast.net" (no quotes) for the Outgoing mail field. Click the Next button and in the "Account name" field type in all of the characters of your e-mail address to the left of the "@" sign. Also, type in your password in the "Password" field and put a check in the box next to "Remember password". Click Next then click Finish. Click the "Properties" button in the Internet Accounts window. Click the Servers tab and at the bottom of the window click in the box next to "My server requires authentication". Click the adjacent Settings button. Choose "Log on using" then in the "Account name" field type all of the characters of your e-mail address to the left of the "@" sign. Don't include the "@" sign or Comcast.net. Next, type your password in the "Password" field. Click the box next to "Remember password". Then click the Advanced tab and in the "Outgoing mail (SMTP): field type "587" (no quotes). OK all open windows and close any remaining windows.

For Verizon DSL users follow the above general procedure to add a new Verizon account. In the Incoming mail field type "incoming.verizon.net" (no quotes) and in the Outgoing mail field type "outgoing.verizon.net" (no quotes). Close any configuration windows and in OE click Tools, Accounts, highlight your Verizon account, click Properties, click the Servers tab, select the "My server requires authentication" check box and then click Settings. Verify "Use same settings as my incoming mail server" is selected and click OK. Don't change anything under the Advanced tab. Click OK to save the mail account. Click Close to close the Internet Accounts dialog box. NOTE: For Verizon users the above procedure is for Verizon e-mail only. Unfortunately Verizon has marketing links to Yahoo, AOL, and previously MSN. This complicates the configuration and will be a factor when configuring OE depending on what you ordered and installed. The bottom line is if your e-mail address ends in "verizon.net" then the above procedure should be fine.

Now that OE is configured let's change how it looks on the screen. With OE open click View, Layout and put check marks in the following boxes: Folder Bar, Outlook Bar, Status Bar, Toolbar, and remove the check from "Show preview pane". OK the window. Other options that are available can be found by clicking Tools, then Options. Put a check next to "When starting, go directly to my "Inbox" folder. Click the Send tab and decide whether to put a check next to "Automatically put people I reply to in my Address Book". Read through the rest of the options to see if you want to make further changes then OK the window. OE should now be ready to use. Notice the row of buttons at the top of the window. Everything is there for you to Create and Receive e-mail.

Additional help with the OE configuration/operation can be found by coming to the PC Club meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM, upstairs in Winfield Hall.

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Don Trauger