Set Up Your Own OE Account

Here's one that almost everyone should be able to get some use out of. Check it out!

Do you keep hearing about Outlook Express? Maybe some of your family and friends use it and you would like to get started using it for your e-mail too, but you're just not sure how to go about setting it up. Well, this tip is for you then! This tip will teach you how to set up an e-mail account for Outlook Express 6.x.

Outlook Express is automatically installed on your computer, so to start the process, click on the icon on your desktop or wherever it's located. You can also get to it by clicking on Start, Programs and then find Outlook Express. Now, if you are opening OE for the first time, an Internet Connection Wizard will automatically pop up for you to follow. If you've accessed OE before, you may have to get to the wizard manually by choosing Tools, Accounts. A box titled Internet Accounts will come up on your screen.

Now, you want to click on the Add button, choose Mail, click on Create a new Internet mail account and then Next.

Enter the name you would like to appear on the account. Keep in mind that this will be the name that shows up on any e-mails you send to other users. Then, click Next.

The next step is to enter your e-mail address and click Next again.

For the next screen, you're going to choose to set your incoming mail server as a POP3. Choose that from the pull down menu and also type POP3 into the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server line. For the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server, you're going to have to get some information from your ISP. There is more about this down below.

Now, you're going to choose a username and password for yourself. Make sure you pick something that will be easy for you to remember, but also think about choosing a secure password. Check here for some ideas. You can either choose for OE to remember your password or not. For security reasons, it may be wise to leave that box unchecked, but that is completely up to you. Once you have those entered, click Next.

The next screen will say something like "Congratulations, you have successfully entered all of the information required to set up your account." To save your settings, just click Finish. Once you click on Finish, another box will come up asking you if you'd like to download folders from the mail server you added. Since there is still some configuration left to do on your OE account, choose No.

Now, you're going to want to bring up the Internet Accounts screen again, which was the first step from up above. You may have to choose the Mail tab to see the account you created.

Make sure your account name is highlighted and then click on Properties, which is located off to the right. Now, choose the Advanced tab and check the second box that says "This server requires a secure connection (SSL)." Make sure you checkmark the one under Incoming Mail and not under Outgoing Mail.

You're almost done! Now, OE will ask you if you'd like to refresh your folder list, because it recognizes that you have made some changes. To continue, click on Yes and then you will be asked for the password you created for your e-mail account. Type in your password and click OK. If another box comes up telling you that the server you are connected to is using a security certificate that cannot be verified, just choose Yes and that will be taken care of.

Now, your new Outlook Express e-mail account is set up and it is ready for you to use. You can set up your preferences under Tools, Options. You may want to go in there and check and uncheck some boxes so it will fit your e-mail likes and dislikes. Then just click on Send/Receive to check your e-mail and start reading all of those jokes and stories that your family and friends send you.

Keep in mind that if you use Web based e-mail, Outlook Express won't work with that.

If you want to set up your own POP3 e-mail client, you're going to need some information from the provider of the e-mail address. Most users get their POP3 e-mail account from their ISP, who should have all the necessary information you need to properly configure your Outlook Express account.

Here’s some of the information you’re going to need from your ISP:

1) The POP3 server, which will usually be something as simple as mail.mailserver.com.
2) With POP3 mail accounts, you also need the SMTP server address, which is usually very similar to, if not the exact same, as the POP3 server. For example, mail.mailserver.com.

Just another reminder: You are going to need to contact your ISP for necessary information that you will need to complete the set up of your POP3 e-mail account. You can probably find this information on your ISP’s Web site or by calling their tech support line.

Happy e-mailing!

~ Erin and Chad