To use Outlook or Outlook Express to check you email, you must first setup the program to check your mail. This simple tutorial will show you how.

Step One

Open Outlook Express by clicking on the Mail icon on your menu bar in Internet Explorer. From the Tools menu select Accounts.

Click on the Add > button, and select Mail

Step Two

Enter your name (this is will show up to the people that you send mail to, so if you want John Smith, then put that, if you want mail to say that it is from Smith, Inc., then put that). Then click Next.

Step Three

Enter your email address and click Next.

Step Four

There are 3 sections to this window. 

Section 1: My incoming mail server is a ??? server - This should say POP3.

Section 2: Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server: - This should be set to mail.yourdomain.com

Section 3: Outgoing mail (SMTP) server - This should be set to mail.yourdomain.com (Please note: Certain ISPs and Cable Modem providers require that you send all outgoing mail through them to protect against potential spammers. If you are able to receive mail, but unable to send mail, please check with your system administrator or ISP for the correct SMTP server address.)

When you have completed these sections, click Next.

Step Five

Enter your Account Name (username) and Password. It is also helpful to check the Remember Password box, but only if you are the only one who uses the computer. Click Next and then Finish.

Step Six

Make sure the email account you just created is selected and then click the Properties button.

Step Seven

On the General Tab, type the name you would like to use to refer to your mail account. This can be any name you like, no one will see it but you.

Also, copy your email address and paste it into the Reply Address field.

Click on OK.

Outlook Express is now ready to send and receive E-mail!

NOTE: If you are using Outlook or Outlook Express to check mail in more than one account, it is very easy to setup Mail Rules to have mail from a certain account go into a certain folder in Outlook or Outlook Express. This is a great feature that makes it very easy to manage your mail accounts. For more information on enhancing Outlook or Outlook Express please visit Microsoft's website or consult your program documentation.