How to setup outlook express

How to Set Up Outlook Express

Published: August 26, 2003

Before you can use Outlook Express to send and receive e-mail, you need to set up an account. You can have more than one account—for business, online shopping, and so on—and each person who uses your computer may have their own, completely separate account. Outlook Express gracefully handles it all.

On This Page

	Start Outlook Express
	Set Up an Outlook Express E-Mail Account
	Set Up a Web-based E-Mail Account
	Close Outlook Express

Start Outlook Express

There are many ways to start Outlook Express, but here's a sure-fire way to find and start it.

1.	Click the Start button.
2.	Point to All Programs.
3.	Click Outlook Express. These first three steps are shown in the image below: Opening Outlook Express from the Start menu
4.	If asked whether you'd like to open this particular account automatically every time you start Outlook Express, click Yes (if you do) or No (if you don't). If you don't want to be asked this question again, click to check the Always perform this check... box.
5.	Check When Outlook Express starts, go directly to my Inbox. Outlook Express directs all incoming mail to the Inbox, so it makes sense to bypass this opening page. If you don't see the list of folders and contacts on the left, click Layout on the View menu. Click Contacts and Folder List to check them, and then click OK. Outlook Express list of folders Quick start. You'll notice that when you use Outlook Express regularly, Windows XP will put the Outlook Express icon on the Start menu (along with other programs you've used recently). In that case, just click the Outlook Express icon in the Start menu to open the program.

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Set Up an Outlook Express E-Mail Account

The Internet Connection Wizard makes short work of setting up your online mailbox by walking you through each step for every e-mail account you set up.

1.	Before you get going, make sure you know your email address along with the following information. (You may need to contact your ISP, Internet Service Provider, to get it.) First, information about the e-mail servers: • The type of e-mail server you use: POP3 (most e-mail accounts), HTTP (such as Hotmail), or IMAP • The name of the incoming e-mail server • For POP3 and IMAP servers, the name of the outgoing e-mail server (generally SMTP) Second, information about your account: • Your account name and password (For some solid advice about making a secure password, read the Create strong passwords article.) • Find out if your ISP requires you to use Secure Password Authentication (SPA) to access your e-mail account—yes or no is all that's required.
2.	Start Outlook Express, and on the Tools menu, click Accounts. If the Internet Connection Wizard starts up automatically, skip ahead to step 4.
3.	Click Add, and then click Mail to open the Internet Connection Wizard. Mail option from the Add button
4.	On the Your Name page of the wizard, type your name as you want it to appear to everyone who gets e-mail from you, and then click Next. Most people use their full name, but you can use any name—even a nickname—that people will recognize.
5.	On the Internet Explorer Address page, type your e-mail address, and then click Next.
6.	On the E-mail Server Names page, fill in the first block of information that you gathered from your ISP in step 1, and then click Next. Internet Connection Wizard's E-mail Server Names Note: If you chose HTTP as your incoming e-mail server—as for a Hotmail or MSN account—this wizard page changes slightly so you can identify your HTTP mail service provider.
7.	On the Internet Mail Logon page, type your account name and password. Internet Connection Wizard's Internet Mail Logon Note: If you're concerned about break-ins to your e-mail, click to clear the check in the Remember Password box. You'll then be prompted for the password each time you send or retrieve mail.
8.	Click Next, and then click Finish. You're ready to send your first e-mail! Unsure if your new e-mail account is working? Send an e-mail message to a friend. If they get the message, your account is ready to roll! But if you run into problems setting up your account, Outlook Express offers help. Search for troubleshooting topics from Contents and Index on the Help menu.

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Set Up a Web-based E-Mail Account

The e-mail that you get in a Hotmail account and other Web-based accounts is not stored on your hard disk, but is kept on the account-provider's computer. That's what makes it possible to access your account from any computer in the world over the Internet. Here's how you set yourself up.

1.

Go to the Web site and follow the setup instructions—for example, http://www.hotmail.com/ for Hotmail.

2.

Set up Outlook Express to use the account, by following the instructions above in Set up an Outlook Express e-mail account. If you share your computer with someone else, take advantage of Fast User Switching. A feature of Windows XP, it lives up to its name by enabling you to switch among users on a single computer without closing any programs you are running or logging off. • To turn Fast User Switching on, open User Accounts in Control Panel. Click Change the way users log on or off. Make sure the Use Fast User Switching box is checked. • Then, to switch users, click Start, click Log off and then click Switch User. On the Welcome screen, click the user account you want to switch to. That's it!

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Close Outlook Express

In closing, Outlook Express works just as all other Windows programs do.

•	On the File menu, click Exit. Tip: For a fast way out, press ALT+F4.

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How to setup wireless network

Wireless networks have some major advantages over traditional, cabled networks. First, you don’t have to pull cables through walls and ceilings or install wall jacks. Second, devices that are wirelessly connected are portable; you can move them around the office at will. Finally, guests in your company's office can easily connect to the network, subject to security protocols that an administrator controls.

However, wireless networks do present potential security problems. Unless a wireless network is properly configured, it is vulnerable to anyone passing by your company's office, people on the floor above or below the office, or even individuals outside of the building. The range of wireless networks is shorter than that of wired networks and varies depending on the thickness and composition of intervening walls, floors and ceilings. Wireless networks are slower than modern wired networks but can still reach respectable speeds of more than 54 Mbps.

Here are step-by-step instructions for setting up a wireless network.

1. Choose Your Networking Hardware

You will need at least two pieces of hardware: a broadband wireless router and a wireless-network adapter.

The router incorporates a wireless access point that is the interface between your wired Internet connection and the radio network that broadcasts and receives Internet traffic throughout the access point’s range. The router controls traffic between the devices in your network and the Internet, combining outgoing messages and routing them to the Internet, as well as directing incoming traffic to individual devices.

The wireless-network adapter enables a device (typically a PC or a printer) to send and receive messages over the wireless network. It is essentially a small, two-way radio transmitter.

Wireless networks use one of several flavors of the 802.11 standard. The most flexible version is 802.11b/g. The “g” standard is backward-compatible with the “b” standard, so this type of router can connect to network adapters that use either the “b” or “g” standards (though it will not connect to older, slower “a”-type adapters).

Once you have purchased the router and the network adapter(s), the next step is to connect the router to the Internet.

2. Unplug Your Cable or DSL Modem to Turn It Off

Disconnect the modem from the incoming phone wire or coaxial cable that connects it to the Internet.

Next, connect your router to the modem using a CAT 5 cable, which is usually supplied with the router. Plug the cable into the router port labeled “WAN,” “WLAN” or “Internet” on the back of the router.

Reconnect the modem to the Internet and turn it on. After a short period during which the modem and router negotiate with each other, the router’s LEDs should light up in a way that indicates it is connected to the Internet. See the router’s documentation to figure out what the LEDs mean.

3. Configure the Router

Temporarily connect a PC to the router using a CAT 5 cable. Plug one end of the cable into the PC’s Ethernet adapter and the other end into one of the router's Ethernet ports. Turn on the PC, and it will automatically connect to the router.

Open your Web browser and enter the router’s IP address in the address field. The router’s IP address, as well as the default username and password that gives you access to the router’s configuration screens, can be found in the router’s documentation.

Most of the router's configuration options can be left on their default settings, but there are a few settings that you should change:

• Set a unique network name, also known as the SSID (service set identifier). The SSID may be your company name, a personal name or any word that gives your network an easily recognized identity.
• Enable WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption to keep unauthorized persons from accessing the network. A list of encryption keys — basically passwords — will be displayed. Write down at least one of them.
• Change the administrative password so that only you (or a delegated administrator) can alter the router’s configuration settings.

Once you have configured the router, save the new settings. The router will reboot, and the new settings will be enabled.

Disconnect the CAT 5 cable from your PC and router.

4. Install Wireless-Network Adapters in Devices

Many laptops and printers come with built-in wireless-network adapters. For desktop PCs, you may use a PCI-card network adapter. USB or PC Card wireless-network adapters are available for laptop users. You may or may not need to install driver software from a CD.

When you boot a wireless-enabled PC, a small wireless-networking icon will appear in the system tray. Right-click this icon and select the "View Available Wireless Networks" option. Highlight the name of your wireless network and click the “Connect” button.

WPA2 will request an encryption key. Enter the key that you wrote down earlier.

Close the wireless-connection window.

You are now wirelessly connected to the Internet!

An Alternative to WPA2 Encryption

While WPA2 provides a high level of security, the long encryption keys can be a burden on users. Instead of enabling WPA2 encryption, administrators of small networks may want to limit connections to a list of known devices.

Each wireless-network adapter has a MAC (Media Access Control) address, a string of characters that uniquely identifies it. Often, this MAC address is printed right on the network adapter. Your router's configuration screen should give you the option to enter multiple MAC addresses. When this feature is set up properly, only MAC addresses that have been added to this list will be allowed to connect to the wireless network.