How to Set Up Outlook Express

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.

Start Outlook Express

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

Click the Start button.

Point to All Programs.

Click Outlook Express.

These first three steps are shown in the image below:

Opening Outlook Express from the Start menu

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.

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.

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.

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.)

Information about the e-mail server:

For MCB email accounts

Incoming mail server is a POP3

Incoming (POP3) mail.mcb.net

Outgoing (SMTP) mail.mcb.net

Start Outlook Express, and on the Tools menu, click Accounts.

If the Internet Connection Wizard starts up automatically, skip the next step

Click Add, and then click Mail to open the Internet Connection Wizard.

Mail option from the Add button

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.

On the Internet Explorer Address page, type your e-mail address, and then click Next.

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.

On the Internet Mail Logon page, type your account name and password.

For MCB email accounts

Account name anyone (if you are anyone@mcb.net)

Password is whatever you asked it to be

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.

Click Next, and then click Finish.

You're ready to send your first e-mail!

Handy Tips

Open Outlook Express

Go to Tools (at the top)

Then down to Accounts

Click on the Mail Tab on the top of the box that has appeared in the middle of the screen

Double click on your email account “mail.mcb.net”

Servers Tab

Tick “my server requires authentication”

And “Apply”

Advanced Tab

Server Timeouts drag the bar to the right and it will change to 5 minutes

Delivery (at the bottom)

Tick Leave a copy of message on server

Tick Remove from server and set the days to 7

Tick Remove from server when deleted

Apply and OK

Unsure if your new e-mail account is working? Send an e-mail message to yourself. If you 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.

Tip: For a fast way out, press ALT+F4