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How to Set Up Outlook 2003

Before you can use Outlook 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 gracefully handles it all.

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Start Outlook 2003

There are many ways to start Outlook 2003, but here's a sure-fire way to find and start it.

This tutorial will guide you in setting up Outlook 2003 for the first time

When you open Outlook 2003 for the first time, select Tools and then Email Accounts…

When the Wizard starts, select Add a new e-mail account and click Next to continue

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Select POP3 and then click Next again

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Here you’ll need to enter your name, email address, user name, password and mail server info. If you’re unsure of your mail server names, refer to the article titled Broadband ISP Email Server Settings. When each of the fields is filled in, click the More Settings… button.

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Select the Outgoing Server tab and place a check in the box labeled My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication. Make sure that Use same settings as my incoming mail server is selected. This step may not be required by your ISP, yet, but more and more are making it a requirement. And even if it’s not required, it’s still a good idea. Click OK to return to the previous settings window.

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Now click the Test Account Settings… button.

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If each of the fields have been filled in properly, you should get green check marks for each of the tasks. If any errors are reported, select the Errors tab for more information. Click Close and then back in the settings window click Next.

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That’s it, you’re done! Click Finish to begin using Outlook 2003.

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Notice that one of the first messages you’ll download is a ‘test message’ that Outlook actually sent itself (this was the test performed back in step 6). This message can of course be deleted.

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.)

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.

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

If the Internet Connection Wizard starts up automatically, skip ahead to step 4.

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.

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!

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.