Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express products are very similar and are nearly identical in regard to how they are configured. It is important to note, however, that Outlook does not currently support Usenet Newsgroups and is therefore bundled with Outlook Express, which does support Usenet Newsgroups. If you have both Outlook and Outlook Express installed, you will need to decide which program you would like to use for e-mail. We recommend Outlook.
Many of the hyperlinks below lead to screen shots of the Outlook Express application and are intended to help you identify the various fields and options that you'll need to make changes to. You may use your browser's Back button at any time to return to these instructions after viewing a screen shot.
The following instructions assume that you have a working Internet connection and that you have fully installed Outlook Express and/or Outlook 98. Both Outlook Express and Outlook 98 require Internet Explorer 4.0. For a full list of the available options for Internet Explorer 4.0, please see Microsoft's Internet Explorer Download Page. The latest versions of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express can be found there.
If you just need to change your password in either of these programs, please read our document on how to change your password in Outlook Express or Outlook 98.
NEW>> If you just need to change mail server assignments in either of these programs, please read our document on how to change mail servers in Outlook Express or Outlook.
Start Outlook (or Outlook Express) by double clicking on the desktop icon labeled Microsoft Outlook [Express]. If you installed Microsoft Outlook (not the same as Microsoft Outlook Express) after installing Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, Outlook Express may be labeled as Microsoft Outlook Newsreader instead.
With Microsoft Outlook Express running, click the Tools item on the menu bar and then click on Accounts. For a screen shot, click here.
On the Internet Accounts window, click on the Mail tab. Then click the Add button and select Mail. This starts the Internet Connection Wizard where you will enter your account information.
On the first screen of the Internet Connection Wizard, you will be asked for your name. Type in your full name, then click Next.
The next screen asks for your e-mail address. Type your e-mail address in the space provided and then click Next.
On the next screen, you will see "My incoming mail server is a _______ server." The type specified should be POP3; if it isn't, change it. On the same screen, you'll also need to specify the names for both the incoming (POP3) and outgoing (SMTP) mail servers. Enter pop3.cport.com for the incoming server and smtp.cport.com for the outgoing server, then click Next.
The Internet Mail Logon window is
provided for you to enter your mail account information.
Enter your POP3 account name, which is your e-mail address minus the domain suffix.
For example, user as opposed to user@cport.com)
Then enter your password. Your password is the one you chose when you signed up for
Cport.Com. For most Cport customers, this information is the same as their dial-up
login information. Do not select the Secure Password Authentication option.
Click Next.
The Friendly Name windows is
provided for you to enter a "friendly name" for your Internet mail
account. This is simply a label to distinguish one account from another.
In our example, we call it Cport.Com. Maybe you should, too.
Then click Next.
The Choose Connection Type window
is provided so that you may choose the connection method that you use to connect to the
Internet. Most of our customers will want to select the Connect using my phone
line option.
Then click Next.
As stated above, we are assuming that you have a working
Dial-Up Networking connection, so please select Use an existing dial-up connection
from our example.
Then click Next.
Congratulations! You've successfully configured Outlook 98 or Outlook Express for Internet E-Mail. Click Finish to return to the Internet Accounts window.
Note: The following instructions are for Outlook Express ONLY
From the Internet Accounts window, click on the News tab.
Click the Add button and select News.
Enter your name and click Next.
Enter your complete E-Mail Address.
For example, gumby@cport.com
Then click Next.
Enter our news server host name, news.cport.com.
Do check the option My news server requires me to log on.
Then click Next.
Enter a friendly name for this
account. For example: Newsgroups.
Then click Next.
Now you'll need to choose a
connection type again. You'll want to select Connect using my phone line
option.
Then click Next.
Choose a Dial-Up Connection.
As stated above, we are assuming that you have a working Dial-Up Networking
connection, so please select Use an existing dial-up connection and then select
the connection you want to use. For example: Cport.Com.
Then click Next.
Congratulations! You've successfully configured Outlook Express for Internet News. Click Finish to return to the Internet Accounts window.
You may be prompted with the message Would you like to download newsgroups from the news server you added? Click Yes.
You may also be prompted with the message You are not currently connected to this server. Would you like to connect now? Click Yes.
If you are not yet connected to the Internet, you may be presented with a box that reads Connect to Cport.Com. This box may look different than the one you're used to, but it is functionally the same. This is known as the Microsoft Internet Connection Manager and its purpose to is to dial-enable individual applications so that certain Dial-Up accounts can be tied to certain mail and news accounts. Make sure your user name and password are correct and then click OK.
If you clicked the OK button, you should see the message Dialing...
Once your connection is made, you can begin downloading your mail and news.
