Setting up Email Account in Outlook Express

If you're having trouble with e-mail, check here for frequently asked questions, and read through the following to be sure everything is setup correctly.

Your new website package includes an e-mail account set up especially for you.  In order to use this account, you must first put information into your e-mail software so that you will be able to both send new messages reflecting your new e-mail account as the "sender's" address and retrieve messages from your new e-mail account when you connect to the Internet.

Here are some simple instructions to assist you in setting up your new account. They are based on Microsoft Outlook Express 5 which is typically provided with your Windows operating system. If you are using different e-mail software, the setup will be slightly different, but similar enough that you should be able to use this information to get started. Below, where you see yourdomain.com, replace this with your actual domain name (the name of your website without www in front of it).

 1. Start Outlook Express.

 2. Click on the Tools menu, then under that menu choose the item Accounts.

 3. The resulting dialog box has many tabs.  Click on the second tab labeled Mail.

4. Click on the button toward the top labeled Add, then choose Mail (from the fly-out menu).

5. In the next screen, type in the name you wish to appear in the "from" box when you send e-mail to someone.  (Example:  Mary Smith)  Click the Next button to proceed.

6. In the next screen, type in your e-mail address as given by pc|mac.  (Example: mary@yourdomain.com.)  Click Next.

7.  Under the next dialog box, E-mail Server Names, you input the information for proper server communication.  (NOTE:  Leave the first space as is. Your incoming server is indeed a POP3 server.)

In the first space, type in the name of the incoming mail server exactly as follows:

mail.yourdomain.com

You have two choices for what to put In the second space, depending on your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Sometimes ISP's require that all outgoing mail go through their servers. In these cases, use the name of their outgoing mail server, such as smtp.earthlink.net, mail.lig.bellsouth.net, smtp.prodigy.yahoo.com, etc.

You may also use the pc|mac outgoing mail server, unless your ISP blocks outgoing mail. If you do this, you are required to set the "My Outgoing Server requires authentication" option which is described below under "Some Final Tweaking." In this case, use:

smtp.yourdomain.com

Click Next  to continue.

8.  The next screen asks for your account name.  Type your account name exactly as given to you by pc|mac.  (Example:  mary@yourdomain.com)

In the password field, enter the password exactly as given to you by pc|mac.

If you so choose, check the "Remember password" box so that you do not have to key it in every time you send mail or check for new mail. Do NOT check the "Log on using Secure Password Authentication" box.

Click Next to proceed.

9.  Click Finish to complete this process.

10. Close the final dialog box.

Some Final Tweaking

Your account has now been set up in Outlook Express.  Open the account properties and key in some additional information.

1. Start Outlook Express (if not already running).

2. Click on the Tools menu, then under that menu choose the item Accounts.

3. Click on the account you have just created and then click the button labeled Properties (right side of screen).

4. On the General tab, click on the field labeled Organization and type the name of your organization. This is optional.

5. Click in the field labeled Reply address and type in your e-mail address (yourname@yourdomain.com). This is optional and only needs to be specified if you want replies to go to someone else.

6. If you are using the pc|mac outgoing mail server (smtp.yourdomain.com), click the tab at the top labeled Servers.  Check the box under the words Outgoing Mail Server which reads My Server Requires Authentication.
If you are using your ISP's outgoing mail server, do this only if they require it, and specify the account info they provided, not the pc|mac info, under Settings.

7. Click the OK button to apply the changes and close the dialog box.

Using your e-mail

• Connect to the Internet in your usual manner.
• Start Outlook Express (or other e-mail software).
• If you have saved your password, the software will automatically retrieve your messages.  (If not, you will be required to enter your password before the process begins.)

Using your e-mail from another computer (web|mail)

The web|mail feature is available for you to use when you are away from your primary computer. You can access new mail (hasn't been retrieved yet) from anywhere in the world with just a web browser and Internet connection. Using your web browser, navigate to mail.yourdomain.com or use the e-mail login feature at www.pcmac.org/mail.

Please note that web|mail is intended for occasional use and not as a complete replacement for using normal e-mail software on your computer. The more messages you have in your inbox, the slower it will be.

Help with specific ISP's

Some Internet Service Providers have specific ways you have to setup your e-mail when using their service. Click the links below for more details.

AOL - use the instructions above for connecting to our servers, but do NOT use the SMTP Authentication option. AOL will intercept your outgoing e-mail and send it through their servers.

Earthlink (including Mindspring and other ISP's acquired by Earthlink)

MSN Internet

Road Runner

If you have any problems with setting up your account, please contact us.