Help is available for each item in this group. Click  [image]  at the top of the dialog box, and then click the item you want information about.


Lists the accounts you have set up on your computer.


Click to add a new account.


Click to remove the selected account from the list of accounts.


Click to change the properties for the selected account.


Click to import an Outlook Express Internet account.


Click to export an Outlook Express Internet account.


Click to use the selected account as your default account.


Specifies the name used to refer to this account in the accounts list.


Specifies the friendly name associated with your e-mail address. When you send messages, this name appears in the From box of your outgoing messages.


Specifies your group or organization.


Specifies the e-mail address that people should use when sending e-mail to you at this account. The e-mail address must be in the format name@company—for example, someone@microsoft.com.


Specifies that you want replies to your outgoing messages sent to a different e-mail address, which you can type here.

For example, you might send messages through one e-mail account—JRS@microsoft.com—and specify that you want replies sent to JRSmith@msn.com.

If you do not select this option, replies to your e-mail messages are sent to the e-mail account from which you send them.


Specifies whether to use this e-mail account as your default e-mail account when you send e-mail messages.


Specifies whether to include this account when you check for new messages and send outgoing messages.


Specifies that Outlook Express look in the newsgroups you subscribe to whenever it checks for new messages. The number of unread messages in those newsgroups is displayed next to the newsgroup name.


Specifies your Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server for outgoing messages. You can get this information from your Internet service provider (ISP) or local area network (LAN) administrator.


Specifies your server for incoming messages. You can get this information from your Internet service provider (ISP) or local area network (LAN) administrator.


Specifies the protocol to use for your incoming e-mail server.


Specifies whether you must either transmit an account name and password or use Secure Password Authentication to gain access to the server.


Specifies that you must use an account name and password to log on to this server.


Specifies your account name. This is usually the same as the part of your e-mail address to the left of the at sign (@).


Provides a space to type the password assigned to you by your Internet service provider. For security, the actual characters do not appear in this space; instead, each character is represented by an asterisk ( * ).


Specifies that you can use Secure Password Authentication to log on to this server.

If you select this option, you might be prompted to log on when you connect to this server.

If you are prompted for a user name and password, this account information is usually supplied by the Internet service or content provider when you sign up for their service.


Specifies that Outlook Express will remember your password.


Specifies that you connect to this server using a local area network (LAN) connection.


Specifies that you must manually connect to this server before you can send, receive, or update messages.


Specifies that you connect to this server through dial-up networking, using a modem.


Lists the dial-up networking connections already set up on your computer.


Displays the settings for the selected dial-up networking connection.


Click to create a new dial-up networking connection.


Specifies whether to disconnect your modem connection after you have completed sending and receiving messages.


Specifies the port number you connect to on your outgoing e-mail (SMTP) server. This port number is usually 25.


Specifies the port number you connect to on your incoming e-mail server. This port number is usually 110 for POP3 servers and 143 for IMAP servers.


Restores the server port numbers to their default settings.


Specifies whether to use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) security protocol when connecting to this server.

The administrator or Internet service provider for the server will indicate if the SSL requirement exists.


Specifies how long to wait for a response from the server before stopping an attempt to send or receive e-mail messages.

If you have a fast connection to your server, move the slider toward Short.

If you have a slow connection or a busy server, move the slider toward Long to allow the server enough time to respond.


Specifies whether to store a copy of all received messages on your server. If your Internet service provider (ISP) does not allow you to save messages on the server, a dialog box will appear informing you of that.

If you clear this check box, incoming messages are deleted from your server after you download them onto your computer. Outgoing messages are not saved on your server, but they are saved on your computer if you have specified that setting in your e-mail program.


Specifies whether to delete e-mail messages left on the server after the number of days indicated.

Some Internet service providers (ISPs) limit the number of messages you can store on the server, or do not allow you to save messages on the server. If you clear this check box, your server might automatically remove messages after a certain period of time or when you exceed the limit.


Specifies to delete a message from the server when you delete the message from the Deleted Items folder on your computer. Some Internet service providers (ISPs) limit the number of messages you can store on the server, or do not allow you to save messages on the server.


Specifies to break up large messages, so that each part is smaller than the file size indicated. Some older servers cannot handle messages larger than 64 kilobytes (KB). By breaking large messages into smaller messages, you ensure that the messages are transmitted and received correctly.


Specifies whether to automatically connect to this server whenever you start your newsreader.


Specifies how long to wait for a response from this server before canceling the downloading of newsgroups or newsgroup messages.

If you have a fast connection to your server, move the slider toward Short.

If you have a slow connection or a busy server, move the slider toward Long to allow the server enough time to respond.


When selected, this setting overrides the default format setting for sending newsgroup messages.


Specifies whether to send newsgroup messages using HTML formatting or plain text.


Specifies whether to include descriptions of newsgroups when downloading the newsgroup list or new newsgroup names from this server. If this server carries a large number of newsgroups, clearing this check box reduces the time needed for downloading. Not all newsgroups have descriptions.


Specifies the server and provides a space where you can type the server name.


Specifies the name you choose for this directory service as it will appear in your directory service and Address Book lists.


Specifies the server name or IP address of the directory service. This information is supplied by the directory service.


Specifies whether you need to enter your user name and password to gain access to this directory service. This account information is usually supplied by the directory service.

Clear this check box if this directory service does not require an account name or password.


Specifies that this server require Secure Password Authentication to log on.

If you select this option, you might be prompted to log on when you connect to a directory service server.

If you are prompted for a user name and password, this account information is usually supplied by the directory service.


Specifies your logon or account name. This is usually the same as the part of your e-mail address to the left of the at sign (@).


Provides a space for you to type the password assigned to your account by this directory service. For security, the actual characters do not appear in this box; instead, each character is represented by an asterisk ( * ).


Specifies whether, when you send e-mail, recipient names are checked against this directory service to verify that the e-mail addresses are correct. If you clear this check box, you can still use this directory service to search for names, but names will not be checked against this server automatically when you send e-mail.


Provides a way for you to determine how long the Address Book should search this directory service for a specified name. Move the slider to change the setting.


Provides a space for you to specify the maximum number of entries to attempt to return when searching this directory service.


Provides a space for you to type the base—or root—of the directory service in which to search for names. This base can be a country, organization, or other type of grouping.

Only some servers require this information.

If the search base information is required, it will be supplied by the directory service.


Specifies the port number you connect to on your directory service server. This port number is usually 389.


Specifies the port number you connect to on your news server. This port number is usually 119.


Specifies that special folders are stored on the IMAP server.


Specifies the folder where sent items are stored.


Specifies the folder where drafts are kept.


Specifies that Outlook Express check for new IMAP messages in all folders, including hidden folders.


Specifies the mailbox that contains all of your folders on the server.

If your IMAP server is a Cyrus server, your user folders must be contained in the Inbox folder.

If your IMAP server is UNIX-based, your e-mail is usually stored in its own directory in your user home directory. For example:

~username/Mail

Do not end the root folder path with a hierarchy character. For example, ~username/Mail is a valid root folder path, but ~username/Mail/ is not.


Specifies that Outlook Express always connect to the Internet by the method you select.

If your account requires you to connect using a local area network (LAN) or a specific dial-up connection, this setting overrides your Internet Explorer setting.


Click to set the order in which directory services are searched when validating e-mail addresses.


Specifies that the digital ID you select is added to outgoing messages.


Click to select the digital ID you want to use (from those you already have) when sending signed messages.


Shows the signing certificate that is currently used to send messages with this account.


Shows the encryption certificate you send to others when signing messages. The recipient can then use this certificate to encrypt messages to you.


Click to select the encryption certificate other people will use to encrypt messages to you.


Specifies the encryption algorithm that other people should use to encrypt messages to you. This setting is transmitted with each piece of digitally signed e-mail you send. Unless you frequently move between machines that support different algorithms, it is not necessary to change this setting.


Click to learn more about digital IDs.


Click to obtain a digital ID from a certification authority.


Specifies that only folders marked to be shown are displayed.


Specifies to use a simpler search query when using this directory service; this might produce better search results.


Specifies to use a modem to connect to the server when a local area network (LAN) connection fails. Set up the modem connection in the Use the Following Dial-up Networking Connection box.


Specifies that you must log on to your outgoing e-mail server.

If you select this option, you might be prompted to log on when you connect to this server.

If you are prompted for a user name and password, use the account information supplied by your Internet service or content provider when you signed up for their services.


Click to change the settings for your outgoing e-mail server.


Specifies that the settings for the outgoing e-mail server will be the same as those for the incoming e-mail server.