Metman, if you can start at the beginning, somebody can walk you through this or point you to the info.
Essential information:
What is your ISP?
What email account are you trying to set up?
(Some people don't use the email service provided by their ISP.)
Yahoo and Hotmail, for example, are POP3; AOL is IMAP. That's about all you need to know about the email server.
If giving this information here compromises your privacy, most ISPs provide an information page on setting up your email client. Have you checked HELP at your email site?
I believe that you have to pay an annual fee to Hotmail and Yahoo in order to access email through your Outlook client. The free services, to the best of my knowledge, must by accessed as direct webmail.
You have the option with any ISP of simply accessing your account through WEB mail without using a client.
I'm not sure what's going on that has made setting up OUTLOOK or OUTLOOK EXRESS so problematic. My preference is for Thunderbird; others like to use Incredimail. Both clients are freeware, and the basics of configuring them are the same as for AOL. There isn't much to know other than whether your dealing with POP3 or IMAP.
If you will send the name of your email service, I'm sure somebody can find the instruction page for configuring your OUTLOOK or OUTLOOK EXPRESS client for you. Usually the email "HELP" system in whatever email service you're using will give detailed information regarding client setup and configuration.
Here are the instructions for AOL using OUTLOOK EXPRESS:
To create a new e-mail account in Outlook Express
Sign on to AOL.
Open Outlook Express. (If Outlook Express is not your default mail client, you may be prompted to specify whether you want to use it as the default by clicking OK).
From the Outlook Express Tools menu, click Accounts.
In the Internet Accounts dialog box, click Add and then click Mail.
In the Internet Connection Wizard, in the Display name field, enter your name as you would like it to appear on your outgoing e-mail messages.
Click Next.
In the E-mail address field, enter your full e-mail address, e.g., GabbyGrace@aol.com.
Click Next.
On the E-mail Server Names screen, select IMAP from the drop-down menu.
In the Incoming mail server field, enter: imap.aol.com.
In the Outgoing mail server field, enter: smtp.aol.com.
Click Next.
On the Internet Mail Logon screen, enter your AOL screen name in the Account name field.
Enter the password for your AOL account in the Password field.
If you want Outlook Express to save your password, leave the Remember password check box selected.
Click Next.
Click Finish.
To configure your Outlook Express e-mail account
When you are returned to the Internet Accounts dialog box, click the Mail tab. (If the Internet Accounts dialog box is not open, click the Tools menu and then click Accounts).
Select your AOL IMAP account.
Click Properties.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Servers tab.
In the Outgoing Mail Server section, click the My server requires authentication check box.
Click Apply.
Click the Advanced tab.
In the Outgoing mail (SMTP): field, change the number that displays to 587.
Click Apply.
Click the IMAP tab.
In the Special Folders section, click the Store special folders on IMAP server check box to deselect it.
Click Apply.
Click OK.
Click Close.
Notes
If you receive a message prompting you to download folders from the mail server, click Yes.
tdsergito@aol.com
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