How can I read and send e-mail in Microsoft Windows?

Note: Before being able to follow any of the below instructions and send and receive e-mail, you must have an Internet service provider (ISP) and e-mail service provider who is providing you with the e-mail address.

Microsoft Outlook Express
Microsoft Outlook
Mozilla Thunderbird

Microsoft Outlook Express

The default e-mail program available to Microsoft Windows users is Microsoft's Outlook Express. In addition to the pre-installed e-mail client, Microsoft Windows can run dozens of other e-mail clients many with more options and capabilities. This document also contains additional information about each of those programs for users interested in alternatives.

Opening Microsoft Outlook Express

1. Click Start.
2. Click Programs.
3. Click the Outlook Express icon.

If this is your first time using Microsoft Outlook Express and it is not configured, you'll need to configure Outlook Express with your Internet service provider's server information. This information allows Outlook Express to know where to look for e-mail and where to send e-mail through. Below is additional information about configuring these settings.

Configuring Microsoft Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express.
2. In Outlook Express, click Tools at the top of the window.
3. In the Tools drop-down-menu, click Accounts.
4. In the Internet Accounts window, click the mail tab.
5. Click the Add button and choose Mail.
6. Follow through the Internet Connection Wizard, filling out the name of service, your e-mail address, POP3(Post Office Protocol version 3), IMAP, HTTP, and SMTP Internet information. If you do not have any of this information, you will need to contact your Internet or e-mail service provider, or visit their website to obtain this information.

Sending and receiving e-mail in Outlook Express

To send an e-mail in Microsoft Outlook Express, follow the below steps.

1. Open Outlook Express.
2. Click the Create Mail button at the top of the Window or click File, New, and then Mail Message.
3. If done properly this should open a New Message window. In this window you'll need to first start of by typing the person's e-mail address you wish to send the e-mail to in the "To:" field.
4. Next, fill out a brief description of the message you're sending in the Subject field.
5. Next, type your message in the box below.
6. Finally, once your message is complete click the Send button.

To receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook Express follow the below steps.

By default Outlook will automatically check the server every few minutes for any new e-mail. If you wish to manually receive or look for new messages click the Send/Recv button on the main screen of Outlook.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook (not to be confused with Outlook Express) is an more up-to-date and advanced e-mail client included with most Office packages and included with some computers. This program is not a free program and often does not come included with computers, therefore if you do not have this program installed or have not purchased this program you'll have to use the pre-installed Outlook Express or try using an alternative e-mail client such as Mozilla Thunderbird.

Opening Microsoft Outlook

1. Click Start.
2. Click Programs.
3. Click the Outlook icon.

If this is your first time using Microsoft Outlook or it is not configured you'll need to configure Outlook with your Internet service providers server information. This information allows Outlook to know where to look for e-mail and where to send e-mail through. Below is additional information about configuring these settings.

Configuring Microsoft Outlook

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Click Tools at the top of the window and click Options.
3. Within the Options window click the Mail Delivery tab.
4. Click the Accounts button.
5. Click the Add button and select Mail.
6. Follow through the Internet Connection Wizard, filling out the name of service, your e-mail address, POP3, IMAP, HTTP, and SMTP Internet information. If you do not have any of this information you will need to contact your Internet or e-mail service provider or visit their website to obtain this information.

Sending and receiving e-mail in Outlook

To send an e-mail in Microsoft Outlook follow the below steps.

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click the New button at the top of the Window, or click File, New, and then Mail Message.
3. If done properly, this should open a New Message window. In this window you'll need to first start of by typing the person's e-mail address you wish to send the e-mail to in the "To:" field.
4. Next, fill out a brief description of the message you're sending in the Subject field.
5. Next, type your message in the box below.
6. Finally, once your message is complete, click the Send button.

To receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook, follow the below steps.

By default, Outlook will automatically check the server every few minutes for any new e-mail. If you wish to manually receive or look for new messages, click the Send/Receive button on the main screen of Outlook.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird is a free e-mail client developed and maintained by the Mozilla foundation. The same foundation of the increasingly popular Internet Browser Firefox. Before being able to use this program, you need to download the program from: http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/. Once the program has been downloaded and installed on the computer, follow the below steps for running, configuring, and sending and receiving e-mails.

Opening Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Click Start.
2. Click Programs
3. Click the Mozilla Thunderbird folder and select Mozilla Thunderbird.

Configuring Mozilla Thunderbird

If you're already using Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express, Mozilla Firefox is capable of importing your settings and all messages it currently contains during the initial install. The below steps are for users who may need to adjust those settings or may need to create new settings.

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Click Tools at the top of the window.
3. Click Account Settings.
4. In the Account Settings, click the Add Account button and fill out each of the required fields for your name, e-mail address, server name, user name, etc. If you do not have any of this information, you will need to contact your Internet or e-mail service provider or visit their website to obtain this information.

Sending and receiving e-mail in Mozilla Thunderbird

To send an e-mail in Mozilla Thunderbird, follow the below steps.

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Click the Write button at the top of the Window, or click File, New, and then Message.
3. If done properly, this should open a Compose window. In this window you'll need to first start of by typing the person's e-mail address you wish to send the e-mail to in the "To:" field.
4. Next, fill out a brief description of the message you're sending in the Subject field.
5. Next, type your message in the box below.
6. Finally, once your message is complete, click the Send button.

To receive e-mail in Mozilla Thunderbird, follow the below steps.

By default, Mozilla Thunderbird will automatically check the server every few minutes for any new e-mail. If you wish to manually receive or look for new messages, click the Get Mail button on the main screen of Thunderbird.