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OUTLOOK EXPRESS

Outlook Express is a fantastic e-mail client. I like it better than the full version of Outlook that comes with Microsoft Office. Because this program can do so many things configuring it correctly is important for both security and functionality.

I can only touch the surface of using OE. Others do it better. Start with these.

Backup all of Outlook Express. (free program from Majik)
Majik's	Inside Outlook Express	Jim Pickering

Below are a few other items dealing with Outlook Express.

My Hotmail kept downloading two copies into my Outlook Express.
I was plagued for years with this problem and heard many possible reasons. From having OE set to keep a copy on the server to needing a registry fix. I finally found an answer that made sense and it worked.

If your default mail in OE is web based like Hotmail instead of a POP3 mail account than simply changing your default mail to a diferent account that is POP3 should fix it. Providing you have an alternate mail downloading into OE.

However there is another solution that worked for me also. And that is to change one of two settings in OE. To do this open OE and go to Tools then Options and under the General tab if you have both the "When starting, go directly to my 'inbox' folder" and the "Send and receive messages at startup" boxes checked then simply unchecking one or the other solved my problem also and let me keep Hotmail as my default mail.

If that did not fix your problem then you may have a damaged dbx folder. That was not the problem I had but it might be yours. If so try the solution Microsoft offers here. KBA296447

Disable the Preview Pane in Outlook Express immediately if your inbox looks like this.
PREVIEWPANE PIC

Viewing your mail in the preview pane is the same as opening it. If the mail has a virus you may have just let it execute. Although I like OE this function is set by default. Disable the Preview pane:

Open Outlook Express.
Click View.
Click Layout.
Uncheck preview pane.
Click Apply.
Click OK.

Setup mail rules to reduce SPAM. Message rules and blocking senders in Outlook Express only work with POP3 mail accounts. They will not work with web based mail. For instance they will not work with Hotmail. Be careful you don't set up rules that filter out mail you want. And the order of the rules can make a diffrence. For instance rules that delete mail from the server must be listed before rules that direct mail to a specified folder. If you want some expert advice look here. http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/tips/rules.htm

NEW RULE PIC

To create rules by subject;
Open Outlook Express.

Click on Tools.

Go to Message rules, Mail.

Click New.

In the 1st area set the conditions for your rule.

Check the box that says "Where the subject line contains specific words"

In the 2nd area choose your action.

I like "Delete it from server"

In the 3rd area 'Rule Description'

Click on "contains specific words"

Type in a word or a phrase. Click Add.
Add more words now if you wish. (Use all possible spellings such as viagra, Viagra, VIAGRA, hi friend, Hi friend, hi Friend, HI friend, hi FRIEND, HI FRIEND etc)

Click OK. Click OK. Click Apply now. Click Apply now. Click OK. Click Close. Click OK.

To add more words or phrases to your rule later go back to mail rules and highlight your rule. Then click in the box under Rule Description. Now type in more words or phrases.

As spammers get better at creating subject lines this type of filtering only works up to a point. An option of filtering in mail to OE rather than out works even better. I found that 90% of my spam was addressed to me in the BCC field. So I also set up a rule where any mail that was not addressed to me in the TO or CC field was deleted from the server instead of downloaded. Any mail addressed to me in the TO or CC field was filtered in.

Since you should be familiar with the basics of setting up rules by now the following will just be text instructions. Trust me you can do this.

Only filter in mail addressed to you in the TO or CC lines.

Go back to mail rules and click NEW.
Check the box "Where the To line contains people"
Check the box "Delete it from server"
Click on "contains people"
Type in your POP3 mail address
Click "Add"
Add any more POP mail addresses you have.
Click "Options" Tick "Message does not contain the people below"
Click OK, OK, OK.

At this point I would like to remind you to put your rules in the order you want them to execute. Think about it. It does make a difference. And as I said before look at the link above in this section for more expert advice in setting up rules.

I can give you more detailed advice if you need it. For instance the "Stop processing new rules" is also important.