| When you are not working online, you should exit your mail program and log off (if you have a dial-up account). To do so, click the Close button for the Outlook Express window. If you have a dial-up account, you should be prompted to log off the connection. Select Yes or Disconnect. (If you are not prompted, right-click the connection icon in the taskbar and select Disconnect.) If you have a 24/7 connection and don't log off, you can simply exit Outlook Express to close the mail program. The Absolute Minimum This chapter covers the basics of using Outlook Express, the mail program included with Windows XP. With this program (and an Internet provider), you can send email messages to and receive messages from all over the world. Email is quick and free! Keep in mind the following key points about Outlook Express and email features: The first step to using Outlook Express is to set up a mail account. Use the information from your ISP to set up your mail account. The steps vary depending on the provider and the type of provider. To check your mail, start Outlook Express. New mail messages are listed in your Inbox. You can open any messages by double-clicking them. You have several choices for creating new mail: You can respond to messages you have received, you can forward messages, and you can create new messages. The fastest way to do so is by using the toolbar buttons in the Outlook Express program window. In addition to typing messages, you can attach files to send, such as pictures. You may also receive email messages with attachments, which you can open or save to your computer. You should check any file attachments you receive for viruses. Try to keep your Inbox uncluttered. You can do so by deleting messages you no longer need, setting up folders and moving messages that you want to save to those folders, and printing and saving hard copies if needed. If you cannot find a message you received by looking through the various mail folders, you can search for a message using the Edit, Find, Message command. You can search by sender, recipient, subject, or content. One way to handle junk email (or spam) is to block certain senders. You also can use a spam program such as Norton AntiSpam.
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