Follow these steps to set up an e-mail account with Microsoft's Outlook Express.

The Internet Connection Wizard makes short work of setting up your online mailbox by walking you through each step for every e-mail account you set up.

1. Before starting, make sure you know your email address along with the following information (You may need to contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider.).

Information about the e-mail servers:

• The type of e-mail server you use: POP3 (most e-mail accounts), HTTP (such as Hotmail), or IMAP
• The name of the incoming e-mail server
• For POP3 and IMAP servers, the name of the outgoing e-mail server (generally SMTP)

Information about your account:

Your account name and password

1. Find out if your ISP requires you to use Secure Password Authentication (SPA) to access your e-mail account.

2. Start Outlook Express, and on the Tools menu, click Accounts.

3. Click Add, and then click Mail to open the Internet Connection Wizard. On the Your Name page of the wizard, type your name as you want it to appear to everyone who gets e-mail from you, and then click Next.

4. On the Internet Explorer Address page, type your e-mail address, and then click Next.

5. On the E-mail Server Names page, fill in the first block of information that you gathered from your ISP in step 1, and then click Next. On the Your Name page of the wizard, type your name as you want it to appear to everyone who gets e-mail from you, and then click Next.

6. On the Internet Explorer Address page, type your e-mail address, and then click Next.

7. On the E-mail Server Names page, fill in the first block of information that you gathered from your ISP in step 1, and then click Next.

· Note: If you chose HTTP as your incoming e-mail server type — as for a Hotmail or MSN account — this wizard page changes slightly so you can identify your HTTP mail service provider.

8. On the Internet Mail Logon page, type your account name and password. 
If you're concerned about other people viewing your e-mail on your computer, clear the check in the Remember Password box. You'll then be prompted for the password each time you send or retrieve mail.

9. Click Next, and then click Finish.

To test your new account, just send a message to yourself, and reply to it. If that works, then send a messages to a friend, with a request for a quick response.

If you run into problems setting up your account, click Help in the Outlook Express menu bar.